The Miami Marlins have decided to designate their starting pitcher Jose Urena for assignment, ending the stint of the team’s longest-tenured player.
Urena had been a part of the Marlins franchise since signing as an international free agent in 2009. He made his debut with the Major League team for the first time in 2015 and has served as a rotation stalwart since then.
The 2018 and 2019 Opening Day starter for the Marlins, however, disappointed last season and didn’t improve this year, leading Miami to make the decision to cut him loose.
Urena’s 2020 ERA, 5.40, was even worse than the 5.21 mark he posted last season. The 29-year-old had trouble missing bats and finding the strike zone in 2020, striking out a mere 15 and walking 13 in 5 starts.
The Dominican righty will now either be traded to another team, be claimed on waivers by another club, or hit free agency.
He is set to be owed between $4 million and $5 million in arbitration this season if he’s claimed on waivers, which would make him a relatively expensive option for a player whose ERA has grown steadily over the past two seasons.
Expect news about Urena’s next destination over the next few weeks.
