Detroit Tigers manager AJ Hinch enters his fifth season facing a critical challenge — rebuilding a starting rotation that changed significantly after last season’s playoff run. Detroit reached the American League Division Series but lost in five games to their AL Central rivals, the Cleveland Guardians.
Detroit finished the 2024 season tied for second place with the Kansas City Royals at 86-76, six and a half games behind first-place Cleveland at 92-69. Hinch and the front office are closely evaluating their pitching staff during spring training in Lakeland, Florida, to determine how to shape the rotation for 2025.
Tarik Skubal, the 2024 AL Cy Young Award winner and Detroit’s lone All-Star last season, leads the rotation, with Jack Flaherty slotted as the second starter. Hinch and pitching coach Chris Fetter are watching closely to see how the rest of the staff settles in, particularly during the second turn through the rotation early in the season.
Reese Olson, Jackson Jobe, Casey Mize, and Keider Montero are also listed on the Tigers’ depth chart to begin the 2025 season, giving the team several options to round out the rotation.
The Tigers will call on Skubal to start the 2025 season against the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers on March 27 at 7:10 p.m. EDT in Chavez Ravine.
Detroit’s pitching finished the 2024 season with an 18.1 WAR and a 3.63 ERA over 1,447 innings. The staff recorded one shutout, 45 saves, 1,354 strikeouts, and a 1.162 WHIP while allowing 1,265 hits, 583 earned runs, 159 home runs, and 416 walks.
The Tigers signed Mexican-born right-hander Jose Urquidy to a one-year deal worth $1 million on March 8. He remains on the 60-day injured list as he recovers from Tommy John surgery.
The Tigers have signed RHP José Urquidy to a one-year contract for the 2025 season, with a club option for 2026.
Welcome to Detroit, José! pic.twitter.com/bnzahYwdUm
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) March 8, 2025
According to Jason Beck of MLB.com on March 8, Urquidy’s “The 2026 club option contains performance bonuses as follows: $150,000 each for reaching four and seven games started as a pitcher; $300,000 each for reaching 10, 13, 16 and 19 games started as a pitcher; and $500,000 each for reaching 22, 25 and 28 games started as a pitcher.”
Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reported on March 11 that Urquidy’s contract includes a $4 million club option for 2026 with up to $3 million in incentives. He noted that the two sides negotiated for about two weeks before finalizing the deal, and the Tigers expect Urquidy to return at some point this season.
According to Jason Beck of MLB.com on March 8, “Urquidy’s 2026 option includes performance bonuses based on how many games he starts that season: $150,000 for four starts, $150,000 for seven starts, $300,000 for 10 starts, $300,000 for 13 starts, $300,000 for 16 starts, $300,000 for 19 starts, $500,000 for 22 starts, $500,000 for 25 starts, $500,000 for 28 starts, alongside adding up the incentives, and that he could make up to $7 million with a full 2026 campaign.”
Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press stated on March 11, “Urquidy for the 2025 season will earn a $4 million club option (plus up to $3 million in incentives) for 2026, the two sides negotiated for about 15 days before agreeing to a deal and the organization expects him to return this year.
Urquidy, 29, was born in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico. His last Major League appearance came on October 11, 2023, when he started Game 4 of the ALDS for the Houston Astros against the Minnesota Twins. He underwent elbow surgery on June 5, 2024, performed by Dr. Keith Meister in Dallas, Texas.
Urquidy played five seasons in the majors from 2019 through 2023, all with the Houston Astros. He originally signed with the organization as an international free agent on March 2, 2015.
Over those five seasons, he compiled a 27–16 record with a 3.98 ERA and a 4.5 WAR. He threw 405 innings across 79 appearances, including 70 starts, and recorded one save. He allowed 366 hits, 179 earned runs, 67 home runs, 97 walks, and struck out 326 batters with a 1.143 WHIP.
In 2023, Urquidy went 3–3 with a 5.29 ERA across 16 appearances and 10 starts. He pitched 63 innings and gave up 65 hits, 37 earned runs, and 11 home runs while issuing 25 walks and striking out 45. He faced 275 batters and finished the season with a 1.429 WHIP.
Urquidy represented the Mexican national team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic under manager Benji Gil. He pitched 6.1 innings with a 4.26 ERA and went 1-0 with two appearances and one start, allowing eight hits, three earned runs, one home run, four walks, and seven strikeouts. Mexico reached the semifinals but lost 6–5 to Japan on a walk-off double by Munetaka Murakami in the bottom of the ninth, finishing the tournament in third place.
In 2022, Urquidy helped the Astros win their second World Series title. He made 29 appearances, including 28 starts, and pitched 164.1 innings, posting a 3.94 ERA. He allowed 154 hits, 72 earned runs, 29 home runs, 38 walks, 134 strikeouts, and a 1.168 WHIP.
Hinch managed Urquidy during his rookie season in 2019 before serving a suspension in 2020 for his role in the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal tied to their 2017 World Series run.
Alex Ciulla of RotoBaller reported on March 18 that Tigers medical staff cleared Urquidy to throw from 105 feet as part of his recovery process in 2025.
Evan Petzold also shared a medical update from the Tigers on March 18, which included Urquidy’s current health status.
#Tigers medical update: Parker Meadows and Matt Vierling, still not throwing; Alex Cobb (right hip injury) completed his first bullpen Saturday and is scheduled to throw his second bullpen Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/zAILd43rG0
— Evan Petzold (@EvanPetzold) March 18, 2025
Urquidy made just three starts in 2024 and never reached Houston. While splitting time between Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugar Land, he threw 10.1 innings with a 0–2 record and a 6.97 ERA. He allowed 14 hits, eight earned runs, two home runs, one walk, and struck out eight before landing on the 60-day injured list on June 5. He elected free agency on November 4 before signing with Detroit in March.
Urquidy can become an important part of the Tigers’ pitching staff later this season. The team will continue to monitor his progress closely as he recovers from his second Tommy John surgery.
Photo by Julio Cortez / Associated Press
