Tigers Decline José Urquidy's 2026 Club Option
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 signed Urquidy to a one-year, $1 million major league deal with a $4 million club option for 2026, despite his recent Tommy John surgery in June 2024 that ruled him out until late summer.
Limited Contributions from Urquidy and Cobb
By season's end, Urquidy and Alex Cobb became part of a group of Tigers pitchers whose signings appeared questionable from the start. Cobb did not pitch at all in 2025, while Urquidy managed just 2⅓ innings after his September return from the injured list, posting a 7.71 ERA before voluntarily accepting a demotion to the minor leagues.
Paul Sewald Also Struggled with Injuries
Paul Sewald, acquired in a trade from the Guardians at the deadline, joined this group as well. Immediately placed on the 60-day injured list, Sewald pitched only 4⅓ innings after being activated in September.
Unclear Bullpen Strategy Amid Pitching Chaos
The Tigers' bullpen management throughout the season was erratic, with relievers frequently being sent down and recalled unpredictably. Urquidy’s demotion particularly hinted at uncertainty regarding his future role with the team in 2026.
“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.”
Author's summary: The Tigers’ recent pitching moves underscore uncertainty as key pitchers like Urquidy, Cobb, and Sewald struggled with injuries and inconsistent roles, casting doubt on their future contributions.