With both Gerrit Cole and Wade Miley slated to hit free agency this winter and Lance McCullers Jr. still on the mend from 2018 Tommy John surgery, it’s readily apparent that the Astros are going to have some offseason pitching needs. As such, it’s of some note that president of baseball operations Jeff Luhnow told The Athletic’s Jake Kaplan (subscription required) this week that the organization views young right-hander Jose Urquidy as a likely member of its 2020 rotation.
“Urquidy’s going to be likely in our rotation next year,” Luhnow said in discussing the 24-year-old’s chances of making the postseason roster. “…He’s done an unbelievable job. He’s a talented pitcher who knows how to pitch in high-pressure situations. If he’s the right guy to make our roster in the DS or the CS or the WS, he’ll make it ,and hopefully he’s going to get some big outs for us in the postseason.”
It’s a strong vote of confidence in Urquidy, who made his MLB debut earlier this season and has appeared in eight games as a big leaguer. Through 35 frames with the Astros, Urquidy has pitched to a 4.63 ERA, although the rest of his numbers are more intriguing. Through six starts and a pair of relief appearances, he’s sporting a terrific 38-to-6 K/BB ratio and has generated a healthy 12.1 percent swinging-strike rate. Urquidy is currently carrying a 3.79 FIP, 3.80 SIERA and 4.18 xFIP, suggesting that his ERA could be a bit over-inflated.
It’s notable, too, that Urquidy has already set a new career-high with 138 innings in his first full season back from Tommy John surgery. Given that he’s still likely to pitch another game before Sunday’s regular-season finale and could clearly log some postseason innings, it seems likely that he’ll be free of any workload restrictions next year.
Looking ahead to the 2020 rotation, if Urquidy is indeed penciled into that mix, he’ll join veteran workhorses Justin Verlander and Zack Greinke as well as a returning McCullers (assuming no hiccups in his rehab). Other options within the organization include left-hander Framber Valdez, right-hander Rogelio Armenteros and top prospect Forrest Whitley, though Whitley may require some further minor league time after injuries limited him to 55 1/3 innings in 2019. Right-hander Aaron Sanchez, acquired at the trade deadline, would surely have been a favorite for a starting job next year had he not recently undergone shoulder surgery. That operation has not only clouded his availability for Opening Day 2020 but may lead to him being non-tendered.
Earmarking a starting spot for Urquidy, ostensibly, would leave the Astros with only one vacancy in their rotation this winter. Trade scenarios that arise and/or free-agent prices could potentially impact any tentative alignments being currently contemplated by the organization, but Urquidy seems to have put himself in a strong position heading into 2020.
In Lunhow we trust. He wasn’t wrong about Álvarez.
Urquidy has a lot of potential
seems a bit early to commit to that.
Acting desperate probably isn’t a good trade strategy.
I expect the Astros to try a one year with either Cole Hamels or Jon Lester or Porcello. Then probably bring back Sanchez on the cheap to use as a long relief option. Urquidy doesn’t have a very high ceiling and this Astro core maybe has one or two years of championship level baseball left in the tank before the guys turn too injury prone or too expensive so using Urquidy in a 4th or 5th slot might be okay but it won’t put them over the top to capitalize on this closing window.
LMAO!!!
It isn’t going to last forever, it’s difficult to see the end when you’re at the top
Have you checked out the division?
if Houston doesnt expect to use Sanchez as a starter they might very well non-tender him. he is in his final arb year in 2020 and the cost (5-7 mil?) may not be attractive for a pitcher that has not proven it in the pen yet.
Correa, Bregman, Alvarez, Tucker, and Altuve are all young (Altuve at 29 is the oldest) and under contract for a while. Two aces in the rotation even after Cole leaves. McCullers coming back and young. More on the farm. One or two years left? Good grief.
We don’t have to look very far to see what I’m talking about.
The Cubs were supposed to be a dynasty and now they’re out of the playoff picture.
A few years ago, Chicago was saying in “Theo we trust” but now they want him out of town.
The Astros are not immune to this same precipitous downfall.
Altuve, Correa, and Springer all have some chronic health issues that will really become problems when they get just a bit older.
Cubs depleted their farm and extended their payroll beyond their comfort limits. Astros have better young talent with no contract albatrosses (yet) and a competitive farm. They aren’t going anywhere for the next two years. Tucker, Alvarez, Bregman all have five years of control left in their 20s. Altuve still solid, I’m pretty certain they will extend Springer, who’s not “old”. That’s more than half the lineup. Throw in some FAs from when Brantley and Reddick are off the books.
To be fair- Correa is injury prone, and the two aces you are talking about are closer to the end of their careers… stranger things can happen. Who would have thought the Twins would win nearly 100 games this year?
No dead money as well
certainly the window is not uet closed, and even if some players go in FA, they can still keep the better part of the core intact with smart extentions and signings.
I think Jose Urquidy has a very high ceiling. He has great command but gives up too many HRs. Hitters know he’ll be in the strike zone. He’s one of the MiLB pitchers I’m watching.
Trade Greinke and re-sign Cole.
The Astros will deal with what almost every team deals with. Right now they are riding the high of losing for alot of years, switching leagues, rebuilding and getting really high multiple draft picks. Kudos to them for it all working out but soon they will be losing some of these players that have performed at an elite level and their draft picks will not be high because of all the success and thats when the wheels start turning to see how to stay competitive.. They are a smart bunch i cant wait to watch it unfold! Hopefully (it will be a long shot) my Cardinals will play them in the WS and they can exchange emails lol.. Sorry, couldnt resist!
It would be pretty cool to see a Cards Astros WS! If im not mistaken, the last time they played each other in the playoffs, Brad Lidge decided he didnt like Mr Pujols very much??? Correct me of im wrong please! But, no matter, what a Home Run that was!