The Atlanta Braves quickly acted on third baseman Gio Urshela after receiving devastating news about Austin Riley’s injury. With Riley sidelined for the rest of the 2024 MLB regular season, the Braves reportedly reached an agreement with Urshela.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post first reported Atlanta’s interest in Urshela on Tuesday morning, stating, “Gio Urshela, released on Sunday by the Tigers, is closing in on a major league agreement with the Braves. Atlanta announced Monday that third baseman Austin Riley would be out for 6-8 weeks with a fractured right hand.”
About an hour later, Jon Heyman, also of the New York Post, confirmed that Urshela had indeed signed with the Braves.
The Braves moved swiftly to secure a replacement at third base following Riley’s injury. With a recovery timeline of six to eight weeks, Riley could return for the 2024 MLB postseason, assuming Atlanta clinches a playoff spot.
Can Gio Urshela fill the void for the Braves during Austin Riley’s absence?
Meanwhile, Urshela has a fresh opportunity to raise his value. After being released by the Detroit Tigers on Monday, he now has the chance to contribute to a team with postseason aspirations. In 92 games for the Tigers this season, Urshela managed a .243/.286/.333 slash line with five home runs and 37 RBIs. Since 2023, including his stint with the Los Angeles Angels, Urshela has recorded an 81 OPS+ with a batting line of .267/.304/.350.
The Tigers initially signed Urshela to a one-year, $1.5 million deal and will continue to cover that salary. The Braves, on the other hand, will only be responsible for paying Urshela the league minimum based on his time on the major league roster or the injured list.
Atlanta could hit the jackpot with this deal if Urshela can recapture his 2019 form with the New York Yankees, where he impressed with a .314/.355/.534 slash line, 21 home runs, 74 RBIs, and a 133 OPS+ over 132 games and 476 plate appearances.
As of Tuesday, the Braves hold a 66-58 record, trailing the National League East-leading Philadelphia Phillies by seven games. However, they currently occupy the third and final wild-card spot in the NL. The Braves face a critical series against the Phillies starting Tuesday evening.
https://clutchpoints.com/braves-news-sign-gio-urshela-crushing-austin-riley-injury
