It's a shame third baseman Giovanny Urshela has had health issues. As much as I'd like to see him play, it's likely that he'll be taken back down to Triple-A Columbus, that is, if free agent Juan Uribe dons a Cleveland uniform. Indians sources have already confirmed that Uribe and the Indians have reached an agreement on a contract. There has not yet been anything official. Uribe could still take several days to reach the Indians' training camp while he's working out visa issues.
The 37-year-old veteran could possibly prove beneficial, assuming he stays healthy. He has had a couple of slump years, but he's been positive for the most part, and he does add a little bit of power to the lineup. He averages 13 homers and 53 RBIs per season with a .257 batting average, which is a pretty big step-up from Urshela's performance at the plate.
Defensively, they have nearly the same fielding percentages, with Uribe just one point higher than Urshela at .970 (Uribe at 3B position). When you consider Uribe's fielding range is a bit wider than Urshela's on top of having an equal percentage, then add the bigger bat, the Indians have made a wise decision.
Urshela will have a chance to work on his health and produce better numbers in Columbus if Uribe completes the signing. That could potentially be a win-win for the Tribe in the long run.
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