Detroit Tigers decline $4 million club option on José Urquidy, making him free agent
José Urquidy is a free agent.
Urquidy, a 30-year-old right-hander, won't return to the Detroit Tigers in the 2026 season after the Tigers declined his $4 million club option before the Thursday, Nov. 6, deadline for contract-option decisions. He shared the news during a Wednesday press conference , one day before his offseason debut with Venados de Mazatlán in the Mexican Pacific League.
There isn't a buyout in the contract.
Had the Tigers accepted, Urquidy would've received $4 million in 2026, with another $3 million available in incentives tied to games started, which could've pushed the total value to $7 million.
MONEY MATTERS: Tigers 2026 payroll projection: About $115 million, providing flexibility to spend
The Tigers signed an injured Urquidy – recovering from his second Tommy John surgery – to a one-year, $1 million contract with a $4 million club option in March . He joined the Tigers in mid-September after an 11-game rehab assignment, but he only pitched in two games, both as a reliever.
It marked his first MLB experience in two years.
In those two games, Urquidy posted a 7.71 ERA with three walks and three strikeouts across 2⅓ innings. The biggest issue? He struggled to command his pitches.
The Tigers didn't use Urquidy in any of their eight postseason games. He was left off both the best-of-three AL wild-card series roster and the best-of-five ALDS roster.
COMING SOON: Tigers 2026 spring training schedule: Grapefruit League begins Feb. 21 in Tampa
Urquidy has pitched for the Houston Astros (2019-23) and Tigers (2025) throughout his six-year MLB career, registering a 4.00 ERA across 407⅓ innings in 81 games (70 starts). He pitched for the Astros in the World Series in 2019, 2021 and 2022, combining for a 1.23 ERA in 14⅔ innings.
He won the World Series in 2022.
He also underwent Tommy John surgery in 2017, then again in 2024.
The Astros signed Urquidy out of Mexico in March 2015.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers decline José Urquidy club option for 2026 season
