The Mets have checked in on a former Yankee as they consider their alternatives at third base.
According to a source, David Stearns & Co. have shown interest in free agent Gio Urshela.
In the wake of Ronny Mauricio’s injury, the Mets appear to be at least exploring an experienced infielder, even though no agreement with Urshela appeared likely.
During the early December Winter Meetings, Stearns had hinted that Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, and Mauricio—three highly promising but unproven prospects—would be the internal choice to start at third base for the Mets.
Then, while participating in the Dominican Winter League, Mauricio injured his ACL, potentially ending his season before it started and altering the organization’s perspective.
Also, as a source informed Mike Puma of The Post earlier this month, the Mets have held talks with veteran infielder Justin Turner.
At this point in his career, Turner, 39, is more of a DH bat than a glove, while Urshela, 32, is a lighter hitter but a superior defensive option.
Urshela had been having a good, if unspectacular, season with the Angels when he suffered a broken pelvis in mid-June that ended his season.
Despite his.299 batting average, he was more useful on the field, having only two home runs in 62 games.
Throughout his eight-year career, the sure-handed fielder has played every position around the diamond, but he has spent the most of it at third base, where he has shown the greatest versatility.
Urshela’s participation in the Colombian winter league indicates that he did not require pelvic surgery, which is encouraging for his health.
Earlier this offseason, Stearns stated that former Yankee Luis Severino had “demonstrated that he has performed in New York.” In his first months as the Mets head of baseball operations, Stearns has already signed Severino.
“Carlos knows what it takes to lead, especially here in New York,” Stearns said in a statement naming Carlos Mendoza as the team’s new manager and a former coach of the Yankees.
Urshela makes sense if a track record of managing the city stage is absolutely essential.
In 2018, the Yankees acquired Urshela from the Blue Jays as an unproven prospect. The following season, he proved to be a vital asset.
Using a dazzling glove and a.889 OPS with 21 home runs in 132 games, Urshela made a splash in 2019.
Before a quieter (.720 OPS) 2021 season, Urshela was reliable in the abbreviated 2020 season and occasionally spectacular in that year’s postseason (his game-winning grand slam in Game 2 of the wild-card round helped seal the series in Cleveland).
In March 2022, he was traded to the Twins as part of the deal that sent Josh Donaldson and Isiah Kiner-Falefa to the Yankees.
Urshela was traded to the Angels after just one season in Minnesota.
Urshela’s longstanding bond with Francisco Lindor—the two came up through Cleveland’s system together—might be helping her.
Relationship with Mendoza, who was bench coach for Urshela while he was a player in the Bronx after serving as the Yankees’ quality control/infield coach, is undoubtedly helping him.
Turner might cost a little bit more than Urshela, who earned $8.4 million in his final season of arbitration last year.
Donovan Solano, Evan Longoria, and Matt Chapman are some more third basemen available.
The Mets may decide to stick with their original strategy and hope that either Vientos, who has trained with Lindor this winter, improves offensively and defensively, or the 24-year-old Baty recovers from a difficult, first-long look in the majors.
Joey Wendle, a utility guy, may also receive chances at third.