Is there a home for Gio Urshela?

[jorgenswest]

Jose Miranda appears ready to take over 3B for the next several years. Is it time to make that move now?

Gio Urshela has value to this team. He has a 107 OPS+ and plays a reliable third base. There are several teams that are not getting that production out of their 3B. Miranda can slide over to 3B and play nearly every day. The depth at 3B would take a hit as they would have Arraez and Gordon behind him with Steer at AAA. With the return of Miguel Sano the Twins might have the depth to trade him. Urshela would have more trade value to a team with his glove at 3B and control through next year than Sano. 

There are a few teams that might be a match.

• Unfortunately the Angels looked like the best match with the Rendon injury but they played themselves out of it. A trade of Urshela for Tepera might have helped both teams.
• The Orioles are in it. They have not received production from their 3B. They have some relievers to send. They don't have relievers with a comparable contract though. The Twins would need to add cash and a prospect to make that deal work. 
• The Mets have Escobar playing everyday and struggling. He has an triple slash of 151/185/302 in the last month. Would they see Urshela as an upgrade? Would they part with someone like Lugo? They would probably compete for Drury first.
• The Dodgers use Turner at DH quite a bit. The thirdbasemen that have started the other those games in Muncy and Alberto haven't hit. Would they see Urshela as an upgrade when Turner is DH? I think they would just win a deal for Drury without parting with a bullpen piece. Any trade with the Dodgers would have to be a three way deal.

I was hoping to find more possible homes for Urshela. Did I miss any? 

I think the best bet is a deal with the Orioles adding cash and a perhaps prospect for one of their set up men. The fan base experiencing .500 ball for the first time in a long time wouldn't see it as a straight sell. Urshela would give them a steady playoff experienced league average veteran at 3B. The Twins would get much needed help in their pen.

[stringer bell]

I don’t think the return for Urshela would be much. Frankly, I think he has more value to the Twins than just about any other team. 
 

Going forward, I think there is a decent chance that he won’t be tendered a contract for 2023, but I expect he stays on the Twins through this year. 

[Trov]

Very few competing teams will be willing to trade away bullpen arms we will want in return.  Unless the team is super deep on bullpen arms no one will make a whole in their pen to have a small upgrade at 3b.  Unless there are some AAA or lower on the pecking order for some of these teams that the Twins think will have impact, I doubt any contending team will give up a pen arm.  Every team is always looking to upgrade their pen.  

[nicksaviking]

If you can get something surprisingly good, sure move him.

But otherwise, this is exactly where I wanted to be with him when the Twins traded for him. I wanted him to be the next Eduardo Escobar or Marwin Gonzalez. 

[jorgenswest]

6 minutes ago, Trov said:

Very few competing teams will be willing to trade away bullpen arms we will want in return.  Unless the team is super deep on bullpen arms no one will make a whole in their pen to have a small upgrade at 3b.  Unless there are some AAA or lower on the pecking order for some of these teams that the Twins think will have impact, I doubt any contending team will give up a pen arm.  Every team is always looking to upgrade their pen.  

I agree. That is why it is difficult to find a match. The Orioles if they decide they want to stay relevant are the only team that might be a match.

In Urshela’s case there really aren’t enough teams needing help at 3B. A three way deal with the Twins seeing Urshela to a team in need and that team sending a prospect to a seller who in turn sends Minnesota a reliever might be more realistic. The Twins could improve the return by adding a prospect to that selling team.

[Riverbrian]

Anybody can be traded if the deal improves the team.  

However, depth is something teams should strive for. Depth is a good thing not something that should be compromised (even slightly). 

If the Twins are healthy... There is playing time for Urshela, Miranda, Kirilloff, Sano... all of them.

If the Twins are not healthy... there is more playing time for those who are healthy.

   

[Dman]

I was thinking about this as well.  If they could get something meaningful for him it would be logical to move him but I don't think they will be able too.  I really like Urshela but he isn't a long term fit for this team.  I think the offseason is the best chance to work out a trade with him included and like others have said he is nice insurance for this current Twins team.  Good solid vets are nice to have around when battling for a playoff spot.  Still if the Twins can make a deal happen I think they can manage without him as well and it would make room for Sano or someone else on the 26 man as well.

[MMMordabito]

Urshela may end up being like Schoop in 2019.  He'll be quality veteran depth on the bench.  I think the lineup is better with Arraez and Miranda in it on a regular basis.  However, using Arraez off the bench against LHP starters can be a strategic advantage.  It ended up playing a big role in the win against the Crew yesterday.  He drew an intentional walk that moved the line and then the threat of him on deck probably gave Miranda the opportunity to get that pitch he crushed to win the game.

I think Urshela should stay unless some unexpected offer that more than makes up for that flexibility comes along before the deadline.

[LA VIkes Fan]

I like the idea of trading Urshela if we can get a quality bullpen piece and it looks like the Orioles are really the only shot at that given their short term need. The obvious issue us that Urshela is only controllable for this year and next and that may be too short for the Orioles contention time line. Maybe if he were part of a package that included a prospect swap or maybe 2 relievers with the Twins giving up a starting pitching prospect like Sands could work.  I would want Lopez to be the reliever that comes to the Twins, although he might be a one year wonder. 

The real reason to trade him is to clear 3B for Miranda, get the logjam off of 1B so Kiriloff can play there more and have room for Larnach to play LF when he returns in about a month(?).  we also have to face the fact that Sano is coming back and will need a place to play other than just DH, Trading Urshela would help break up a potential logjam but hurts depth if there's an injury and makes us a little reliant on Sano performing. All of that is worth it for a reliever like Lopez in Baltimore, if this year is real, not so much for a mediocre middle reliever. 

[Battle ur tail off]

Miranda is having a nice season, but like any guy that just comes up, most likely will regress some next year. Having a guy like Urshella is not only beneficial to this year, but next as well. I would hold onto him unless he can bring back a nice reliever.

Having to add a piece to any deal with him to get that reliever back isn't good either. I would rather they used a better prospect and moved someone like Sano as a throw in, rather than Urshela.

[Trov]

4 hours ago, jorgenswest said:

I agree. That is why it is difficult to find a match. The Orioles if they decide they want to stay relevant are the only team that might be a match.

In Urshela’s case there really aren’t enough teams needing help at 3B. A three way deal with the Twins seeing Urshela to a team in need and that team sending a prospect to a seller who in turn sends Minnesota a reliever might be more realistic. The Twins could improve the return by adding a prospect to that selling team.

Yes the three team deal would be most likely situation.  They are rare, and even more rare at deadline.  

[Blyleven2011]

Urshela has had a good season at 3rd base and has hit above the mlb average  , he has value to trade if a team is inclined  .....

We have the depth to trade him but like what he has brought to the twins ,,, he seems to like it here  ....