Yankees reportedly re-sign Gio Urshela to minor league deal

According to Matt Eddy, the Yankees have re-signed infielder Gio Urshela to a minor league contract. Urshela has some MLB time and it’s safe to assume he’ll be in big league camp as a non-roster invitee. He’s the second minor league signing the Yankees have made this week, joining Ryan Lavarnway.

Urshela, 27, came up with the Indians, then went to the Blue Jays in a cash trade this past May, then joined the Yankees in another cash trade in August. He played 27 games with Triple-A Scranton and hit .307/.340/.475 (129 wRC+) with two homers. Urshela is a career .225/.274/.315 (57 wRC+) hitter in 499 big league plate appearances, almost all with Cleveland.

In the field is where Urshela makes his money. He’s regarded as an outstanding gloveman at the hot corner — I thought he would get a September call-up to be Miguel Andujar’s defensive caddy before the Adeiny Hechavarria trade — and he can play shortstop if needed. You might remember this play (you also might remember his two errors in ALDS Game Four last year):

I am surprised and I am glad the Yankees were able to re-sign Urshela. I thought he’d head to a team that offered an easier path to big league playing time. He’s stuck behind Andujar with the Yankees. As noted in my offseason plan, the RailRiders need a third baseman, and Urshela is as good as a Triple-A depth third baseman as you’ll find in minor league free agency.

The Yankees need to replace the injured Didi Gregorius, and while Urshela figures to get a chance to compete for the utility infielder’s job in Spring Training, I don’t think he’s a candidate to play shortstop on an everyday basis while Didi is out. Urshela, Ronald Torreyes, Tyler Wade, Thairo Estrada, and the recently claimed Hanser Alberto represent the Yankees’ infield depth at the moment.