Sacramento Athletics designate former Toronto Blue Jays infielder for assignment
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The Sacramento Athletics have designated former Toronto Blue Jays infielder Gio Urshela for assignment.
To open a 40-man spot, the A's designated infielder Gio Urshela for assignment. Infielder Brett Harris has been recalled to take Urshela's active roster spot.
A's Manager Mark Kotsay ahead of tonight's three-game series vs a red-hot LA Angels team.He talks recalling INF Brett Harris, the decision to DFA 3B Gio Urshela, plus updates on Jacob Wilson, Denzel Clarke, and how good this Angels ball club has been this season @CBSSacramento
Former Blue Jays infielder Gio Urshela's metrics have fallen off in the last three years but is still a serviceable third baseman
Urshela doesn't have any long-term benefit to the A's with his 34th birthday is just over the horizon.
He was signed in the offseason to a one-year deal with a $2.15MM guarantee to provide a stable veteran presence in an infield with a lot of youth and uncertainty.
Unfortunately, he has hit just .238/.287/.326 this season. His wRC+ has dropped for a third consecutive year and is now down to 68.
His previously-excellent defensive metrics have slid below the mean.
By claiming Shuster and bumping out Urshela, the A's add a younger pitcher who could potentially help them in the future.
Meanwhile, Urshela's playing time at third base can go to younger guys like Harris or Max Schuemann.
With the trade deadline having passed, Urshela will end up on waivers in the coming days.
Given his performance this year and his salary, he's sure to clear. He has enough service time to reject an outright assignment and elect free agency while still collecting the remainder of that salary.
The A's might skip that formality and release him. Once on the open market, they will still be on the hook for that money.
If Urshela ends up on another big league roster, the signing club would only owe him the prorated portion of the league minimum salary for any time spent on the roster, with that amount subtracted from what the A's pay.
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