Former Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. drawing trade interest from multiple teams
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The Arizona Diamond Backs announce that they've received interest from «a few teams» on former Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
The Diamondbacks have been inching more and more towards the sell side of the buy-sell bubble since the All-Star break, and John Gambadoro of 98.7 Arizona Sports suggests that the club has «solidified» as a seller for this summer's trade deadline after being swept by the Astros earlier this week.
The three-game sweep at the hands of the Astros pretty much solidifies Arizona as a seller. The team has several players on expiring contracts they could trade - Gallen, Kelly, Suarez, Naylor, Miller, Beeks, Grichuk. Have also heard there is interest from a few teams in Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
Former Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. receiving interest from multiple teams
Gurriel, 31, is in the second-year of his three-year, $42MM contract with the Diamondbacks signed following the club's run to the World Series in 2023.
That sets him apart from the majority of potential trade chips on Arizona's roster, as pieces like Zac Gallen, Eugenio Suarez, and Josh Naylor are all poised to hit free agency this winter.
Gurriel is due $13MM in 2026, and his contract also comes with a $14MM club option for 2027.
That option has a $5MM buyout, meaning that Gurriel is guaranteed $18MM in addition to what's left of his $14MM salary for 2025.
That's not exactly an onerous contract, but it's still a fairly hefty price to pay for a player who has slashed just .245/.295/.406 with a wRC+ of 93 this year.
Gurriel is also largely confined to left field defensively at this point in his career with pedestrian defensive metrics at the position.
Below average offense and defense from a position like left field isn't exactly an exciting package, but Gurriel has suffered from a career-low .254 BABIP this season and is sporting a career-best strikeout rate of just 13.5%.
He's also posting stronger numbers against southpaws, with a .278/.331/.398 slash line against opposite-handed pitchers this year.
Perhaps there are teams in need of outfield help who are intrigued by Gurriel's contact-oriented bat and see taking on the veteran's contract as a way to avoid parting with significant prospect capital in a deal for another available outfield option like Harrison Bader or Ramon Laureano.
Even if a return of note beyond salary relief cannot be had for Gurriel, there's at least some reason for the Diamondbacks to consider making a deal.
Getting Gurriel's salary off the books could help the club in its efforts to either re-sign or replace players from their large crop of pending free agents, and the controllable trio of Corbin Carroll, Alek Thomas, and Jake McCarthy
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