Veteran infielder Yuli Gurriel, who spent the entire 2024 season with the Atlanta Braves’ Triple-A affiliate, has been traded to the Kansas City Royals.
This transaction comes after a busy weekend for the Royals, who also claimed outfielders Tommy Pham and Robbie Grossman off waivers. Despite the trade deadline having passed, the deal was possible because Gurriel had not appeared in a major league game this season. In exchange, the Braves will receive cash considerations from Kansas City.
Gurriel is an experienced player, having won two World Series titles and four American League Pennants during his seven-year tenure with the Houston Astros. Notably, he was a key contributor to the Astros’ success, finishing fourth in the 2017 Rookie of the Year voting and winning the American League batting title in 2021 with a .319 average.
However, after a lackluster 2022 season and a subsequent disappointing stint with the Miami Marlins, he signed a minor league contract with the Braves for 2024.
At Triple-A, Gurriel demonstrated solid form, posting a .292 batting average with 12 home runs and 48 RBIs across 75 games. The Braves, currently vying for a playoff spot, decided to trade Gurriel as they have a stable first baseman in Matt Olsen.
Meanwhile, the Royals, who are in a tight race for the AL Central title and hold a Wild Card spot, hope Gurriel’s experience will bolster their roster as they push for the playoffs.
