Tigers Release José Urquidy After Declining 2026 Option
José Urquidy is now a free agent after the Detroit Tigers declined his $4 million club option for the 2026 season. Earlier in spring training, the Tigers signed Urquidy to a one-year, $1 million major league contract with a $4 million option for 2026, despite his Tommy John surgery in June 2024 that prevented him from pitching before late summer.
Limited Contributions from Pitching Staff
By the end of the 2025 season, Urquidy and Alex Cobb were grouped among Tigers pitchers whose signings raised doubts due to minimal usage. Cobb did not pitch at all in 2025, while Urquidy appeared in only 2⅓ innings after returning from injury in September, posting a 7.71 ERA before accepting a voluntary assignment to the minors.
Additional bullpen challenges
Paul Sewald, acquired from the Guardians at the trade deadline, shared a similar fate. The Tigers placed him on the 60-day injured list upon acquisition, and he pitched just 4⅓ innings after being reinstated in September.
"The Tigers' bullpen strategy was impossible to parse out at the time — they were sending down and calling up relievers seemingly at random in a far more disorganized version of pitching chaos — but Urquidy's demotion certainly didn't bode well for his status with the team in 2026."
Summary
The Tigers' 2025 pitching roster faced significant instability, with several veterans either sidelined or underperforming, casting doubt on their contributions for the upcoming season.
Author's summary: The Tigers’ 2025 pitching staff struggled with injuries and inconsistent usage, leading to free agency decisions and uncertainty about future contributions.