Should Cubs look at Yuli Gurriel for infield depth?

Jay Biggerstaff - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese - Senior Writer - Tuesday, February 18 2025

After news broke late last week that Alexander Canario would be seeing reps at first, the response was about as you expected it to be. The first thought that came to mind was concerning, as Canario had never played first base before and is now taking reps behind Michael Busch.

Coming off an impressive rookie season, Busch is expected to be the man at first again this season and will be counted on a ton to produce in the middle of the lineup. While he flashed his potential last season, Busch still struggled to hit left-handers, a concern heading into this season. The Cubs will allow Busch to show he can hit lefties, but should he struggle out of the gates, don't be surprised to see him see less time against southpaws.

That is why the Cubs need to find a reliable backup to Busch and one who can hit lefties well enough to form a platoon at first. Justin Turner continues to be the most logical fit, especially considering he has third- and first-base experience. Turner is much older than the Cubs typically target, but his consistent production can't be ignored, and the Cubs will continue to monitor his market.

Mark Canha has also been a name linked to the Cubs as he crushes left-handed pitching and can play multiple positions, including outfield and first base. Like Turner, Canha would be a logical option for the Cubs, but for whatever reason, they haven't been linked to him as much as you thought they would be.

With both players as options but still on the open market, the Cubs have taken it a step further and decided to look at internal options as potential backup fits for first base. Jon Berti saw time at first, but as of today, it seems like Alexander Canario is the top internal option behind Busch.

You get the thought process behind it when you look at his ability to hit left-handed pitching, but with no prior experience at first base, there are some concerns about whether or not he can handle the position. Knowing that, the Cubs need to look for another alternative option, and Yuli Gurriel could be had on a Minor League deal.

Of all the potential first-base free agents that remain on the open market, Gurriel not only makes a ton of sense for the Cubs but is someone who could sign a minor-league deal similar to Nicky Lopez and be given a chance to earn an MLB roster spot in Spring. Not only that, but he comes with experience at both first and third base, so should he make the team, he would instantly become the backup to both positions.

Although not as well-decorated as his brother Lourdes, Yuli has had a solid MLB career up to this point and should be able to produce even with a decreased role in 2025. The 32-year-old has been with the Majors since 2016, where he has served as both a starter and backup utility infielder for most of his career.

For the most part, Gurriel has been an extremely productive hitter, posting a career average of .280 and 98 career homers. That includes several seasons of an average north of .290 and a career-high of .319 in 2021. Gurriel has also played a ton throughout his career, as six of his nine seasons have seen him play at least 108 games. That is all you can ask for from a reserve-type player, but he wouldn't be asked to play nearly that many games in 2025 unless injuries played a factor.

As reliable as he has been most of his career, 2024 was arguably the worst season for various reasons. For starters, Gurriel was limited to just 18 games in 2024, so he wasn't given much chance to produce with the Braves. In those 18 games, he hit .241 with zero homers and six RBIs, as he didn't have the plate appearances he was accustomed to.

Considering his production in 2023 and 2022, last season was just one of those years where the team he played for wasn't a good fit. Now, at the back end of his career, Gurriel is at the point where he knows the type of role he can expect. Signing a minor league deal with the Cubs wouldn't be the worst thing, as they could be the team that gives him the best opportunity to land on a big league roster for 2025.