The Tigers then immediately places Urquidy on the 60-day injured list. The right-hander is not expected to pitch much — if at all — in 2025 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The deal is incentive-laden, as he receives $150,000 each for starts four and seven, $300,000 reaching 10, 13, 16 and 19 games started as a pitcher; and $500,000 each for reaching 22, 25 and 28 games started. Urquidy should be a backend option for the Tigers in 2026, and offers no fantasy significance for 2025.

The terms of the deal aren’t available just yet. Urquidy joins the Tigers after spending his entire career with the Astros, and he’s expected to miss most — if not all — of 2025 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The 29-year-old has had success at the highest level, and could be a helper for the Detroit rotation in 2026.

Urquidy and Ortega have both opted to elect free agency following their removal from Houston’s 40-man roster. Urquidy underwent Tommy John surgery back in early June and will miss the vast majority of the 2025 campaign. He could make sense as a long-term stash option for a contender willing to wait until he’s finished his lengthy rehabilitation process. Ortega didn’t make an appearance last year for the Astros after undergoing a pair of elbow surgeries.

We know Urquidy underwent surgery Wednesday and everyone assumed it was Tommy John, but the Astros didn’t confirm it until today. Urquidy likely will attempt to return next August or September. One imagines the Astros will non-tender him this winter, particularly since he’ll be eligible for free agency after next year anyway.