Yulieski Gourriel has been officially declared an MLB free agent and as he defects from Cuba, he brings a lot of intrigue with him.
The 32-year-old was a stud in Cuba, batting an astounding .500 with 15 homers in 49 games last season and owning a .355/.417/.580 slash line in his career.
Gourriel has mostly played third base in his career, but he is also well acclimated at second and can play almost anywhere, making him a versatile option for clubs in need of an upgrade. There are many teams reportedly interested in the infielder, but here are three of the best fits around the league.
1) Mets
New York is slated to host a workout for Gourriel next week, and he certainly makes sense for the club. David Wright is likely lost for the year with a neck injury, and even if he does make it back, it's uncertain what he has left at this point. The Mets reportedly haven't ruled out the possibility of a reunion with Jose Reyes, who is set to hit free agency on Saturday after being placed on waivers by the Rockies.
While Reyes was once the eye of the Big Apple, his skills are diminished at age 33 and he's coming off of a domestic violence incident with his wife, which caused the MLB to suspend him for 52 games.
The Mets could try to facilitate a trade to bring in the likes of Danny Valencia, but signing Gourriel -- though risky -- will only cost them money, not any personnel. The Mets (38-33) trail the Nationals (43-30) by four games entering Friday and rank 28th in the MLB in runs scored -- so a lineup shakeup is needed.
2) Dodgers
Los Angeles brought in Gourriel in for a work out on Wednesday, according to MLB.com, and is one of the many teams reportedly interested in landing him. Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner is hitting just .244 this season, while second baseman Chase Utley is batting .262, but isn't a long-term solution at the position at age 37.
Turner has heated up in June with a .263/.305/.579 slash line, while Utley has been trending in the opposite direction, hitting a ghastly .203/.292/.266 this month. The Dodgers (41-33) are trying to catch the Giants (47-27) -- in an even year no less -- and enter Friday trailing them by six games, so adding Gourriel and having him bounce between the two positions isn't a bad idea.
3) Royals
The defending World Series champions are in desperate need of some stability as they've had the streakiest year in recent memory. Kansas City lost a key piece when third baseman Mike Moustakas was gone for the year. Despite their streaky nature -- going 1-7 from June 1-8 and then 8-2 the rest of the month before a two-game sweep at the hands of the Mets -- the Royals (38-30) are just three games behind the Indians (41-30) entering Friday.
The inexperienced Cheslor Cuthbert has taken over at the hot corner, but the Royals could bring in Gourriel in hopes of upgrading there. He could also replace AL Rookie of the Year candidate Whit Merrifield if he beings to struggle at second base, or take a corner outfield spot or slot in as the DH should the need arise.
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