The Detroit Tigers are not considered a powerhouse in the MLB at the moment. Although it can hardly be argued that they are a team on the rise that boasts of a mix of young talent and experienced veterans. However, to build a team capable of taking on the established powers in the AL Central, they need someone with more than just talent and potential. They need a proven championship pedigree. Someone whose arrival becomes the first step in their ambitious journey. That’s where former World Series winner Jose Urquidy comes in.
After an injury-plagued season, the Astros released Urquidy to free agency, and the Tigers seized the opportunity to sign the veteran pitcher. Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 confirmed this signing via social media. While the news has been met with excitement, it is also tempered by concerns about his health struggles. After all, despite being an integral part of their World Series-winning team, the Astros let Urquidy go because he failed to make a comeback from a forearm strain for the entirety of 2024.
Source: RHP Jose Urquidy has signed a deal with the #Tigers. pic.twitter.com/M3IO3eVPBd
— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) March 8, 2025
He had to eventually undergo the second Tommy John surgery of his career and is still recovering from it. After missing the entirety of last season, he is also expected to miss a large chunk of the upcoming season as well. Despite the anticipated absence, the Tigers clearly believe his potential outweighs the risk. They are betting on the veteran giving a much-needed boost to their pitching rotation and strengthening their playoff push.
Detroit Tigers’ signing of Jose Urquidy is more than just a simple investment in a World Series winner. The contact structure is clearly strategic and calculated as they carefully tread between risk and value. The true intrigue, however, lies in the structure of the deal’s 2026 club option, which is crafted to provide the team with a safety net. The pitcher is signed to a one-year, $1 million deal for the 2025 season. But he is also eligible for a $4,000,000 deal for the 2026 campaign. This amount, though, is reliant on a series of incentives.
The bonus structure is tiered, rewarding Urquidy for his on-field performances that tie directly to the team’s success. He can earn $150,000 for reaching four and seven starts. This is clearly done in order for him to maintain his health and form amid the current recovery process. The team will reward him further the more games he starts for them. Urquidy will pocket $300,000 bonuses for 10, 13, 16, and 19 starts. The highest tier offers $500,000 each for 22, 25, and 28 starts.
This approach makes sense given Urquidy’s recent injury history. He suffered a right shoulder injury that limited his 2023 season to just 16 outings. A right elbow surgery the year later forced him to miss all of 2024.
His ability to maintain his composure and perform in high-pressure situations is after all exactly what a team in rebuilding mode like the Tigers needs at the moment. After all, he has done so in the previous seasons.
Is Jose Urquidy’s gamble worth it?
The 29-year-old managed to enter the then-Houston Astros under the guidance of manager A.J. Hinch, where he has pitched in 79 games, including 70 starts for the Astros from 2019-23. Close to half of his wins with the team came in the year 2022 when he went 13-8 with a 3.94 ERA in 29 games (28 starts).
Not just that, the Detroit Tigers can also use the wealth of postseason experience he brings, including 3 World Series. In the 2019 World Series, where he was a rookie, he managed to toss five scoreless innings against the Nationals in Game 4. But it doesn’t end there. He also grabbed both the Astros’ World Series wins in ’21 when they lost to the Braves in 6 games. And finally, coming to the 2022 World Series, he tossed 3 scoreless innings in what was a long relief appearance against the Phillies in Game 3.
Would he be able to translate such performances in the Tigers jersey? Only time will tell.
For now, the structuring of the contract allows the Tigers to have a proper look at Urquidy before making a long-term commitment to him. It also encourages him to push himself and be rewarded handsomely for it. The Tigers are not just waiting and hoping for a comeback. They are actively engineering it in a mutually beneficial arrangement. Do you think it is the right approach? Let us know in the comments.
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