Pirates Sign Right-Handed Pitcher José Urquidy To One-Year Contract 

The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced that the team has signed right-handed pitcher José Urquidy (pronounced “ur-KEE-dee”) to a one-year contract for the 2026 season.

The 30-year-old Urquidy spent most of the 2025 season recovering from “Tommy John” surgery. He made two relief appearances (2.1ip) with Detroit in September, while also having a 2.91 ERA (21.2ip/7er) in 11 minor league games (eight starts) split between Lakeland (Tigers’ Low-A) and Toledo (Tigers’ Triple-A).

Urquidy went 27-16 with a 3.98 ERA (405.0ip/179er) and 326 strikeouts in 79 regular-season outings (70 starts) with Houston from 2019-23 (injuries limited him to three rehab outings in the minors in 2024). He went 13-8 with a 3.94 ERA (164.1ip/72er) and 134 strikeouts across his 29 outings (28 starts) in 2022.

Urquidy, a 2022 World Series champion with the Astros, went 4-2 with a 4.08 ERA (46.1ip/21er) and 44 strikeouts in 15 postseason games (eight starts) with Houston from 2019-23, including a 3-0 record with a 1.23 ERA (14.2ip/2er) and 15 strikeouts in five World Series games (two starts) in 2019, 2021 and 2022.

Urquidy will wear uniform No. 65 (outfielder Jack Suwinski has switched to uniform No. 18).

Right-handed pitcher Jared Jones (right elbow surgery recovery) has been placed on the 60-day injured list to make room for Urquidy on the 40-man roster, which remains full.