Twins Bring Back Veteran Infielder Gio Urshela on Minor-League Deal

[Lou Hennessy]

Image courtesy of © Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

The Twins are bringing Gio Urshela back where he belongs, as his once-famous walk-up music would suggest. A report from Daniel Álvarez-Montes states he has agreed to a minor-league deal, with an invitation to spring training. 

Urshela, 34, was a lineup stalwart for the Twins in his lone season with the club in 2022, and now he’ll hope to win a bench job out of spring camp. Many fans will remember him as one of the main pieces in the return package in the trade that sent Josh Donaldson to the New York Yankees. The Twins traded him to the Los Angeles Angels for minor-league pitcher Alejandro Hidalgo the following winter. 

Since leaving the Twins, Urshela has spent the last three seasons with the Angels, Detroit Tigers, and West Sacramento Athletics. While he was a well-above-average hitter in his lone season with the Twins (.285/.338/.429, 118 wRC+), his bat has dipped significantly since, combining for a .260/.298/.357 (81 wRC+) rate. In particular, Urshela has struggled against high velocity over the last two seasons. He has just a 26% Hard-Hit rate against pitches 95 MPH and above. According to Inside Edge, that’s tied for fourth-lowest in all of baseball in that time frame. Ironically enough, that rate is tied with Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who was also part of the Donaldson trade with the Yankees and recently signed a big-league deal with Boston. Regardless, it doesn’t bode well for the aging Urshela, even if his value always lay mostly in his defense.

Entering spring training, the veteran is hoping to prove he can still be a suitable depth piece in the Twins’ corner infield mix. With Royce Lewis penciled in as the full-time third baseman and some combination of Josh Bell, Kody Clemens and Victor Caratini manning first base, it looks to be a pretty tall task for the former fan favorite. He has mostly played third base since leaving Minnesota, and his glovework has suffered as he entered his mid-30s. His defense at the hot corner was worth -3 Outs Above Average in just 56 games last season with the Athletics. It is nice to note, at least, that he's effectively the opposite of Lewis in terms of swing characteristics, so he could have matchup value as a backup thereto, despite being a righty batter like Lewis. Whereas Lewis has a fast, flat, pull-oriented swing, Urshela uses a slow, steep one that can generate lift but also pushes the ball toward the opposite field.

Even with Urshela’s uphill battle to claim a roster spot, it doesn’t hurt the Twins to bring in a player on a minor-league deal. If he fails to make the team out of spring training, there would be plenty of opportunities for him to play with Triple-A St. Paul, should he accept the assignment. 

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What do you think about this signing? Are you glad to have Gio Urshela back in the mix with the Twins? Who else would you like to see the club bring in before the start of the 2026 season? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section, and as always, stay sweet. 

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[DJL44]

They sat on the sidelines when all the minor league free agents in their 20s were signed so now they're stuck signing has-beens with no upside.

[USAFChief]

Ugh.

I guess this is the "more investment" Tom Pohlad was speaking of.

 

[umterp23]

Dumpster diving mgmt at their “best.”  

[Cris E]

I posted this on MTR, but is he now the backup for Lewis? Who was the next 3B in line otherwise, Clemens?   It is worth pointing out that almost all the guys who played 3B in St Paul last year are out of the organization, and only Lee is still around from those who played there in Mpls in 2025. I hadn't noticed it until this signing, but it seems wild how there's no one left from last year. 

[Vanimal46]

30 minutes ago, Lou Hennessy said:

Are you glad to have Gio Urshela back in the mix with the Twins?

I realize this is a throwaway question at the end for commenting purposes, but who would say yes to this question? Best case scenario is he's just a warm body for camp. Worst case scenario he finds his way on the opening day roster.

[chpettit19]

4 minutes ago, Cris E said:

I posted this on MTR, but is he now the backup for Lewis? Who was the next 3B in line otherwise, Clemens?   It is worth pointing out that almost all the guys who played 3B in St Paul last year are out of the organization, and only Lee is still around from those who played there in Mpls in 2025. I hadn't noticed it until this signing, but it seems wild how there's no one left from last year. 

According to the official Twins website, Lewis is the backup to Gio...

[Cris E]

Well he has been healthier over the past four years...

[CRF]

Please stop with this nonsense.

[sweetmusicviola16]

It's an milb signing with an ST invite so I don't really care. I don't think there is a bad milb signing. But if he makes the team out of ST we have a huge problem. He's a poor 3B at this point and not much of an option at 2B with little experience at 1B. SS he should never play there. He isn't a player that a contender could use. 

 

But mostly we seem to have been picking up players that don't do much for us if anything at all.

[USAFChief]

20 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

According to the official Twins website, Lewis is the backup to Gio...

I laughed, but it's a bit of a nervous laugh...

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

48 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Ugh.

I guess this is the "more investment" Tom Pohlad was speaking of.

 

Clearly this is the kind of a move a team makes when they had their sights set on Valdez and Peralta.

[Danchat]

Great, now the AAA infield is ready to go... just need to fill out the MLB infield next!

[bean5302]

Falvey gonna Falvey Zoll gonna Falvey

[DJL44]

Paddack signs for $4M to pitch for the Marlins. He could have helped the Twins in the bullpen.

[bean5302]

23 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

I laughed, but it's a bit of a nervous laugh...

No kidding, so disrespectful to Royce... or is Royce hurt? Regardless, Urshela isn't an MLB caliber player. Not sure what this move is about at all.

[chpettit19]

49 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

I laughed, but it's a bit of a nervous laugh...

I had to do a few double checks and make sure I was on the real page.

[Deadfan]

39 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Paddack signs for $4M to pitch for the Marlins. He could have helped the Twins in the bullpen.

Now stop.....you know durn well the Twins dont just have 4mil sitting around to spend! 

[old nurse]

53 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Paddack signs for $4M to pitch for the Marlins. He could have helped the Twins in the bullpen.

😆😄🤣. 4 years of bad pitching. FIP may like him, but the scoreboard says otherwise 

[TJSweens]

Our quadruple A roster just keeps getting better and better. 

[mikelink45]

I guess they are trying to get us excited about ST!

This kind of transaction is no big deal if it is just a minor effort around some real moves, but I fear this might be the move!

[D.C Twins]

The missing piece to our championship run!!!!!!

[D.C Twins]

1 hour ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

It's an milb signing with an ST invite so I don't really care. I don't think there is a bad milb signing. But if he makes the team out of ST we have a huge problem. He's a poor 3B at this point and not much of an option at 2B with little experience at 1B. SS he should never play there. He isn't a player that a contender could use. 

 

But mostly we seem to have been picking up players that don't do much for us if anything at all.

...so....you are telling me he must be a reinforcement for the bullpen... Those Twins... always playing 4D Chess!

[OregonTwinsFan]

Nice that they are filling out the St. Paul roster...it looks like they should be pretty good. I just wish they would add to the big league club as well.

[sweetmusicviola16]

4 minutes ago, D.C Twins said:

...so....you are telling me he must be a reinforcement for the bullpen... Those Twins... always playing 4D Chess!

C'mon are you being serious? Reinforcement? Gio is going to be the closer along with infield. 8 innings playing between 3b,SS, 2b and 1B. Then he'll take the mound for the 9th.

[bean5302]

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

Paddack signs for $4M to pitch for the Marlins. He could have helped the Twins in the bullpen.

His 7.82 ERA as a reliever last year was definitely impressive. Probably about as good as Urshela on the mound.

[farmerguychris]

2 hours ago, umterp23 said:

Dumpster diving mgmt at their “best.”  

Who did you expect mgmt to sign with a budget of $0

[bean5302]

35 minutes ago, farmerguychris said:

Who did you expect mgmt to sign with a budget of $0

Tom Pohlad has stated there's still payroll capacity.

Minnesota's projected payroll is about 50% higher than the lowest team in MLB, but it's likely going to remain soundly in the bottom 1/3rd. Probably 24th-25th.

[USAFChief]

51 minutes ago, farmerguychris said:

Who did you expect mgmt to sign with a budget of $0

If they had a budget of $0 how did they sign Gio Urshela??

 

[USAFChief]

1 hour ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

C'mon are you being serious? Reinforcement? Gio is going to be the closer along with infield. 8 innings playing between 3b,SS, 2b and 1B. Then he'll take the mound for the 9th.

And like Eddie Feigner, when Gio takes the mound, he don't even need a 3rd baseman. Or 2nd baseman.  

Or an outfield.