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New York Yankees have their shortstop in…Gio Urshela?

By David Hill

Oct 1, 2021; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees shortstop Gio Urshela (29) throws to first base against the Tampa Bay Rays during the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2021; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees shortstop Gio Urshela (29) throws to first base against the Tampa Bay Rays during the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports /
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There was a time when the shortstop position appeared to be a priority for the New York Yankees. Gleyber Torres was moved to second base to try to get some value from him defensively, leaving a hole in the lineup. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman was on record as saying that they needed an upgrade at the position.

That message changed as the offseason, and then the lockout, went on. First they stated that they would not be playing at the top of the free agent market. Then they said that they would not trade either of their top shortstop prospects. Now, they are saying they just want a stopgap at the position so as to leave an opening for either Anthony Volpe or Oswald Peraza in 2023.

New York Yankees have found their shortstop

This led to the belief that the Yankees would look to bring in a player on a one year deal. Whether that would be through a disappointing free agent target or trading for the likes of Didi Gregorius, someone was going to have to man the position in 2022 until they were ready. Instead, the Yankees’ new shortstop is someone on the roster – Gio Urshela.

Urshela, at the very least, has some experience at short. That experience is a total of 41 games in the majors however, with 28 of those appearances coming last year. He was relatively decent with the glove in that time, costing the Yankees just one run despite his lack of experience at the position.

While the Yankees needed help at short, this is essentially a matter of them shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic. Torres was a disaster defensively at short, costing the Yankees 25 runs in four seasons at the position, so he moves to second. Urshela takes care of that opening by moving to short. Now there is an opening at third as well as the gaping hole at first. Unless Miguel Andujar is suddenly back in their plans, they still need to fill another hole in the infield.

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The New York Yankees claim that they have their shortstop in Gio Urshela. They are just shuffling that opening around the infield.

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