Christmas came early for the Oakland Athletics this year. The Major League Baseball team secured a much-needed third baseman after signing Gio Urshela to the team on Sunday, December 22. Agreeing to a one-year contract with the team, Urshela will receive a base salary of $2.15 million and up to $400,000 in incentives.
The 33-year-old infielder brings an impressive record to the A’s. Over the last nine seasons, he has established himself as a .273 career hitter. In the previous year, he scored nine home runs, 19 doubles, and hit .250 in just 128 games. Urshela brings valuable experience and knowledge of the league to the A’s, having previously played for the Yankees, the Guardians, the Bluejays, the Twins, and the Los Angeles Angels.
The A’s are facing a time crunch as they continue to sign players for the 2025 season. The team must reach a minimum payroll of $105 million to avoid a grievance filing from the MLBPA. Urshela’s $2.15 million contract, along with starting pitcher Luis Severino, who signed a three-year deal with the team in exchange for $67 million, and a trade for Jeffery Springs from Tampa Bay for $10.5 million, has helped catapult them closer to their goal.
Oakland fans are thrilled to see Urshela move into the American League West – one of his best games was against the Seattle Mariners. In five 2024 matches against the Washington State team, he hit 6 out of 15 pitches and scored a home run. He only struck out once. In the 30 career games he’s played against Seattle, Urshela has averaged a .269 hitting score. A’s fans are excited to see what the veteran player can do against one of their biggest rivals once the 2025 season officially begins.
