The Houston Astros’ front office has made a difficult decision this offseason, and the first step has already been taken.
According to Chandler Rome of *The Athletic*, the Astros have removed starting pitcher José Urquidy from their 40-man roster, making him a free agent after he cleared waivers.
Urquidy, who joined the Astros as an international free agent in 2015, has been with the team ever since. He made his MLB debut in 2019, pitching in nine games and starting seven. However, it was his postseason performance that year that truly stood out. In four appearances, including one start, he allowed just one earned run over 10 innings and became the first Mexican-born pitcher since Fernando Valenzuela to win a World Series game.
During his time with the Astros, Urquidy posted a 3.98 ERA and an ERA+ four points above league average over 79 games, 70 starts, and 405 innings. However, injuries have limited him to just 16 appearances in the past two seasons.
Having undergone Tommy John surgery in June, Urquidy’s ability to pitch in 2024 remains uncertain. By removing him from the roster, the Astros avoid arbitration and save roughly $3.75 million in salary. With Luis García and Lance McCullers Jr. expected to be part of the rotation next season, the team has decided to redirect those savings elsewhere.
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