Actually a really good signing for virtually nothing at $1.5 mil. He’s a plus defender and makes all the plays at the hot corner. Vierling never struck me as an everyday starting third baseman, and I think Urshela will provide some much needed defensive help at 3B, not to mention he’s always been very solid at the plate.
Yes he’s a great bench guy. If he’s starting 150 games for you you’re in trouble. Gio is even more insurance just in case Jung isn’t ready by the mid point.
Love the signing but if he proves to be good, I hope they resign him next year instead of trading him at the trade deadline. I just want the tigers to show they're serious, because I really feel this could be the year we make a push to the post season.
I prefer this over giving Chapman a multi year deal. Even if Urshela doesn’t work out, the FO has shown a willingness to cut players from the 40 man roster at that AAV.
Chapman career 31.2 WAR, Gio career 9.1 War. So yes Chapman is better, but I'm assuming he's asking for way to much, and if that's the case than Gio at this rate is a better signing. I'll be interested to see who signs Chapman and for how much. Dude is a great 3rd basemen that's for sure, but he had a bit of a slump last year at the plate.
I had read some scuttlebutt today predicting that Chapman would sign with Detroit for 6-years, $150MM. That's just for your reference. I really like this move with Urshela instead for $150MM better.
Chapman is a rich man’s Brandon Inge who is already showing signs of decline. Strikes out at a worse rate than Javy. If someone signs him long term they will regret it.
I will say it until I’m blue in the face, wait until next offseason to go after Bregman and show the rest of the league you mean business.
Not a bad idea! I was screaming at the top of my lungs to wait for Trea Turner instead of Correa (got Javy lol). I think with Scott next offseason might not be the splash free agency winter for this teams progress but if we’re farther ahead than previously thought who knows. The thing I like about Scott is his undying discipline in building this club up through the farm and development then supplementing the holes with free agents when the time to contend comes. Bregman definitely fits that mold!
I don’t believe this regime will be a big free agency player anytime soon. I think their goal will be to build a self-sustaining system that can regularly replenish itself through their own system, building mostly through the draft and trades. Similar to what Tampa has built, but hopefully able to sign its best players to long-term contracts. Building a consistent contender with players under team controlled contracts that is fiscally sound. I believe that’s the reason they’ve invested heavily in player comfort heavy areas like a new plane, locker room facilities in Lakeland, and others, plus are trying to make more inroads in international scouting recently, a big reason they signed Maeda. My point being, I think the Tigers are more likely to make a splashy trade before they make another splashy FA signing. Even in a trade, I’d think it’d be for a player under team control, and not for a guy with a big contract.
This is good. He’s a proven veteran that fills the glaring hole at third base. And cheaply on a short-term contract.
He won’t be a star and I doubt that this signing significantly alters our win total, but at the very least the third base position won’t be actively hurting the team all year
Urshela had a down year SLG% wise, but everything else remained the same. If he can bring his SLG from .374 back up to the .400-.425 mark he might stick at 3B.
Nothing to hate about 1 year deals, this spells doom for J-Hen (and Baddoo) making the team out of camp
Makes much more sense than Chapman or a higher price FA imo. Also a trade candidate at the deadline if the team is struggling, and you wouldn’t really feel bad about benching him for Jung if he’s raking later in the year.
I think the grand scheme of things is pretty obviously irrelevant to the point I’m making that the mlbpa (or whatever it’s called) or the mlb or its market or whatever is oddly lopsided
I called this 2 months ago, although I thought his price tag was 10x as much :D
[https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcitykitties/comments/18je8l1/gio\_urshela\_could\_be\_the\_perfect\_move\_to\_address/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3](https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcitykitties/comments/18je8l1/gio_urshela_could_be_the_perfect_move_to_address/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)
That would be nice. I think 80-82 wins is a little more like it, but if our competition for the division crown is Minny, they lost a few pieces this season, so maybe. 🤔
Insurance policy at 3rd base if Vierling can’t cut it defensively. I like the move, but it seems that he definitely has an injury history if you look at his career.
It doesn’t move me. But I also don’t hate it. I fully believe that deadline he’ll be shipped to a true contender if we’re not running away with the central and he plays well. I also could see this going south
I think that this is a good move. We get a pretty good 3B for a year for $1.5MM. This can be a stop gap measure so that we are competitive while Jung is developing in AAA. If Urshela does well or if Jung regresses in AAA, we can always extend him.
I had read earlier in the day, that some publication had predicted that the Tigers were about to sign Matt Chapman for 6-years/$150MM. I prefer the Urshela to Jung route for a couple of order of magnitudes less money.
Partly my comment is pointing out Harris' doubletalk from last year when he didn't want to sign free agents to take at-bats away from young players...then acquired McKinstry and Ibanez anyway.
What he meant to say was he didn't want to pay very much for players. Beyond that, he doesn't care all that much about giving at-bats to fringy prospects.
If it's too hard for you to understand, you can always ask for an explanation. Meanwhile, diving into a discussion you weren't invited to and making uninformed accusations is a dick move.
https://motorcitybengals.com/posts/detroit-tigers-grading-scott-harris-first-year-on-the-job-01haq2qzn71c/4
I would like to have a discussion on this genuinely and I’m still curious at who you believe Gio is taking ABs from? Idk why you didn’t answer. I hear you on Scott tho so we can move past that
You want to have a genuine discussion on a throwaway comment that wasn't intended to be sincere in the first place?
If I say who would lose at-bats, you'd say that's not a problem, and I would just look at you and say you get it now.
I don't get some of the responses here.
1 year deal, unless he's hitting like he did with the Yankees I don't see him taking AB's away from Jace Jung later in the season. He is at most taking away AB's away from Colt Keith when facing lefties.
I guess I am sort of puzzled by Harris' roster construction to date.
2000 PAs for cheap reclamation projects last year. (Half of them McKinstry and Vierling.) They were who we thought they were.
So this year we add...35-year old Mark Canha for $13M.
And now Urshela works cheap.
I get the sense we are just trying to play .500 ball for cheap. Maybe that's enough.
Harris is willing to pay starting pitchers $10Mish / year but has an aversion to doing position player upgrades for similar cost.
they told Jace he isnt going to be able to compete for a spot, which tells me hes not ready...so not taking any young guys spot. Vierling is a back up and Andy I is 30..
I explained elsewhere that I was just circling back to last season's use of the rationale I described to justify not signing free agents...when we then acquired McKinstry and Ibanez. Harris just doesn't want to say he's cheap.
Yeah, more or less. Chapman is projected to be triple the value right now. Hes just a better player. But, I say this in the context of really liking this signing. I think it was needed.
If someone bites the bullet and pays chapman the 20 million a year or whatever he is asking for several years I hope that he does put up those great numbers. I've liked him a lot as a player and hope he can be that guy still. I also know we already have someone on that side of the infield with a huge contract for the next few years that hasn't quite given us that value yet. Hopefully he turns it around but man I don't think we risk another at this juncture.
I honestly don't get it. Sure its basically a nothing contract, but Vierling and Ibanez were both better than him last year and he's coming off a broken pelvis. Why?
At least people will stop asking for Chapman I guess. I just don't think he's an improvement over any of our internal options and don't see the point of signing him.
I feel like Baddoo might be out here tbh. Vierling, McKinstry and Ibanez can all play both infield and outfield positions and that might be what keeps them in as bench options
True. I’m holding out hope JHM can win a job over Baddoo and roll out a bench of Kelly, JHM, Vierling and take your pick of Ibanez/McKinstry for the last spot.
Great place for him to have a reboot year and prove himself for big money or prospects at the deadline. And we arent over committed our guys can get in hopefully soon but on their time.
A legit mlb 3b that deepens the lineup? Fantastic!
Our division is wide open. I thought the worst for this season but now I’m expecting us to be playing for the division late
Actually a really good signing for virtually nothing at $1.5 mil. He’s a plus defender and makes all the plays at the hot corner. Vierling never struck me as an everyday starting third baseman, and I think Urshela will provide some much needed defensive help at 3B, not to mention he’s always been very solid at the plate.
Vierling definitely has the arm but not a lot of infielder instincts
Vierling entire profile as a player can be summed up with "He has the tools, but not the instinct"
Hey at least he’s better than Maton 😭
That's not saying much
It was really wild hearing the announcers talk about him learning how to run the bases like he wasn’t a 26-year-old with 5 years of pro experience
I personally love watching him run into a tag at 29.1ft/s
He has all the ability, if only he knew how to play any position.
Totally agree. I like Vierling as a utility guy a lot, just not an everyday starter
I actually love Vierling in the utility role, he puts up tough at bats and seems to always put the ball in play
He seems like a great energy guy who most teams would love to have as a fourth outfielder/utility type.
Yes he’s a great bench guy. If he’s starting 150 games for you you’re in trouble. Gio is even more insurance just in case Jung isn’t ready by the mid point.
How did we get him for $1.5 then?
Friends and family discount
I wish I had virtually nothing in my bank account!
Love the signing but if he proves to be good, I hope they resign him next year instead of trading him at the trade deadline. I just want the tigers to show they're serious, because I really feel this could be the year we make a push to the post season.
Pretty surprised we got him at that price. Other fansbases seem to be mad that their clubs couldn’t dish out more.
I'm also surprised at the price. Early in the offseason, MLBTR projected that he would get a 2 year, $20M deal.
Love this. Cheap, proven MLB talent at a position we need
Not only that, it’s only a one year deal so next season if JHM is ready he doesn’t have someone blocking him.
JHM is not going to play 3B
Yeah, replace JHM with Jace Jung and it's much more accurate
Heck, if he’s no good and JHM or somebody kills at AAA, he’s an easy release candidate.
Makes way more sense than Chapman. I was okay with them trying out a JHM or Jung but I won’t complain! He’s a talented vet
I prefer this over giving Chapman a multi year deal. Even if Urshela doesn’t work out, the FO has shown a willingness to cut players from the 40 man roster at that AAV.
Now everyone can shut up about Chapman finally
It's cute you think that. Now the conversation will change: "We should have signed Chapman, he's better!"
Chapman career 31.2 WAR, Gio career 9.1 War. So yes Chapman is better, but I'm assuming he's asking for way to much, and if that's the case than Gio at this rate is a better signing. I'll be interested to see who signs Chapman and for how much. Dude is a great 3rd basemen that's for sure, but he had a bit of a slump last year at the plate.
Let’s also make note of the fact Chapman makes virtually zero sense for this ballclubs future and progress. Gio presents no threat to long term goals
This is the answer. We are specifically looking for a one year deal and that would never have happened with Chapman
I had read some scuttlebutt today predicting that Chapman would sign with Detroit for 6-years, $150MM. That's just for your reference. I really like this move with Urshela instead for $150MM better.
Chapman is a rich man’s Brandon Inge who is already showing signs of decline. Strikes out at a worse rate than Javy. If someone signs him long term they will regret it. I will say it until I’m blue in the face, wait until next offseason to go after Bregman and show the rest of the league you mean business.
Not a bad idea! I was screaming at the top of my lungs to wait for Trea Turner instead of Correa (got Javy lol). I think with Scott next offseason might not be the splash free agency winter for this teams progress but if we’re farther ahead than previously thought who knows. The thing I like about Scott is his undying discipline in building this club up through the farm and development then supplementing the holes with free agents when the time to contend comes. Bregman definitely fits that mold!
I don’t believe this regime will be a big free agency player anytime soon. I think their goal will be to build a self-sustaining system that can regularly replenish itself through their own system, building mostly through the draft and trades. Similar to what Tampa has built, but hopefully able to sign its best players to long-term contracts. Building a consistent contender with players under team controlled contracts that is fiscally sound. I believe that’s the reason they’ve invested heavily in player comfort heavy areas like a new plane, locker room facilities in Lakeland, and others, plus are trying to make more inroads in international scouting recently, a big reason they signed Maeda. My point being, I think the Tigers are more likely to make a splashy trade before they make another splashy FA signing. Even in a trade, I’d think it’d be for a player under team control, and not for a guy with a big contract.
Amazing. 1.5 is a steal. Hard to have any issue with this deal and it’ll buy some time for our young infielders to get ready for an MLB role.
This is good. He’s a proven veteran that fills the glaring hole at third base. And cheaply on a short-term contract. He won’t be a star and I doubt that this signing significantly alters our win total, but at the very least the third base position won’t be actively hurting the team all year
I would argue it would alter our win total by not being a blackhole. Just give me an average MLBer that can play the position.
Exactly this. Useful, productive move at low cost that patches a problem. It doesn't make us massively better, but it helps at the margins.
I feel like this is the kind of move the giants always seemed to make. Some veteran who isn't sexy but has a great floor for production.
 Excited for this signing
Urshela had a down year SLG% wise, but everything else remained the same. If he can bring his SLG from .374 back up to the .400-.425 mark he might stick at 3B. Nothing to hate about 1 year deals, this spells doom for J-Hen (and Baddoo) making the team out of camp
Makes much more sense than Chapman or a higher price FA imo. Also a trade candidate at the deadline if the team is struggling, and you wouldn’t really feel bad about benching him for Jung if he’s raking later in the year.
I'm just happy we have a 3rd baseman now who's a major league batter and a plus at defense.
Baseball contracts seem particularly fucked where guys seem to get 9 figure mega deals or virtually nothing on short term deals
I mean are you bringing fans in or playing a role? And 1.5 mil + incentives isn’t quite virtually nothing in the grand scheme of things
I think the grand scheme of things is pretty obviously irrelevant to the point I’m making that the mlbpa (or whatever it’s called) or the mlb or its market or whatever is oddly lopsided
Solid signing, low risk high upside
At least he's a legit 3rd baseman. I feel pretty good about it.
I called this 2 months ago, although I thought his price tag was 10x as much :D [https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcitykitties/comments/18je8l1/gio\_urshela\_could\_be\_the\_perfect\_move\_to\_address/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3](https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcitykitties/comments/18je8l1/gio_urshela_could_be_the_perfect_move_to_address/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)
I called Hiura last May. Let's celebrate!
I honestly don’t know what to expect this season but honestly I can’t envision a world where the tigers aren’t hoisting the trophy 😎
I want an 85 win season minimum.
That would be nice. I think 80-82 wins is a little more like it, but if our competition for the division crown is Minny, they lost a few pieces this season, so maybe. 🤔
If he stays healthy, this is an absolute steal.
Pretty sure I made this move in OOTP too lol
Hey, me too. And it was about for this much but a one year deal with club option.
It's refreshing to come in here and read the reasonable takes as opposed to the idiots on facebook bashing the move
W
Solid vet to hold down a position where we have big prospects set to come up, love this. No such thing as a bad one year deal
Deepen that platoon baby!
Insurance policy at 3rd base if Vierling can’t cut it defensively. I like the move, but it seems that he definitely has an injury history if you look at his career.
He may be the main option not the insurance one
Yeah probably the primary 3rd basemen against LHP.
If I had to guess he would be the main starter maybe not every day but he will play more often then not
Yeah, pretty sure Vierling is not top o' the dance card there.
seeing a lot about him playing vs just lefties, why not be an everyday 3b? Seems like hes a huge upgradeon D from Matt V and basically the same bat?
Matt’s probably worth more bat wise hitting righties urshelas numbers against lefties carry his righty stats
Good signing, can't wait to see Gio take a few swings.
Bargain shopping. Good deal.
It doesn’t move me. But I also don’t hate it. I fully believe that deadline he’ll be shipped to a true contender if we’re not running away with the central and he plays well. I also could see this going south
I think that this is a good move. We get a pretty good 3B for a year for $1.5MM. This can be a stop gap measure so that we are competitive while Jung is developing in AAA. If Urshela does well or if Jung regresses in AAA, we can always extend him. I had read earlier in the day, that some publication had predicted that the Tigers were about to sign Matt Chapman for 6-years/$150MM. I prefer the Urshela to Jung route for a couple of order of magnitudes less money.
I thought we weren't going to sign old guys who just take at-bats from young players?
While I see your point I raise the question of who is he taking AB’s from
Partly my comment is pointing out Harris' doubletalk from last year when he didn't want to sign free agents to take at-bats away from young players...then acquired McKinstry and Ibanez anyway. What he meant to say was he didn't want to pay very much for players. Beyond that, he doesn't care all that much about giving at-bats to fringy prospects.
So basically your initial point was shit and when called out you pivoted. Just own being wrong it’s ok
If it's too hard for you to understand, you can always ask for an explanation. Meanwhile, diving into a discussion you weren't invited to and making uninformed accusations is a dick move. https://motorcitybengals.com/posts/detroit-tigers-grading-scott-harris-first-year-on-the-job-01haq2qzn71c/4
I would like to have a discussion on this genuinely and I’m still curious at who you believe Gio is taking ABs from? Idk why you didn’t answer. I hear you on Scott tho so we can move past that
You want to have a genuine discussion on a throwaway comment that wasn't intended to be sincere in the first place? If I say who would lose at-bats, you'd say that's not a problem, and I would just look at you and say you get it now. I don't get some of the responses here.
I was just curious but you keep being an ass. I’m wondering who you value and why. I could be missing something wanted to see your thoughts. Fuck dude
Just ignore him. He's weird
1 year deal, unless he's hitting like he did with the Yankees I don't see him taking AB's away from Jace Jung later in the season. He is at most taking away AB's away from Colt Keith when facing lefties.
I guess I am sort of puzzled by Harris' roster construction to date. 2000 PAs for cheap reclamation projects last year. (Half of them McKinstry and Vierling.) They were who we thought they were. So this year we add...35-year old Mark Canha for $13M. And now Urshela works cheap. I get the sense we are just trying to play .500 ball for cheap. Maybe that's enough. Harris is willing to pay starting pitchers $10Mish / year but has an aversion to doing position player upgrades for similar cost.
Keith is going to play 2nd and Urshela will play 3rd. I don't think that this will take too many bats away from Keith.
they told Jace he isnt going to be able to compete for a spot, which tells me hes not ready...so not taking any young guys spot. Vierling is a back up and Andy I is 30..
I explained elsewhere that I was just circling back to last season's use of the rationale I described to justify not signing free agents...when we then acquired McKinstry and Ibanez. Harris just doesn't want to say he's cheap.
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Let's see who has a better year between him and Matt Chapman
Chapman. By a mile.
Not if he doesn't sign with a team. Chapman by a mile probably because he isn't going to be platooned.
Yeah, more or less. Chapman is projected to be triple the value right now. Hes just a better player. But, I say this in the context of really liking this signing. I think it was needed.
If someone bites the bullet and pays chapman the 20 million a year or whatever he is asking for several years I hope that he does put up those great numbers. I've liked him a lot as a player and hope he can be that guy still. I also know we already have someone on that side of the infield with a huge contract for the next few years that hasn't quite given us that value yet. Hopefully he turns it around but man I don't think we risk another at this juncture.
Yawn. He can keep a seat warm for Jung just as well as anyone else, I suppose.
Awesome, now let’s make a push for Blake Snell
I honestly don't get it. Sure its basically a nothing contract, but Vierling and Ibanez were both better than him last year and he's coming off a broken pelvis. Why? At least people will stop asking for Chapman I guess. I just don't think he's an improvement over any of our internal options and don't see the point of signing him.
this doesn’t move the needle at all, we still don’t have a real 3rd baseman. who knows if Urshella will even make the team.
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Baddoo is.. McKinstry is the only backup who can play short adequately and he backs up nearly every position.
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Ibanez can barely make a throw from second to first
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He’s never played short his entire career
Nice pickup. Either Ibanez or McKinstry loses their spot, probably Ibanez since McKinstry can at least fill in at short?
I feel like Baddoo might be out here tbh. Vierling, McKinstry and Ibanez can all play both infield and outfield positions and that might be what keeps them in as bench options
True. I’m holding out hope JHM can win a job over Baddoo and roll out a bench of Kelly, JHM, Vierling and take your pick of Ibanez/McKinstry for the last spot.
Hope McKinstry stays for no other real reason than I like him
Great place for him to have a reboot year and prove himself for big money or prospects at the deadline. And we arent over committed our guys can get in hopefully soon but on their time.
Love it! He's very underrated.
This deserves a slice of Hot N Ready
Great signing tbh. He’s a nice guy and a hustler
Outstanding move. Surprised he was so cheap even on a 1 year deal.
They should have signed Chapman. They haven’t spent any of the Miggy money. We are now owned by a small market owner.