The veteran first baseman is still a free agent.
Yuli Gurriel #10 of the Houston Astros rounds second base against the Philadelphia Phillies during the second inning in Game Three of the 2022 World Series at Citizens Bank Park on November 01, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Elsa/Getty ImagesCould Yuli Gurriel make his way back to the Bayou City after all?
While no new developments have emerged this week regarding the Houston Astros‘ negotiations with the veteran first baseman, who is currently a free agent, a report did surface on Tuesday that should prove promising for those hoping to see Gurriel back in an Astros uniform.
It was reported on Saturday by Mark Feinsand of MLB.com that Gurriel and the Miami Marlins were “moving toward” a deal. However, Jon Heyman of the New York Post sent out a tweet midday Tuesday stating “Gurriel isn’t seen as a certainty to go to [the] Marlins now,” while adding that “talks appear to have cooled.” Heyman went on to mention the Astros and Minnesota Twins are among the potential options to land Gurriel if the Marlins do not.
Gurriel’s connections to Houston are obvious, and even with the Astros signing 2020 American League MVP José Abreu to take his spot in the starting lineup, he could still fill a role with the team—both in the clubhouse and as an occasional on-field contributor. Gurriel was a batting champion and Gold Glove winner in 2021, with a .284/.328/.448 slash line across seven years in Houston. He was an integral part in both of the Astros’ World Series championships in 2017 and 2022, and is among of the most recognizable figures of the team’s current dynastic run.
Jeff Bagwell, a franchise icon as a player who now has a prominent voice in the Astros’ front office, said the following about Gurriel on Saturday: “There’s nobody that loves Yuli more than us—myself, [Astros owner] Jim [Crane], [manager] Dusty [Baker], everybody. It’s just trying to find the right fit for the club. But he’s a huge part of our success here, so we’ll continue to monitor that situation.”
Jeff Bagwell, who has strong input with the Astros, on the potential of Yuli Gurriel returning: “There’s nobody that loves Yuli more than us..It’s just trying to find the right fit. He’s a huge part of our success here. So we’ll continue to monitor that situation.” pic.twitter.com/JsgBGwI9ng
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) January 21, 2023
The mention of Minnesota as another potential destination for Gurriel is intriguing and makes a bit of sense, as he would be reunited with former Astros teammate and current Twins shortstop Carlos Correa.