José Urquidy announced he is a free agent after the Detroit Tigers declined his $4 million club option for the 2026 season. Earlier in spring training, the Tigers had signed Urquidy to a one-year, $1 million major league deal with that option, despite him undergoing Tommy John surgery in June 2024 and not being expected to pitch until late summer.
Urquidy only pitched 2 1/3 innings after returning from the injured list in September 2025, finishing with a 7.71 ERA before accepting a voluntary assignment to the minors. Alongside him, Alex Cobb did not appear in any games during 2025, and Paul Sewald, who was acquired at the trade deadline, only pitched 4 1/3 innings after being added to the 60-day injured list and reinstated in September.
By the end of the season, Urquidy and Cobb were grouped with other Tigers pitchers whose signings raised doubts. The bullpen management seemed chaotic, with frequent and unpredictable moves between the majors and minors.
"Urquidy's demotion certainly didn't bode well for his status with the team in 2026."
The Tigers' recent pitching staff decisions reveal uncertainty around several key pitchers, reflecting both injury setbacks and a disorganized bullpen approach.
Author’s note: The Tigers face challenges in their pitching roster after declining key options and dealing with injury-related limited playtime.