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Pittsburgh has added a familiar face to its pitching staff, agreeing to a one-year, $1.5 million contract with right-hander Jose Urquidy, as first reported by Will Sammon of Teh Athletic and confirmed by Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The deal includes incentive opportunities for the 30-year-old.
A Familiar Arm for Murphy
The Pirates are bolstering their pitching depth with a former Astros player who worked with their new pitching coach.
- Urquidy joins the Pirates on a one-year, $1.5 million deal with incentives.
- He previously played with the Astros and will reunite with the Pirates’ new pitching coach.
- The Pirates are adding depth to their rotation, which already includes Paul Skenes and Mitch Keller.
Prior to joining the Pirates,Urquidy spent time with the Tigers,signing a one-year,$1 million contract with a $4 million club option for 2026. He returned from the injured list in September but pitched only 2 1/3 innings at the major league level before being optioned. He performed well in the minors (2.91 ERA, 22.2% strikeout rate, 6.2% walk rate over 21 2/3 innings), but struggled in his limited big league action. The Tigers declined their 2026 option, making him a free agent.
What Role Will He Play?
Now with the Pirates, Urquidy represents a potentially shrewd acquisition. His preference for a changeup as his primary offspeed pitch results in critically important reverse splits, with left-handed hitters struggling against him (.203/.257/.362) while right-handed hitters have had more success (.267/.314/.468). A move from Houston’s hitter-amiable ballpark to Pittsburgh, which is less conducive to home runs, could further benefit his performance.
the 31-year-old (in May) will compete for a spot in a deep Pirates rotation.
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