Coveted Free Agent Slugger Returns to Arizona Diamondbacks
UPDATE, 12:17 p.m.: The deal is immensely affordable for Arizona, per Jeff Passan of ESPN:
Outfielder Lourdes Gurriel’s deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks is for three years and $42 million with a club option for a fourth season, sources tell me and @kileymcd. The deal also includes an opt-out after the second season.
According to a report from Ken Rosenthal of 'The Athletic,' outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is returning to the Arizona Diamondbacks in free agency.
Per Rosenthal:
Free-agent outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in agreement with Diamondbacks, pending physical, source tells @TheAthletic.
The 30-year-old outfielder spent last season in Arizona and helped the Diamondbacks win the National League pennant. They were beaten in the World Series by the Texas Rangers but Gurriel evidently felt strong enough about the organization to return.
It's been a busy offseason for Arizona, who have signed Gurriel Jr. and Eduardo Rodriguez now. They've also traded for slugging third baseman Eugenio Suarez.
Gurriel hit .261 with 24 homers a season ago and almost made his first All-Star team. He played a career-high 145 games. Gurriel Jr. debuted in 2018 with the Toronto Blue Jays, spending five years in Toronto. He was traded to Arizona before the 2023 season along with catcher Gabriel Moreno.
With Gurriel Jr. back in the fold, the Diamondbacks will likely have an outfield of him, Corbin Carroll and Alek Thomas. Lifetime, Gurriel Jr. is a .279 hitter with a .324 on-base percentage. He's hit 92 homers and driven in 336 runs. He's generally regarded as a solid defender.
At the time of this posting, the financial terms of the contract are not out but you can certainly expect it to be a hefty multi-year pact.
With Gurriel Jr. off the board, Teoscar Hernandez is the most notable corner outfielder available. Cody Bellinger remains the most highly sought after outfielder overall.
The Boston Red Sox had shown interest in Gurriel Jr. while the Seattle Mariners had also been reported as a possible fit.
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