Former Yankees fan favorite joins Luis Severino on minor-league Athletics for 2025

Another former New York Yankees player is on the move, in what has been a busy offseason for those who once donned the pinstripes. Some immediate changes featured Juan Soto and Clay Holmes joining the Mets.

A few weeks ago, Luis Severino signed a record-breaking contract with the location-less Athletics, and the three-year, $67 million deal was the largest in team history. He now has some familiar company after Thursday night's news.

Gio Urshela is also signing with the A's after spending 2024 with the Detroit Tigers and Atlanta Braves. Though it's now far in the rearview, Urshela's time with the Yankees was special, and fans absolutely loved him.

His grand slam against the Guardians in the 2020 Wild Card round was among his defining moments, as was his reckless effort to catch a ball while flying into the Rays dugout during Game 162 in 2021. That got the Yankees into the playoffs.

But then Urshela was traded alongside Gary Sánchez in the historically bad Josh Donaldson deal with the Twins, and his career has kind of gone by the wayside.

Former Yankees star Gio Urshela signs with Athletics in free agency

The stink of that Donaldson deal didn't go away until last offseason, either. What a mess. Glad it's finally over, though.

Yankees fans thought the team might reunite with Urshela last season when the Tigers designated him for assignment. New York badly needed infield depth, especially with Jazz Chisholm playing out of position, Anthony Volpe struggling offensively, Gleyber Torres not finding his footing until mid-August, and the roster having no first baseman of any kind.

But the Yankees passed and Urshela landed with the Braves, assisting Atlanta in their playoff push that ended prematurely against the Padres in the Wild Card round. He provided an immediate spark in his 36 games but the Braves opted to move on.

As the A's look to get back in the league's good graces following their messy move and disgraceful behavior in free agency for years, Yankees fans are hoping for the best with Urshela, who definitely deserves better than what he's gotten since 2022.