The 40-year-old MLB vet will join the team tomorrow.
The Royals have acquired first baseman Yuli Gurriel from the Atlanta Braves for cash considerations. The 40-year-old Gurriel is an eight-year MLB veteran, who was the primary first baseman for the Houston Astros from 2016-2022.
In his prime, Gurriel was an above league-average bat, smashing 31 home runs in 2019 and winning a batting title in 2021. He was frequently among the hardest hitters to strike out, with a career strikeout rate of just 11.4 percent. He didn’t join MLB until age 32 after a long career in Cuba.
His bat dropped off signficantly in 2022 and he joined the Marlins last year, hitting just .245/.304/.359. He signed with the Braves in April and spent all season with their Triple-A affiliate, hitting .292/.378/.485 12 with 12 home runs in 75 games. Despite a July 31 trade deadline, players that have not been on a 40-man roster all year are still eligible to be traded.
Gurriel will report to the Royals when roster expand on September 1. The Royals will need to open up a 40-man roster spot to make room for him.
