Third base job is Urshela’s to lose, but don’t count out Andujar
Coming off his breakout 2019 season, Gio Urshela comes into spring training next month with a huge vote of confidence, but he still has a lot to prove. Given the chance to play every day when Miguel Andujar went down with what turned out to be a season-ending shoulder injury, Urshela certainly earned the right to come into 2020 with his name penciled in at third.
He also earned vote of confidence from Yankees GM Brian Cashman in November — with a caveat.
The Cashman told reporters at the GM Meetings in November that third base is Urshela’s position to lose heading into 2020. He also added that it was a similar situation to Luke Voit’s heading into last spring. Voit had the nod, but still had to beat out Greg Bird in spring training.
Cashman has been less definitive about Urshela and Andujar in private conversations with other teams this winter. Obviously after that statement, teams have expressed interest in Andujar, who was the 2018 Rookie of the Year runner-up. According to two teams that the Yankees have spoken to this winter about a trade, the team is very hesitant to move Andujar.
“They talked about him, but it really seems like they are still waiting to see about Urshela,” said one rival executive whose team discussed a trade possibility with the Yankees last month. “They are very hesitant to put Andujar in a deal right now, because they want to see Urshela in spring and make sure.”
That is the smart move. Andujar is a talent that the Yankees should be careful about giving up.
The 24-year-old, who isn’t
even arbitration eligible until 2021, was mentioned in trade talks last winter after a tremendous rookie season, even before the Yankees discovered what they had in Urshela. Andujar slashed .297/.328/.527 with 27 home runs and 47 doubles in 606 at-bats in his rookie season.
But the Yankees were never committed to Andujar as their third baseman of the future, because they did not trust his glove.
Andujar committed 15 errors at the hot corner in 2018 and had a cringe-worthy -25 defensive runs saved. That was the fourth most by a third baseman in the majors that season.
The Yankees have already admitted this offseason that they would at least like to try Andujar at different positions this spring to try and fit both Urshela and Andujar into the lineup. With Voit coming off a season where he struggled, mostly because of injury, there is at least an opening for Andujar and Mike Ford at first base. Andujar is also seen as a player who could play the outfield if given a chance to learn the positions.
The Yankees have always considered a position change to be on the table for Andujar. Their lack of faith in his defense was obvious in 2018 when they would remove him late in big games.
And Urshela’s glove at third was never a surprise.
Urshela has always been considered a good defensive infielder, and the 28-year-old had a long highlight reel full of tremendous plays in 2019. But he has room for improvement, too. While he was certainly an upgrade, Urshela also committed 13 errors and had just a 0.0 defensive WAR. He had a -4 runs saved.
The Yankees expected a steady glove with Urshela — and still do heading into 2020.
It was his offensive breakout that has the Yankees cautiously optimistic heading into spring.
After being an unproductive hitter for most of his three previous trips to the big leagues, Urshela surprised baseball when he hit so consistently this season. He slashed .314/.355// .534 with 21 home runs. Like most of the Yankees hitters, Urshela cooled off late in the season and in the playoffs. He hit .207 in 18 games in September and hit .242 in the postseason.
It’s obvious that Urshela did the work offensively to change his swing. Working with Triple-A hitting coach Phil Plantier, Urshela opened up his stance, focused on using his legs and hips for more power. He lowered his grip and worked on “barreling up,” the ball more.
But with Urshela’s breakout coming at the same time that MLB’s season was shaded by an obviously more potent baseball, there are still some doubters.
Has he really turned the corner on the player who was a .225 hitter with eight home runs over 167 major league games that two previous teams gave up on?
That’s the question that Urshela and the Yankees have to answer in 2020.