Pirates Sign José Urquidy: Astros Veteran Added to Rotation | MLB News

Pirates Sign José Urquidy to One-Year Deal

The Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to a one-year free-agent contract with right-handed pitcher José Urquidy, according to a source who spoke with MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand on Thursday, February 5, 2026. The deal is worth $1.5 million and includes incentives, per the source.

The Pirates were reportedly interested in left-hander Framber Valdez, who signed with the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday. While Urquidy doesn’t possess the same level of experience as Valdez, he was a member of the 2022 World Series-winning Houston Astros rotation.

Urquidy, 30, made two appearances for the Tigers last season following Tommy John surgery in 2024. Prior to that, he found significant success with the Astros from 2019-2022, maintaining a 3.74 ERA over 60 starts with 281 strikeouts.

The right-hander has appeared in 15 postseason games, including eight starts, and has a 4.08 ERA in that span. He brings veteran experience to a Pirates pitching staff that features NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes, along with promising young pitchers Bubba Chandler and Jared Jones.

This marks the first addition the Pirates have made to their starting rotation this offseason, as they have focused on improving their lineup through signings and trades. Urquidy is expected to function as a back-end starter, though he has also made 11 career appearances in relief.

The Pirates traded starter Johan Oviedo to the Boston Red Sox earlier this winter, and a healthy Urquidy could fill that vacancy in the rotation.

Beyond bolstering their offense with the additions of Ryan O’Hearn and Brandon Lowe, the Pirates have also strengthened their bullpen with relievers Gregory Soto and Mason Montgomery.

Urquidy’s Path to Pittsburgh

Urquidy’s journey to the Pirates follows a series of roster moves by both the Astros and the Tigers. The Astros outrighted Urquidy on November 5, 2024, making him a free agent as they navigated a 40-man roster crunch due to players returning from the 60-day injured list. He had previously undergone a second Tommy John surgery on June 5, 2024.

The Detroit Tigers signed Urquidy in Spring Training of 2025 and acquired Paul Sewald in July, intending to add pitching depth for a potential playoff run. However, the Tigers declined their contract options for both pitchers after the 2025 season.

The Tigers acquired Sewald from the Cleveland Guardians, along with his contract, which included a $10 million mutual option for 2026 with a $1 million buyout. Sewald pitched in just four games for Detroit, allowing two runs on four hits over 4 1/3 innings.

The Tigers’ decision regarding Urquidy was described as more complicated. They signed him to a backloaded contract while he was rehabilitating from Tommy John surgery, anticipating he would be more effective in 2025 and beyond. He made two relief appearances for the Tigers in September, recording a four-out hold against the Miami Marlins on September 14, and allowing two runs on two hits against the Cleveland Guardians on September 17.