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Detroit Tigers sign injured José Urquidy to 1-year, $1 million contract with club option
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- Detroit Tigers sign injured José Urquidy to 1-year, $1 million contract with club option
DUNEDIN, Fla. — The Detroit Tigers on Saturday signed right-hander José Urquidy to a one-year, $1 million contract, but he isn't in the mix to make the Opening Day roster.
The deal includes a $4 million club option for 2026.
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Urquidy, who turns 30 in early May, underwent Tommy John surgery on June 5, 2024, so there's uncertainty about his status for the 2025 season. That's why the Tigers signed him with a club option attached for the 2026 season.
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Jose Urquidy of the Houston Astros pitches in the first inning against the Texas Rangers during Game 4 of the ALCS at Globe Life Field on Oct. 19, 2023 in Arlington, Texas.
The Tigers have placed Urquidy and right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long , both recovering from Tommy John surgery, on the 60-day injured list, leaving 39 players on the 40-man roster.
For Urquidy, it's unclear when — or if — he will be ready to pitch in 2025.
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If the Tigers exercise the club option, Urquidy can earn up to $3 million in performance bonuses throughout the 2026 season, maxing his contract at two years, $8 million.
Here are the performance bonuses: $150,000 each for four and seven games started as a pitcher, $300,000 each for 10, 13, 16 and 19 games started as a pitcher, and $500,000 each for each 22, 25 and 28 games started as a pitcher.
The five-year MLB veteran hasn't pitched since the 2023 season, posting a 5.29 ERA with 25 walks and 45 strikeouts across 63 innings in 16 games (10 starts) for the Houston Astros . He also made three appearances in the postseason, including two starts.
Urquidy started the 2024 campaign on the injured list with a right forearm strain, and by early June, he underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery.
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Before Tommy John surgery, Urquidy threw five pitch types with the Astros in 2023: four-seam fastball, changeup, sweeper, curveball and sinker. His fastball averaged 93.1 mph, while his changeup and sweeper had whiff rates above 35%.
Urquidy — whom the Astros signed out of Mexico in March 2015 — owns a 3.98 ERA throughout his MLB career, from 2019-23. Before joining the Tigers, he spent his entire professional career with the Astros.
He won the World Series in 2022.
The Tigers have now signed six players to MLB contracts in the 2024-25 offseason, with Urquidy joining right-hander Jack Flaherty (two years, $35 million), infielder Gleyber Torres (one year, $15 million), right-hander Alex Cobb (one year, $15 million), right-handed reliever Tommy Kahnle (one year, $7.75 million) and right-handed reliever John Brebbia (one year, $2.75 million).
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Additionally, the Tigers signed left-handed reliever Andrew Chafin to a minor league contract.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold .
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: José Urquidy signs with Tigers on 1-year contract
