The Rockies have released starter José Ureña, according to the transactions log at MLB.com. That was the anticipated outcome when Colorado designated the right-hander for assignment on Tuesday.
Ureña had been off to a very rough start to the season. Through five outings, he’d tossed 18 1/3 innings of 22-run ball. He walked 14 while recording just nine strikeouts and generating swinging strikes at a career-worst 7.2% clip. He and Ken Waldichuk are tied for the major league lead with nine home runs allowed.
That’s obviously not the caliber of production the Colorado front office had in mind when signing Ureña to a $3.5MM free agent deal last winter. It was a return to Coors Field for the sinkerballer, who spent the final four months of last season in Denver. Ureña posted a 5.14 ERA through 89 1/3 innings last season. While not overwhelming production, it was serviceable enough for a Rockies team that’s light on rotation depth. Ureña hadn’t come close to replicating those numbers through this season’s first month and Colorado moved on rather quickly.
Ureña is still due around $2.5MM in salary through season’s end, plus a $500K buyout on a 2024 club option. No team is going to take that off Colorado’s hands, so it’s a near certainty he’ll go unclaimed on release waivers. At that point, the 31-year-old hurler will be free to explore other opportunities. Any team that carries Ureña on its MLB roster would only owe him the prorated portion of the $720K minimum salary, which would be subtracted from Colorado’s obligations. Given the extent of his early-season struggles, he seems likely to be limited to minor league offers.
There should be some interest around the league in adding him to a Triple-A rotation. Ureña has never posted impressive strikeout or walk rates but he’s consistently kept the ball on the ground at a higher than average clip. He has 813 big league innings over parts of nine seasons, carrying a career 4.92 ERA.
When the Rockies signed Urena, I commented asking why because Ureña isn’t worthy of a major league deal.
A couple people told me I was stupid and he was “lights out” for them in his starts if you take out this start and that start.
Now who’s laughing??? Jose Urena because the Rockies are dumb.
You’re right. I think it would have made much more sense for them to sign deGrom for that $3.5 million.
Now please tell me who they could have gotten for the same money that was not a gamble.
You’re right. I think making up non-existent arguments and applying them to other peoples comments does make you look like a big stupid.
No, I won’t tell you. You came into this too hot. Take some deep breaths and after that if you want to ask your question again with a better attitude I might consider providing my insight.
That’s ok. I’ll think I’ll just erase you from my life forever instead.
Fair enough. Please mail back the friendship bracelet.
Lol what? This was a bad deal. It was shocking he got guaranteed money. Let alone $3.5MM.
Who would this have been better spent on? A waiver claim, A rule 5 draft choice, or you know maybe just no one.
But hey, Montfort wasted some of his wealth!
Not the greatest person. Probably played the biggest role in their decision.
Let’s be real. If Urena was pitching well, the Rockies wouldn’t care what kind of person he is. The only thing that played a role in their decision was the 9.82 ERA and the 9 home runs in less than 19 innings.
He’ll now have some free time to watch his father (Ronald Acuña Jr) play ball.
The difference is Waldichuk is salvageable. He looked nasty against the cubs a few weeks ago. The right coaching and he could be dangerous. Urena is garbage and has been for a while.
Waldichuk is a rookie. Urena is a washed up bum. Who has been a washed up bum.
I’d be ok with him in the bullpen. You could see a 2022 Cionel Perez type season. volatile and occasionally dominating.
Still shocked this guy finds work.
He’s been mediocre to decent never good or great. Yet dude still gets an MLB contract. Boggles the mind really.
Only question for me was: What took them so long? He was terrible in Az.
Only question for me was: What took them so long? He was terrible in Az….
KBO candidate