40-year-old Veteran's Career Could Be Done After Being DFA'd

Over the course of a decade in the big leagues, he's been a Gold Glover, a batting champion and a World Series winner—twice. But after being designated for assignment, it appears that Yuli Gurriel's days in The Show might be done.

Mike Shildt told reporters that Yuli Gurriel has been DFA'd with Luis Arraez and Jason Heyward being activated off the injured list pic.twitter.com/MJpYJOGSlX
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) April 29, 2025

Gurriel was batting just .111 for the San Diego Padres in 40 plate appearances with an OPS+ of minus-3. Since his batting title in 2021 with a .319 mark, the first baseman hasn't been able to get his average above the .240s.

After Luis Arraez and Jason Heyward were both activated, the Padres had to make room on the roster. But manager Mike Shildt said it was a difficult decision to DFA the veteran.

"We’ve moved on from Yuli, which hurts,” Shildt said. “Guri was quite a pro. We enjoyed every moment he was here. It’s just a decision we made with guys coming off [the IL].”

Through his decade in the majors, Gurriel had a .278 average with a .759 OPS and a 106 OPS+. He was a big part of the Astros' two World Series teams, in 2017 and 2022, and in fact batted .304 in the first playoff run with an .864 OPS, and then upped the ante in 2022, batting .347 in the postseason.

His younger brother Lourdes plays for the Arizona Diamonbacks.