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Infielder Gio Urshela, Tigers reach 1-year, $1.5M deal

Infielder Gio Urshela and the Detroit Tigers agreed on a one-year, $1.5 million contract, the team announced Thursday.

Urshela, 32, should help at third base and can play a variety of positions -- he has also started games at second base, shortstop and first base and has played in the outfield in his career.

His ability to hit left-handers (.290 career average) suited what Detroit has sought this winter.

Last season, with the Los Angeles Angels, he hit .299 with two home runs and 24 RBIs in 62 games. Urshela broke his left pelvis last June 15 when he fell awkwardly at first base while trying to beat out a grounder. He had an $8.4 million salary last year in his final season of arbitration eligibility.

He is a career .277 hitter with 64 homers and 280 RBIs in 664 games with Cleveland, the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins and Angels.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.