On Thursday, Cuban defector, and free agent infielder, Yulieski Gourriel worked out for the New York Yankees in Tampa. As a top international free agent, Gourriel is sought after by several MLB teams, including the Yankees cross town rivals, the New York Mets.
Yulieski Gourriel Worked Out by Mets, Yankees
Gourriel, 32, is a Cuban defector, who just became a free agent a few weeks ago, and for people who know Gourriel best, it’s no secret that he grew up a Yankees fan. If the Yankees general manager, Brian Cashman, and the Yankees organization hope to compete for a Wild Card spot, then they’ll have to add some offensive pieces that could help them contend. Whether or not Gourriel is one of those pieces, not even the Yankees know.
Prior to working out for the Yankees on Thursday, the free agent Cuban put his skills on display for the Mets on Monday. The Mets general manager, Sandy Alderson, told a group of reporters that Gourriel would like to sign with a team “in the next week or two weeks,” per his agent.
As Jim Bowden of ESPN reported, the Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels and the Yankees are all “in” on the 32-year-old Gourriel.
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports has already reported that the Dodgers and Astros have already worked out the free agent, with the Mets and Giants expected to do so soon as well, per Bowden.
According to the New York Daily News’ John Harper, one former Mets player, whose name Harper can’t disclose because of the players association with the Mets organization, made a very strong case as to why the Mets should sign Yulieski Gourriel with David Wright being out long-term.
Despite the fact that New York just signed shortstop Jose Reyes to a minor-league deal last Saturday, the intention all along was to play Reyes at third base while David Wright tried to recover from a herniated disc in his neck. Alderson made it clear that the Reyes signing will not preclude the Mets signing Gurriel.
Given Wright’s injuries over the past several years, the Mets would seem like the ideal landing spot for Gourriel. With that said, however, Alderson said that the Mets are undecided if they will offer a contract to Gourriel after his workout.
In the Cuban National Services last year, Gourriel hit .500 with fifteen home runs and fifty-one RBI. Granted these eye-popping statistics were against lesser talent, but nevertheless, Gourriel is a natural born talent.
Despite Gourriel’s statistics being down in 2015, he’s been playing in the CSN (Cuban National Services) since he was 17-years-old; Gourriel has hit above .300 in 13-of-15 seasons.
The other teams that have shown interest in him, like the Yankees, Dodgers, Astros and the Giants all have rosters that make it difficult to bring the Cuban free agent on board unless something significant happens. Until then, the Mets seem like the likely option.
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