8-Year Veteran Yuli Gurriel Drawing Interest From Several MLB Teams

Yuli Gurriel, the veteran first baseman, is currently attracting attention from various Major League Baseball teams as the 2024 season nears.

At 39 years old, Gurriel's experience and past achievements in the league make him a valuable asset to teams looking to enhance their rosters.

Having spent seven seasons with the Houston Astros, where he earned a batting title, a Gold Glove, and two World Series rings, Gurriel recently completed a season with the Miami Marlins in 2023.

There has been interest from some MLB teams to sign Yuli Gurriel for 2024.

“Soon a decision must be made," Gurriel said me. pic.twitter.com/TKuiVFo5UK

— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) January 16, 2024

Gurriel's performance with the Marlins showcased both strengths and weaknesses.

He started off strongly, achieving a .291 batting average, a .350 on-base percentage, and a .440 slugging percentage in his first 157 plate appearances.

However, his performance declined over the season, culminating in a less impressive .204/.262/.287 line in the final 172 plate appearances.

This followed a somewhat lackluster 2022 season with the Astros, where he had a .242 batting average, a .288 on-base percentage, and a .360 slugging percentage.

Despite these fluctuations, Gurriel's overall track record in MLB remains commendable.

His defensive skills are still highly regarded, and there is potential for improvement in his batting compared to the previous season.

Yuli Gurriel - 09/03/2018 pic.twitter.com/5R8TtVA7Gt

— Random Homers (@randomhomers) January 15, 2024

In the last season, the Marlins utilized him as a part-time player, employing him both as a first baseman and a designated hitter.

Gurriel ended the season with a .245 batting average, .304 on-base percentage, and .359 slugging percentage, along with 32 runs, 72 hits, 16 doubles, 3 triples, 4 home runs, 27 RBIs, 4 stolen bases, 26 walks, and 44 strikeouts in 298 at-bats.

Gurriel's postseason experience and success are aspects that several MLB teams might find attractive, particularly those aiming for a strong performance in the World Series in 2024.

While his age and recent performance might limit his options, possibly to a minor league deal, the interest from MLB teams indicates that Gurriel's career in the league is far from over. Photo Credit: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports