Yuli Gurriel’s signing on Saturday gives seasoned free agents who are still looking for teams optimism.
Gurriel is a 39-year-old first baseman who was once a batting champion, so it’s possible he will never make it above the minor league level despite his Braves deal.
Atlanta’s Matt Olson is a position player who has participated in all 162 games three times, including the past two seasons. In 2023, he led the league with 54 home runs and 139 runs batted in. He’s at the top of his game at thirty years old.
Gurriel, on the other hand, is declining.
An eight-year veteran, he hit just.245 for Miami the previous season despite reaching career highs of a.319 average in 2021 and 31 home runs and 104 RBIs in 2019. As a contact hitter who rarely walks or strikes out, Gurriel is an adaptable player who can play any position. Throughout his career, he has started 20 games at second and 92 games at third.
