The New York Mets announced the promotion of right-hander José Ureña to the major league roster, following A.J. Minter’s move to the 15-day injured list due to a left lat strain. Minter exited his previous outing with triceps soreness, making his placement on the IL expected. Conveniently, the Mets already had an open 40-man roster spot, so no additional roster moves were required to accommodate Ureña’s selection.
José Ureña’s Career Marked by Early Promise, Later Struggles, and Journeyman Challenges
José Ureña, now 33, has had an uneven MLB career spanning parts of ten seasons. After a rocky debut with the Miami Marlins in 2015, he found some stability between 2017 and 2018 as a back-end starter, posting a serviceable 3.90 ERA.
However, advanced metrics, such as a 4.68 FIP, hinted that his success might not last. This proved true, as his performance declined sharply over his final two years in Miami, ultimately leading to his release after the 2020 season.
Post-Marlins, Ureña struggled to find consistency, bouncing between the Tigers, Rockies, Brewers, and White Sox from 2021 to 2023. During this period, he logged a combined 5.61 ERA and 5.29 FIP across 242 1/3 innings, marked by a low strikeout rate and high walk rate. Despite inducing a decent number of ground balls, his overall effectiveness remained below major league standards, limiting his role primarily to depth and swingman duties.
Ureña Revives Career with Rangers and Earns Versatile Role in Mets’ Bullpen
In a surprising turn, Ureña showed notable improvement with the Texas Rangers in 2023. Signing a minor league deal, he earned a spot on the Opening Day roster and performed effectively in long-relief appearances.
Although his strikeout numbers remained modest, he showed better control, improved velocity, and solid ground-ball tendencies, posting a 3.80 ERA overall and an impressive 2.92 ERA in relief. Despite this resurgence, his inconsistent starting results led to another minor league contract for the 2024 season.
Ureña’s patience with the Mets has now been rewarded, as he joins the roster with the flexibility to serve as a multi-inning reliever or emergency starter.
Meanwhile, the full extent of Minter’s lat injury remains unclear pending further imaging results. For now, Danny Young remains the Mets’ lone left-handed reliever, though other minor league options like Genesis Cabrera and Anthony Gose could be considered if further bullpen depth becomes necessary.
