Report: Yankees could reunite with fan-favorite hitter

Aug 14, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; A detailed view of a New York Yankees hat and glove on the bench against the Atlanta Braves in the third inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

New York Yankees fans may be getting a chance to reuse their old jerseys.

Will Sammon of The Athletic said in a report this week that the Yankees are showing interest in a reunion with Gio Urshela. The 32-year-old Urshela is still unsigned after spending last season with the Los Angeles Angels.

Urshela played for the Yankees from 2019-21 and quickly became a fan favorite. He hit .314 with an .889 OPS during the 2019 campaign and also made a strong impact with his defensive versatility and his creative ways of contributing to winning baseball. Urshela earned further endearment with his grand slam against the then-Cleveland Indians during Game 2 of the 2020 AL Wild Card series, which helped the Yankees pull off the sweep.

The righty-hitting Urshela still brings it with his bat (hitting .290 over the last two seasons combined) but is primarily a third baseman these days. Though the Yankees already have a glut of infielders who are capable of playing on the left side of the infield (like DJ LeMahieu, Oswald Peraza, Gleyber Torres, and Oswaldo Cabrera), Urshela could still be a valuable complementary piece for them. They may have to fend off a rival team in free agency for Urshela though.