Rockies Re-Sign Starting Pitcher To One-Year Contract

Overall, his numbers weren't overly impressive in his time in Denver, but a fast start and a solid finish convinced the Colorado Rockies to re-up with right-handed starting pitcher José Ureña on a one-year deal.

Urena deal with Rockies is $3.5M for 1 year plus option

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 11, 2022

The deal is worth $3.5M according to MLB Insider Jon Heyman. The Rockies have a $4M club option for 2024.

The eight-year veteran came over from the Milwaukee Brewers at the beginning of July, and slotted into the Rockies rotation for 17 starts. He posted a 5.14 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, and an equally troublesome 60:38 K/BB ratio, walking nearly four batters per nine innings. 

The Rockies, however, feel they see something in Ureña to give him another season in the thin air. He has a career 4.80 ERA in 133 games started in the big leagues, having pitched for the Miami Marlins and Detroit Tigers before last season. 

Manager Bud Black says that the 31-year-old made strides during the season working to improve his slider and changeup with the goal of getting more groundballs at Coors Field.

“Every start, stuff-wise, has been as consistent as a starting pitcher can be,” Black told Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post. “By that, I mean velocity range on the fastball, movement to the fastball, the velocities and movement on his secondary pitches. He has not in any start had less stuff than any previous start.”

Ureña's first three starts in Colorado saw him pitch to a 1.45 ERA, and over his last five starts, he was 0-2 with a 2.25 ERA, allowing no more than two earned runs in each start. The Rockies are hoping he picks up from where he left off.

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