Tigers contract decisions confirm 2 potential pitching staff contributors are no more

Tigers Release José Urquidy and Other Pitching Staff Decisions

José Urquidy is now a free agent after the Detroit Tigers declined his $4 million club option for the 2026 season. Earlier in spring training, the Tigers had signed Urquidy to a one-year, $1 million major league contract with a $4 million club option, despite his June 2024 Tommy John surgery that delayed his pitching return until late summer.

Limited Contributions from Urquidy and Other Pitchers

Urquidy managed only 2⅓ innings after returning from the injured list in September, posting a 7.71 ERA before accepting a voluntary assignment to the minors. Alongside him, Alex Cobb didn’t pitch at all in 2025, and his signing was also questioned from the start.

Paul Sewald’s Minimal Impact

Paul Sewald, acquired from the Guardians at the trade deadline, joined Urquidy and Cobb in limited action. The Tigers placed him on the 60-day injured list immediately after the trade, and he pitched just 4⅓ innings following his September reinstatement.

Disorganized Bullpen Strategy

The Tigers’ approach to managing their bullpen in 2025 was chaotic, with relievers frequently sent down and called up seemingly at random. Urquidy’s demotion foreshadowed his uncertain future with the team in 2026.

“The Tigers' bullpen strategy was impossible to parse out at the time — they were sending down and calling up relievers seemingly at random in a far more disorganized version of pitching chaos — but Urquidy's demotion certainly didn't bode well for his status with the team in 2026.”
Summary

The Tigers’ 2025 pitching moves confirmed that veteran contributors Urquidy, Cobb, and Sewald would likely have minimal roles moving forward, reflecting a disorganized bullpen strategy.

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