As they explore their options at third base, the Mets have taken notice of a former Yankee.
David Stearns & Co. has expressed interest in free agent Gio Urshela, a source said.
While no Urshela deal appears imminent, the Mets appear to at least be considering a veteran infielder in the wake of Ronny Mauricio’s injury.
Stearns had suggested during the winter meetings in early December that the Mets’ third spot would be decided internally among the unproven but high-potential prospects of Brett Baty, Mark Vientos and Mauricio.
Mauricio then tore his ACL playing in the Dominican Winter League, which could have ended his season before it started and could have changed the organization’s way of thinking.
The Mets have also engaged in discussions with veteran infielder Justin Turner, a source told the Post’s Mike Puma earlier this month.
Turner, 39, is more of a DH stick than a glove at this point in his career, while Urshela, 32, is a lighter hitter but a better defensive option.
The Mets are interested in former Yankee Gio Urshela. Getty Images
Urshela was in the midst of a solid, if unspectacular, campaign with the Angels last season before a broken pelvis ended his year in mid-June.
He hit .299, but with just two homers in 62 games, he was more valuable on the defensive end.
The confident defensive player played every spot around the diamond and spent the most time at third base, which was his strongest position during his eight-year career.
Urshela did not need pelvic surgery and played in the Colombian winter league, a positive sign for her health.
Stearns, in his first months as the Mets’ president of baseball operations, has already signed former Yankee Luis Severino, who has “demonstrated that he played in New York,” Stearns said earlier this offseason.
When announcing new manager (and former Yankees coach) Carlos Mendoza, Stearns said in a statement: “Carlos knows what it takes to lead, especially here in New York.”
If a proven ability to handle the urban scene is a top priority, Urshela makes sense.
The Yankees acquired Urshela, then an untested prospect, from the Blue Jays in 2018, and he became an invaluable contributor the following season.
Urshela broke out in 2019, showing off a flashy glove while posting an .889 OPS with 21 home runs in 132 games.
Urshela was solid in the shortened 2020 campaign and sensational at times in that year’s playoffs – his grand slam in Game 2 of the wild-card round helped clinch the series in Cleveland – before a season 2021 quieter (.720 OPS).
Gio Urshela spent 2023 with the Angels. Robert Sabo for the NY Post
He was then sent to the Twins in March 2022 as part of the trade that brought Josh Donaldson and Isiah Kiner-Falefa to the Yankees.
Urshela spent one season in Minnesota before being traded to the Angels.
Perhaps the long-standing friendship with Francisco Lindor, the two men who grew up together in the Cleveland organization, works in Urshela’s favor.
A relationship with Mendoza, who had been the Yankees’ quality control and infield coach before serving as bench coach while Urshela played in the Bronx, certainly works in his favor.
Urshela, who made $8.4 million in his final arbitration season last season, would likely be a bit cheaper than Turner.
Other third basemen on the market include Matt Chapman, Donovan Solano and Evan Longoria.
The Mets could also follow through on their original plan and hope that Baty, 24, rebounds after a difficult and prolonged first stint in the majors or that Vientos, who worked with Lindor this offseason, makes progress defensively and offensively.
Utility utilityman Joey Wendle could also slot in at third.
2023-12-28 22:20:00
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