MLB

Ex-Yankee Gio Urshela signs with Tigers after Mets interest

Gio Urshela has found a new home.

The former Yankees third baseman, who spent last season with the Angels, signed with the Tigers on Thursday, the team announced.

The 32-year-old received a one-year contract worth $1.5 million, the team confirmed.

Urshela, a strong defensive infielder, can earn up to $500,000 in incentives based on plate appearance thresholds — $100,000 each for 500, 530, 560, 590 and 620 plate appearances.

Former Yankees infielder Gio Urshela has signed with the Tigers.
Former Yankees infielder Gio Urshela has signed with the Tigers. Charles Wenzelberg/NY Post

Outfielder T.J. Hopkins was designated for assignment to make room for Urshela on the 40-man roster.

The Mets had expressed interested in Urshela back in December, The Post’s Mark W. Sanchez reported, in the wake of Ronny Mauricio’s torn ACL.

Urshela played only 62 games with Los Angeles in 2023 due to suffering a pelvis injury after falling while running out a ground ball against the Rangers.

Urshela still had a .299 batting average and added two home runs with 24 RBIs.

The Yankees acquired Urshela from the Blue Jays for cash in 2018, and he appeared in 291 regular-season games from 2019-21 for the Bronx Bombers.

Urshela was a big surprise at the plate in his first season in pinstripes, slashing .314/.355/.534 with 21 home runs, 34 doubles and 74 RBIs in 476 plate appearances.

Gio Urshela spent last season with the Angels.
Gio Urshela spent last season with the Angels. AP

In the 2019 playoffs, Urshela homered in the fourth inning of Game 6 of the ALCS, bringing the Yankees within a run to the Houston Astros, who won the series that night.

In the shortened 2020 season, Urshela was an American League Gold Glove Award finalist.

Urshela, who began his career with Cleveland, was traded by the Yankees to the Twins in 2022 in the deal that sent Gary Sanchez to Minnesota for Josh Donaldson, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Ben Rortvedt.

The Tigers now have a few players who can play third base, adding Urshela to a group with Andy Ibañez, Zach McKinstry and Matt Vierling.

McKinstry and Vierling can play in the outfield, whereas Urshela and Ibañez will likely play all of their reps in the infield.

Urshela played a career-high 144 games with the Twins in 2022, hitting .285 with 13 home runs and a .767 OPS.