Tigers Sever Ties with World Series Champion Pitcher José Urquidy
The Detroit Tigers decided not to retain José Urquidy, a once-decorated starting pitcher who struggled with health and performance issues since his peak in 2022.
Career Highlights and Recent Struggles
Three years ago, Urquidy was at the top of his game as a member of the 2022 World Series champion Houston Astros rotation. However, since then, he has faced numerous setbacks:
- Limited to 16 appearances in 2023 due to health concerns.
- Missed the entire 2024 season recovering from Tommy John surgery.
- Made only two appearances in his debut season with the Tigers in 2025.
Tigers' Decision and Performance
The Tigers owned a $4 million club option for Urquidy for the 2026 season but announced on Thursday that they would decline it, making him a free agent for the second consecutive offseason.
During his brief time with Detroit, Urquidy allowed two earned runs over 2⅓ innings at the major league level. He showed better results in minor-league rehab stints, pitching to a 2.91 ERA over 21⅔ innings with Class-A Lakeland and Triple-A Toledo.
Postseason Record and Notable Achievements
Though he hasn’t pitched many innings recently, Urquidy has been a reliable postseason figure for the Astros, appearing every year from 2019 to 2023. His career postseason stats include a 4-2 record and a 4.08 ERA over 15 games and 46⅓ innings.
“José Urquidy was the winning pitcher in Games 2 and 5 of the 2021 World Series, the only two games Houston won in that Fall Classic loss to the Atlanta Braves.”
At 30 years old, Urquidy is now seeking to revive his career after a difficult stretch marked by injury and limited playing time.
Summary: Once a key contributor to the Astros' World Series success, José Urquidy faces an uncertain future after the Tigers declined their option, highlighting his ongoing battle to regain form after injuries.