The Colombian infielder, Gio Urshela, who starred for the Yankees from 2019 to 2021, has agreed to a deal with the Athletics, as first reported by the New York Post’s Jon Heyman. Urshela’s arrival in Oakland comes just weeks after the A’s made a major splash by signing Luis Severino to the richest contract in franchise history—a three-year, $67 million deal.

A’s snag another ex-Yankee in offseason overhaul

SL
Urshela’s numbers in pinstripes speak for themselves. Over three seasons, he hit .292 with 41 home runs and 153 RBIs in 291 games. His breakout campaign in 2019 remains the highlight, where he set career highs with a .341 average and a 3.8 WAR. A steady glove and a knack for big hits made him a fan favorite in the Bronx, and now he’ll bring that consistency to an A’s roster in transition.

The Athletics are in the midst of a rebuild that’s showing glimmers of hope. Last season, they scraped together 69 wins—a number that exceeded almost everyone’s expectations after predictions of a historically bad year. Brent Rooker and Mason Miller led the way, with Rooker’s bat and Miller’s dominance in relief helping keep the team competitive down the stretch.

Now, the A’s are making moves to ensure that 2025—when they’ll officially relocate to Las Vegas—is a step forward. Urshela adds stability to the infield, and Severino gives them a legitimate ace. The moves suggest ownership believes there’s something to build on with this group, even after a rough 2024.

The question is how the pieces fit together. Urshela isn’t going to grab headlines like Severino, but his reliability at the plate and in the field gives the A’s a better foundation. He won’t command the same paycheck, but that’s not what this team needs right now. What they need is proven contributors who can help stabilize a roster that’s been in flux for years.

This offseason marks a shift for the A’s. For a franchise long defined by penny-pinching, spending big on Severino and adding a dependable veteran like Urshela signals a willingness to take risks as they prepare for their Vegas debut. A new ballpark, a new city, and a new roster are all part of the plan to turn the page on years of struggles.

It’s not clear how good the 2025 A’s will be, but the effort to improve is undeniable. Urshela might not be the final piece, but he’s part of a larger puzzle. And in a city like Vegas, where the stakes are always high, the A’s are betting that moves like this will start paying off sooner rather than later.

What do you think? Leave your comment below.