Reports: Padres land Yuli Gurriel on minor league deal
February 18 - First baseman Yuli Gurriel, a key part of two World Series championship teams with the Houston Astros, agreed to a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres, multiple media outlets reported on Monday.
Gurriel will attempt to make the Padres' Opening Day roster in spring training. If he winds up in the majors, he reportedly will make $1.25 million with the opportunity to earn another $1 million in incentives.
Should Gurriel be part of the San Diego squad, he figures to back up first baseman Luis Arraez while also getting at-bats as the designated hitter.
The 40-year-old Cuban native spent most of the 2024 season with the Atlanta Braves' Triple-A Gwinnett affiliate before he was acquired by Kansas City on Aug. 31. In 18 major league games with the Royals, he hit .241 with a .338 on-base percentage, a .296 slugging percentage, no homers and six RBIs.
Gurriel was the American League's batting champion (.319) in 2021, the same year he won a Gold Glove. He hit better than .300 in the postseason in 2017 and 2022 as the Astros won both championships.
Gurriel spent seven seasons in Houston (2016-22) before playing for the Miami Marlins in 2023. His best season in terms of power production was 2019, when he socked 31 homers and drove in 104 runs.
In 927 career games, Gurriel owns a .280/.326/.438 batting line with 98 home runs and 468 RBIs.
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