Angels Lose Free Agent Infielder to Detroit Tigers: Reports

The veteran missed most of 2023 due to a pelvic fracture.

Angels infielder Gio Urshela, who missed most of last season with a pelvic fracture but was rumored to have an offer to return to Anaheim, is headed back to the American League Central instead.

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Detroit Tigers have signed Urshela to a free agent contract, taking him off the market the same week spring training camps opened across Arizona and Florida.

Infielder Gio Urshela and the Detroit Tigers are in agreement on a one-year, $1.5 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Urshela, 32, should help at third base and can play a variety of positions. And his ability to hit left-handers suited what Detroit has sought this winter.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 22, 2024

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Urshela will receive $1.5 million plus incentives.

Gio Urshela to Tigers. $1.5M plus incentives.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 22, 2024

In 62 games with the Angels this past season, Urshela hit .299 with two home runs and 24 runs batted in. His season ended in June as a result of a pelvic fracture he sustained as a result of an awkward step he took while running through first base.

Urshela became a free agent at the end of last season. The Angels were reportedly among a handful of teams with an offer out, along with the New York Yankees, New York Mets, and Miami Marlins. The Tigers were not among the teams reported to have made an offer to Urshela, so perhaps they swooped in at the last minute to sign him.

The Angels brought back infielder Livan Soto after losing him on waivers earlier this month to the Baltimore Orioles, so their 40-man roster was full. Soto stands to benefit from the Angels not adding Urshela to their infield depth, along with Michael Stefanic.

Urshela, 32, will join his sixth team in a major league career that began in 2015. The Colombia native is a career .277 hitter with 64 home runs and 280 RBIs in 664 games with the Cleveland Guardians, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins and Angels.