'It's going to be fun': Urshela excited to bring stability to A's

MESA, Ariz. -- Third baseman Gio Urshela knows how to make a strong first impression. His first full seasons with both the Yankees and the Twins were the best two of his Major League career.

So he starts anew with the Athletics, with history on his side.

“Every year that is what I’m trying to do -- do my best and stay healthy and help the team,” Urshela said.

The A’s identified Urshela early in the offseason as a player who could solidify the left side of the infield, add a well-rounded offensive game and provide a veteran perspective to a younger clubhouse.

“I feel really excited with what the A's did in the offseason,” said Urshela, who joined starters Luis Severino and Jeffrey Springs and reliever José Leclerc as roster upgrades.

“A new year. A new team. It’s going to be fun.”

Urshela’s one-year, $2.15 million contract includes playing time bonuses that could add another $450,000 if he reaches 500 plate appearances. The two years he has made at least 475 have been his most productive.

The A’s have cycled through several third base options with limited success since Matt Chapman was traded to Toronto before the 2022 season, with a different starter in each of the last three seasons. None reached 350 plate appearances.

“It’s a position, obviously since ‘Chappy’ left, we’ve run a few guys out there that have had opportunities,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said of Urshela. “I have confidence in him of hopefully solidifying that spot.

“Plus defender, definitely, and the bat, in terms of his professional at-bats. That’s really what we are looking for. He doesn’t have to be the offense. He just has to be a part of it. You saw that in Atlanta, the contributions he can make.”

Urshela’s 10-year career took off with the Yankees in 2019, when he made the most of the opportunity in his first season as a regular. He had career highs with 34 doubles, 21 homers and 74 RBIs with a slash line of .314/.355/.534 while playing 123 games at third base.

Injuries slowed Urshela in 2021 before he found himself with a regular workload with the Twins in 2022 after being traded with Gary Sánchez for a package that included Josh Donaldson and Isiah Kiner-Falefa. He had 13 homers with 64 RBIs and a .767 OPS.

A fractured pelvis suffered in June sabotaged his 2023 season with the Angels after a promising start, and he scuffled offensively with the Tigers last season before surging down the stretch for Atlanta.

His hard-hit percentage has slipped the last two seasons, but he seemed to find his stroke again with the Braves, when he took over for injured Austin Riley and had four homers and 15 RBIs in 36 games.

“It took me a little bit to get the timing with my offense,” Urshela said of his time with the Tigers. “They helped me a lot in Atlanta, just trying to find that consistency and keep the ball in the air. It was a lot of ground balls in my first two months of the season.”

Defense has been a career through-line. Urshela has consistently ranked as a run-saver in defensive metrics. As a third baseman, he was plus-five in defensive runs saved in 2020, his second season with the Yankees. He was plus-six with the Angels in 2023.

“Defense helps win games, so I just try to bring that experience to the team and try to help the young guys we have over here,” Urshela said. “Happy to do that. That’s the thing that has always, when you talk about me, that is the first thing people think. Blessed with that talent.”

Urshela has found some familiar faces in the new clubhouse. He played with Severino and Miguel Andujar with the Yankees, and Brent Rooker was a teammate in Spring Training with the Twins before Rooker was traded to the Padres.

“Obviously, a really good player who has had a lot of success over a pretty long period of time in this league,” Rooker said of Urshela.

“Really good addition for us overall. It’s huge, in terms of where we are as a team, trying to establish and prove ourselves in the league. To have guys who have done that as individuals to walk into this clubhouse and help us do it as a team is going to be massive.”

Urshela will take a short break from Spring Training the first week of March when he will join Team Colombia in the World Baseball Classic four-team qualifier in Tucson, Ariz.

“Looking forward to it,” Urshela said. “Proud to be a Colombian. It’s really a great vibe. It’s like a playoff game every game.”