Season in Review: Luis Urías and the A’s Brief but Timely Partnership

Luis Urías didn’t arrive in Oakland with much fanfare, but he left having played a meaningful role in a transitional year for the A’s. Signed late in the offseason, Urías was brought in as a veteran infield option-a low-cost, low-risk move for a team still deep in its rebuild. And for a while, it worked out exactly as both sides hoped.

The Signing: A Quiet Addition with Purpose

Coming off a few up-and-down years and entering free agency for the first time, Urías wasn’t exactly a hot commodity last winter. But the A’s saw an opportunity. On February 17, they inked the 28-year-old to a $1.1 million deal-hardly a headline-grabbing move, but one that made sense for a club looking for infield insurance.

With Zack Gelof still viewed as the second baseman of the future but struggling to find his footing in 2024, the A’s needed a Plan B. Urías, a former top prospect with experience across the infield, fit the bill. He brought versatility, a solid glove, and just enough offensive upside to justify the gamble.

Opportunity Knocks

Urías didn’t have to wait long for his chance. Just before Opening Day, Gelof went down with a wrist injury, opening the door for Urías to step into a regular role. While rookie Max Muncy got the initial nod at second base, it didn’t take long for Urías to carve out more playing time, eventually pushing Muncy over to third.

And to his credit, Urías made the most of the opportunity-at least early on. He came out swinging in April and May, hitting .244 with five home runs in the first two months of the season. It wasn’t eye-popping, but it was steady production from a guy who hadn’t been guaranteed a roster spot just weeks earlier.

By the All-Star break, Urías had logged a .239/.320/.363 slash line with seven homers-respectable numbers for a stopgap infielder on a team trying to bridge the gap to its next core. His bat cooled off in the second half, though, and the drop-off was steep. Post-break, he hit just .197/.296/.246 with a single home run, and as his production tailed off, so did his playing time.

The End of the Oakland Chapter

With the trade deadline passing and Gelof working his way back to full health, the A’s made a move on August 28, designating Urías for assignment. The decision cleared the way for Gelof to reclaim his spot and gave Urías a shot at joining a contender in need of infield depth.

That opportunity came in the form of a reunion with the Milwaukee Brewers, a club he knew well. But this time, he didn’t make it back to the big league roster, spending the final month of the season in Triple-A.

What’s Next?

When the dust settled, Urías had appeared in a decent chunk of the season, finishing with a .230/.315/.338 line and eight home runs, playing almost exclusively at second base. It wasn’t a breakout campaign, but it was serviceable-especially considering where expectations were when he signed.

Now 29 and back on the market, Urías finds himself in familiar territory: searching for a team willing to take a flyer. His second-half struggles will likely keep him in the low-cost category, and if offers don’t materialize quickly, he could be looking at a minor league deal with a spring training invite.

As for the A’s, they got what they needed-a steady veteran presence who helped bridge the gap while Gelof recovered. With their focus shifting toward internal development, they’ll likely turn to in-house options moving forward. But for a few months in 2025, Luis Urías gave them exactly what they needed: experience, versatility, and a professional approach at a position in flux.