José Ureña is almost certainly done for the year. The Rangers placed the right-hander on the 15-day injured list today with shoulder fatigue, recalling fellow righty Gerson Garabito in his place. Presuming the IL placement is retroactive to September 14, Ureña will not be eligible to return until September 29, the final day of the regular season. Thus, it’s more than likely he has already thrown his final pitch of the 2024 campaign.
Ureña, 33, signed a minor league deal with Texas this past offseason, and he made the Opening Day roster after a strong showing in the Cactus League (16 IP, 2.25 ERA). He has thrown 109 innings over 33 games this season, going back and forth between the starting rotation and the bullpen. That’s his highest innings total in a season since 2018, while his 3.80 ERA is the lowest of any season in his career. His 4.36 xERA and 4.66 SIERA aren’t quite as impressive, but they’re perfectly acceptable for a bulk reliever/spot starter. They’re also his best numbers in those categories since 2018. All told, the veteran has been valuable as an innings eater all season; only Nathan Eovaldi and Andrew Heaney have thrown more innings for the Rangers in 2024.
Indeed, Ureña has helped this team survive countless pitching injuries throughout the year, and it is bitterly ironic that his own season will most likely end with an injury. The ten-year MLB veteran will re-enter free agency this winter, and perhaps his pre-injury performance in 2024 will be enough to earn him a major league deal for 2025.
Garabito, 29, made his big league debut with the Rangers earlier this season. After eight years in the Royals organization, one season in the Giants system, and two years out of affiliated ball, the right-hander signed a minor league deal with Texas this past winter. He made his debut with a spot start in May, and over a few separate stints in the majors, he has put up a 3.86 ERA in 21 innings of work. He also has a 3.42 ERA over 55 1/3 innings at Triple-A. With a strong showing over the final two weeks of the season, he can hope to avoid the inevitable 40-man roster cuts coming in the offseason.
Absolutely amazing that this guy has lasted in the majors for a decade with only having only one good year and it wasn’t even that good.
Pitchers who simply aren’t terrible are in high demand. They may churn on and off rosters, but being below-average rather than bad will keep you in pro ball a long time with lots of MLB looks.
Section and hf
“being below-average rather than bad will keep you in pro ball a long time with lots of MLB looks”
Very few pitchers are average or better.
There are thousands of below average pitchers
This is where the concept of replacement level comes in.
I think the argument isn’t that below average players can’t be valuable but that he’s generally WELL below average. You just don’t see many starters in this era that allow that many baserunners (especially when they strike nobody out). But he’s certainly been a surprise this season.
I know what you mean, but that usually only applies to lefties. Urena has outlasted a lot of pitchers around the same age that were arguably better than him. It’s just odd to me. But not the first thing in life I don’t understand and likely won’t be the last.
I’d say he’s had two solid years (not counting this year). I know the metrics don’t like one of those seasons but he’s the kind of player who gets the small straw with stats like FIP. If I recall he’s a high ground ball rate pitcher and he doesn’t strike anyone out and walks his fair share (and back then hit a lot). So he does nothing that metric likes.
Rishi and Hi
His career ERA- is 115
His career FIP- is 117
His career xFIP- is 115
He’s been remarkably consistent
xFIP-: high of 104 low of 134
He walks more than average. K’s fewer than average and gets more GB than average.
He’s a back of the rotation starter or middle reliever.
“Urena has outlasted a lot of pitchers around the same age that were arguably better than him”
Curious who these pitchers are
I look at stats that are fluky as generally balancing out to a degree over years but he’s always bad with the outcomes. Especially grounded types-you have to think they will have good luck at some point to balance out the bad. I would look at a pitcher like him having this season as possibly adjustments and new voices (even just everything clicking for once). Or, dare I say, a bit of good luck. But you obviously are not ignorant here (you’ve looked into it) so I’ll just agree to disagree knowing I could be wrong. I think Tex is a good place for pitchers to go (even the GM is a pitcher).
I do agree I underrate back end starters largely because following teams with generally good pitching has led to me not seeing many pitchers of that type. So maybe I’m wrong.
Pitchers who can eat a lot of innings are valuable. Hopefully Texas resigns him.