The Pittsburgh Pirates didn’t land Framber Valdez, but they’re still dipping into Houston’s pitching past. On Thursday, the club reached an agreement with right-hander José Urquidy, a veteran arm with postseason pedigree and the kind of upside that makes this a quietly intriguing move.
Urquidy’s deal is reportedly worth $1.5 million for the 2026 season-a modest price tag for a pitcher who, not long ago, was a steady presence in a championship-caliber rotation. Between 2021 and 2022, he logged 271.1 innings for the Astros, posting a 3.81 ERA and a tidy 1.098 WHIP. He struck out 224 and walked just 57 over that span, showing the kind of command and poise that made him a trusted arm in Houston’s rotation.
But the last few years haven’t been kind to Urquidy. Injuries have slowed him down, starting with right shoulder inflammation that cost him a chunk of the 2023 season.
When he was on the mound, he wasn’t the same pitcher-his ERA ballooned to 5.29 across 63 innings, and his WHIP jumped to 1.429. The command wavered, the strikeout numbers dipped, and the shoulder issues lingered.
Then came Tommy John surgery, which wiped out all of 2024 and sidelined him for most of 2025. He did manage to return late last season, making two brief appearances for the Tigers. The results weren’t pretty-2.1 innings, four hits, three walks, two earned runs-but at that stage, simply getting back on a big-league mound was a step forward.
Now, with a full offseason to build up strength and refine his mechanics, Urquidy enters camp with a clean slate and a real opportunity in Pittsburgh. This is exactly the kind of low-risk, potentially high-reward move that can pay off for a team looking to deepen its rotation without breaking the bank. The Pirates already have a solid group of starters, but adding a veteran like Urquidy gives them flexibility-especially if he’s healthy enough to reclaim his old form.
It’s also worth noting that Urquidy has made 11 career appearances out of the bullpen, so he’s not locked into a traditional starter’s role. He could fill a swingman spot, ready to step into the rotation when needed or provide multi-inning relief. That kind of versatility matters over the course of a long season, especially for a team that’s still shaping its identity.
Of course, everything hinges on health. But for $1.5 million, the Pirates are betting that Urquidy’s best days aren’t behind him. If he can stay on the field and rediscover the rhythm that made him such a reliable piece in Houston, this could end up being one of the savvier signings of the offseason.