AL West Check-In: A’s add former Mariners 3B, extend manager

Luis Urías is staying in the AL West, signing with the Athletics on a one-year contract, the team announced Monday.

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Urías spent the 2024 season with the Seattle Mariners organization. Acquired by the M’s in an offseason trade with the Boston Red Sox, Urías was expected to be one of Seattle’s primary third basemen but struggled to stick with the big league club as he didn’t do enough with the bat to make up for sub-par defense.

We have agreed to terms with infielder Luis Urías on a one-year contract for the 2025 season. pic.twitter.com/BuCsaFhWNg

— Athletics (@Athletics) February 17, 2025

In 2024, Urías appeared in 41 games with the Mariners, slashing .191/.303/.394 for a .696 OPS with four home runs. He made the majority of his appearances last season with Triple-A Tacoma, slashing .260/.378/.413 for a .791 OPS with 10 homers.

The 27-year-old Urías had his best season in 2021 with the Milwaukee Brewers when he hit a career-high 23 homers and slashed .249/.345/.445 for a .789 OPS.

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Dan Hayes of The Athletics reported earlier this month that the Minnesota Twins checked in on Urías as a potential addition. The Twins ultimately added a different former Mariners infielder, Ty France.

The A’s had a 69-93 record last season, which was a 19-win improvement over a 112-loss season in 2023. The team appears to be on the rise with a young lineup that includes Brent Rooker, Shea Langeliers, Lawrence Butler and JJ Bleday.

A’s extend Kotsay

Also announced Monday, the Athletics and manager Mark Kotsay have agreed to a contract extension through the 2028 season that includes a club option for 2029.

The announcement of the deal coincided with the team’s first full-squad workout of spring training.

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The 49-year-old Kotsay is in his fourth season with the Athletics, leading the franchise through a period of upheaval that’s included a move from Oakland to Sacramento, California, where they’ll play at a minor league stadium for the next few seasons. The eventual plan is to end up in Las Vegas.

Rooker finalized a $60 million, five-year deal with the A’s during the offseason while right-hander Luis Severino inked a $67 million, three-year contract, signaling that the normally frugal franchise was willing to open its wallet as it tries to compete in the AL West.

Kotsay originally had a three-year contract covering 2022-24 and in November 2023 the team exercised his 2025 option. Now the manager and former big league outfielder has some job security as the team starts its tenure in Sacramento.

The Associated Press contributed to this post.

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