The Twins are in agreement with José Ureña on a minor league contract, according to the MLB.com transaction log. The veteran swingman has been assigned to Triple-A St. Paul.
Ureña is now on his fourth team of the season. He logged brief stints with the Mets, Blue Jays and Dodgers but was eventually outrighted off all three rosters. He elected free agency in each case — the most recent of those coming after the Dodgers waived him two weeks ago. He has allowed 11 runs across 18 1/3 combined innings. He recorded 10 strikeouts against five walks.
The 33-year-old Ureña held a spot on the Texas pitching staff throughout the ’24 season. He posted a 3.80 ERA while getting ground-balls at a 50% clip in 109 innings for the Rangers. He has never had a good strikeout and walk profile, but he averages around 96 MPH on his sinker and got grounders on half the batted balls he allowed last year. He’ll presumably work as a starter in St. Paul but could serve as rotation or long relief depth for the MLB club.
Minnesota’s pitching staff has collapsed this month. Their 6.81 team ERA in June is nearly a run and a half higher than the next-worst team. That doesn’t include tonight’s game in which Chris Paddack has given up four earned runs through his first three innings. Minnesota’s entire rotation has struggled since they lost Pablo López and Zebby Matthews to injury. The bullpen hasn’t been any better. Out-of-options long reliever Joey Wentz, a recent waiver claim from Pittsburgh, has given up 10 runs in 5 1/3 frames since landing with Minnesota.
What’s the record for number of teams in one season? When he appears in a game for the Twins, that’ll be four teams for Ureña before July.
5, twice.
First was Oliver Drake in 2018 when appeared in games for the Brewers, Indians, Angels, Blue Jays, and Twins.
Second was Mike Baumann last season playing for the Orioles, Mariners, Giants, Angels, and Marlins
I saw Drake’s caps in the Hall of Fame the year after he did that. They had a display with the record.
“Love the Drake!”
Drake’s Coffee Caps in the Hall of Fame
10th team and he’s young enough to set the record whatever that might be
Zebby Matthews wasn’t part of the rotation out of the gate and he owned a 5.21 ERA at the MLB level. His injury isn’t related to the Twins’ rotation struggles.
It has a lot more to do with Lopez’s injury and regression to the mean for Paddack and Ober (now with diminished velo).
Really can’t comprehend the move by the Twins. Guess they’re looking at FB velo only or something.
They are looking at an intact arm to possibly come and eat a few innings if necessary
They’ve already got that in the minors.
Jose, Urena lot of different uniforms already this season.
Edwin Jackson played for 14 different teams, I believe he now holds the record. Prior to Jackson it was Octavio Dotel with 13.
The Twins would be team number 10 for Urena if he plays for them. At his rate of travel this season he could set a new record by the end of next season
2025 World Champion Jose Urena.
He’s got a better shot than most. He’s already got possible claims to shares from 3 teams if they win it…
Should have elevated Lovelady and let Wentz alone/
Poor roster and organizational management.
Best known for using the fastest pitch he’s ever thrown to break Acuna