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Gyorko

The MLB Draft League is being introduced this year as the first league in the country focused on top prospects who are eligible to be drafted by MLB teams this summer. The schedule will consist of six teams and 68 games, beginning on May 24. Gyorko will manage the West Virginia Black Bears while other managers include Coco Crisp (Mahoning Valley Scrappers), Jeff Manto (Trenton Thunder), Derrick May (Frederick Keys) and Delwyn Young (State College Spikes), and Billy Horton (Williamsport Crosscutters). Gyorko is only 32 years old and had a .838 OPS over 42 games with the Brewers last season, so it was a little surprising he was unable to find a job this winter. He’s not officially retired, but obviously he’s thinking about the next step in his career.

He’ll get a $1 million buyout instead. Gyorko’s .838 OPS easily led the Brewers in 2020, and he belted nine home runs over 135 plate appearances. Add another reasonable option that’s been declined to the list.

Gyorko tagged Cardinals’ starter Daniel Ponce de Leon for the two-run blast in the fourth inning, giving the Brewers a 2-1 lead. That would be the last time they would score. Gyorko finished the night 1-for-3 plus a walk. He has done a nice job at the plate this season, slashing .286/.369/.635 with eight homers and 14 RBI.

One of the long balls came off of outfielder Travis Demeritte, who was asked to pitch the ninth inning with the Tigers down 15-0 at the time. Gyorko also took starter Matthew Boyd deep earlier in the game. The veteran infielder has given the Brew Crew exactly what they hoped for this season as a designated lefty masher, as Gyorko is now sporting a 1.051 OPS with seven homers, five of which came against southpaws.

Gyorko had been away for the last couple days. Reliever Justin Topa was optioned in a corresponding move.

Gyorko is expected to rejoin the team on Friday. He’s mostly seen time at first base of late, so Justin Smoak will cover things for now.

Gyorko should have been taken more seriously in free agency over the winter, and the Brewers got themselves a nice little bargain after signing him to a $2 million deal in January. He has five homers and a .984 OPS in 43 plate appearances while playing primarily against lefties this season. Since the team isn’t getting much production at first or third against righties, it’s time to try Gyorko in an expanded role.

Gyorko got the Brewers on the board in the third inning when he swatted a Gio Gonzalez fastball to center field to plate Christian Yelich, and he drove himself in when he lined a two-run shot over the boards in left field in the fifth. The homer was the first of the year for Gyorko, and his first as a member of the Brewers after he signed a one-year, $2 million contract this past winter. The 31-year-old has been passable in seven games thus far, hitting .267/.313/.533 while manning the hot corner and hitting in the middle part of the lineup for the Crew.

The deal includes a club option for 2021 worth $4.5 million, with a $1 million buyout. His base salary for 2021 can increase to $5.5 million if he reaches 400 plate appearances and $7 million if he reaches 500 plate appearances. Gyorko is coming off an injury-plagued year, but he could be in line for a platoon role at third base with the Brewers.

The financial details of the deal aren’t available yet. Gyorko put up a lowly .498 OPS over an injury-shortened 2019 campaign, but he crushed lefties the previous couple years and could make for a solid platoon partner with Eric Sogard at third base.