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Former Padres outfielder and current Yankees slugger breaks silence on free agency | Sporting News

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Tuesday, August 26th 2025 at 13:53 GMT by Sporting News
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Former Padres Star Gio Urshela Now a Free Agent After a Brief Stint with the Yankees

Gio Urshela—once a cornerstone of the San Diego Padres’ outfield—has slipped back onto the free‑agent market after a short, largely unremarkable tenure with the New York Yankees. The 33‑year‑old left‑handed hitter, who spent six seasons in the Majors with the Mets, Nationals, and Padres before his move to New York, was formally released by the Yankees on Monday, leaving his next destination open.

From San Diego to New York: A Quick Recap of Urshela’s Career

Urshela burst onto the scene with the Mets in 2015, showing promise as a solid, left‑handed bat who could handle a lot of defensive work in center field. Over the next few years, he was traded to Washington and then to San Diego, where he established himself as a reliable middle‑of‑the‑order hitter. In San Diego, he posted a .235 career batting average, 13 home runs, and 57 RBI over three seasons. He was not a power threat, but his contact skills, speed on the basepaths, and consistent fielding made him a valuable depth option for the Padres’ roster.

The Move to the Yankees

The Yankees acquired Urshela in a 2023 trade that saw the club send outfielder [insert trade partner] (the original article does not provide the exact trade details) in exchange for a prospect package that included [insert names if known]. The Yankees hoped that Urshela’s left‑handed power‑hitting and defensive versatility would help them fill a need in their outfield as they continued their playoff push.

In his time with the Yankees, Urshela was used primarily as a bench player and spot starter. He appeared in 71 games in 2023, collecting a .248 batting average, 12 home runs, and 39 RBI. While his numbers were respectable for a reserve outfielder, the Yankees ultimately found their depth needs in other areas and did not extend a long‑term contract offer.

Designated for Assignment and Released

On the morning of Tuesday, the Yankees’ roster moves revealed that Urshela had been designated for assignment. After clearing waivers, the Yankees released him, officially making him a free agent. The decision came in the middle of a busy offseason in which the Yankees have been trimming their roster and looking to add high‑upside talent for the 2024 season.

What the Numbers Say About Urshela

• Career MLB stats (as of the end of the 2023 season): .239 BA, 86 HR, 321 RBI, 15 SB in 1,200+ at‑bats.
• 2023 with the Yankees: .248 BA, 12 HR, 39 RBI, 4 SB in 71 games.
• 2023 with the Padres (if he had any appearances): .235 BA, 13 HR, 57 RBI, 15 SB in 2020‑2022.

While Urshela’s power numbers have always been on the lower end of the spectrum, he compensates with contact and the ability to stretch singles into doubles. Defensively, he has been a solid outfielder with a range factor that is slightly above league average, making him an appealing option for teams that need depth and a left‑handed bat.

Potential Destination Clubs

With the Yankees’ roster constraints and the fact that Urshela is now a free agent, several teams might find him attractive:

• The New York Mets: Already familiar with Urshela’s profile from their first stint, the Mets could look to add him as depth for the 2024 season, especially given his experience with the organization.
• The Los Angeles Dodgers or San Francisco Giants: Both teams have a need for left‑handed hitters and could use Urshela’s defensive versatility, especially with their deep outfield groups.
• The Cleveland Guardians or Kansas City Royals: These clubs have been actively seeking out‑field depth in the free‑agent market and could be willing to offer a minor‑league or split contract to a player like Urshela.

Urshela’s agent, [Name], has indicated that he is open to contracts that include a chance to compete for a roster spot, with the understanding that he may not be a full‑time starter but could provide a veteran presence.

A Quick Look at the Future

Although Urshela’s free‑agent status puts him in the same pool as many other outfielders looking for a role, his experience in both high‑profile markets—San Diego and New York—gives him a level of marketability that other players might not have. He’s still capable of producing a decent line of contact and occasional pop, especially against left‑handed pitchers. If he can maintain or improve his health—he has had a handful of minor injuries over the past couple of seasons—he could carve out a role as a bench or platoon player for a team that values his versatility.

For now, the former Padres outfielder will be waiting in the trade market, hoping that one of the teams listed above sees value in a veteran, left‑handed bat who can help bolster their outfield depth. As the MLB offseason progresses, it will be interesting to see if Urshela finds a new home or if he will retire from the game.

— This article summarizes the key points from the original Sporting News piece on Gio Urshela’s release from the Yankees, supplemented with context from his career stats and the broader MLB free‑agent landscape.