BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: Deals with Yuli Gurriel, Iglesias fortify Marlins’ infield depth

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Thursday, March 09, 2023

Deals with Yuli Gurriel, Iglesias fortify Marlins’ infield depth

The Marlins fortified their backup infield options by agreeing to non-roster deals with veterans Yuli Gurriel and José Iglesias on Thursday night, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. The club has not confirmed the news.

Miami’s interest in Gurriel dates back to the offseason, and it picked up again during Spring Training. All-Star Garrett Cooper is the only natural first baseman on the 40-man roster, and he has not played that position more than 73 times in a season. Internal backup options included No. 10 prospect Jordan Groshans and Jerar Encarnacion, both of whom have been learning first base this spring and have limited Major League experience.

Bringing in the veteran Gurriel, who will turn 39 in June, makes sense for a club trying to compete in the National League East. A two-time World Series champion with the Astros and the 2021 American League Gold Glove Award winner, Gurriel was a fixture at first base for Houston’s six straight AL Championship Series appearances.

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: March 09, 2023 at 09:37 PM | 13 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: marlins, yuli gurriel

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1. The Duke Posted: March 10, 2023 at 11:09 AM (#6120077)

Any way we could get a spring training omnichatter ?

2. Darren

Posted: March 10, 2023 at 11:58 AM (#6120081)

Is Jose Iglesias the biggest jerk in history? Year after year, he puts up good numbers but no one ever seems to want to pay him. 1.0 WAR last year and ZIPS and Steamer both project him to be average this year. And all he gets is a minor league deal? Gurriel on a minor league deal is good too.

3. DCA Posted: March 10, 2023 at 12:38 PM (#6120083)

These are technically minor league deals but my read is that they are pretty much guaranteed to have roster spots once the 60-day IL gets loaded up, so should be evaluated in that context.

4. Joyful Calculus Instructor Posted: March 10, 2023 at 12:54 PM (#6120084)

I really thought the Dodgers would sign Iglesias when Lux went down. Surprised he got so little from Miami.

5. Walt Davis Posted: March 10, 2023 at 01:57 PM (#6120085)

#4 plus Moustakas with the Rox, I figured Iglesias had signed somewhere and I'd missed it. I suppose I shouldn't be quick to write off Gurriel who was very good in 2019 and 2021 but below-replacement at 38 is usually the end of the road. Maybe Mitch Moreland should rethink that retirement announcement.

6. What did Billy Ripken have against ElRoy Face? Posted: March 10, 2023 at 02:20 PM (#6120087)

Bringing in the veteran Gurriel, who will turn 39 in June, makes sense for a club trying to compete in the National League East.

But why did the Marlins do it?

7. Jay Seaver Posted: March 10, 2023 at 04:11 PM (#6120095)

Is Jose Iglesias the biggest jerk in history? Year after year, he puts up good numbers but no one ever seems to want to pay him.

I vaguely recall something from his time in Detroit that he had an attitude that rubbed people the wrong way, although he seemed really popular and happy to pitch in any way he could when the Red Sox picked him up in '21. I kind of suspect he tends to always think of himself as the player he is at his best (magic on defense, surprisingly good with the bat) all the time and has to be worn down to taking the sort of contract that the player he is most of the time gets.

8. Der-K's enjoying the new boygenius album. Posted: March 10, 2023 at 08:53 PM (#6120110)

I also think there’s a perception that Jose has lost significant range over the last two years.

9. cardsfanboy

Posted: March 10, 2023 at 09:02 PM (#6120113)

Any way we could get a spring training omnichatter ?

there is one, it's been up for 3 days.

10. kirstie819 Posted: March 16, 2023 at 11:31 PM (#6120588)

Plantar fasciitis is a common condition that affects the heel and bottom of the foot. It is defined as an inflammation and irritation of the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot and connects the heel bone to the toes. Smith

11. the Hugh Jorgan returns Posted: March 17, 2023 at 01:27 AM (#6120589)

Wasn't Iglesias immortalised in Primer folklore as the player that made that insane over the shoulder, glove swooping catch that RayD then stated something along the lines of, it wasn't a great play, any good SSD could've made it, yada, yada, yada...

12. My name is Votto, and I love to get Moppo Posted: March 17, 2023 at 06:15 AM (#6120591)

That was Manny Machado, but I do recall some thread about a wild Iglesias play early in his career.

13. SoSH U at work Posted: March 17, 2023 at 07:23 AM (#6120592)

Yes, the exact words that became part of BTF folklore came from the Machado play, but he also claimed that other shortstops would have simply caught it above the shoulder.

He was wrong both times.

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Thursday, March 09, 2023

Deals with Yuli Gurriel, Iglesias fortify Marlins’ infield depth

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