José Ureña DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

The New York Mets signed free-agent veteran right-hander Jose Urena to a minor-league deal on Thursday, and he is already in camp with the team. Urena essentially gives the Mets some starting-rotation insurance with both Frankie Montas (lat) and Sean Manaea (oblique) set to open the 2025 regular season on the injured list. the 33-year-old Dominican debuted in the big leagues in 2015 with the Miami Marlins and has appeared in 232 games (152 starts) covering 948 1/3 innings with six different teams. He most recently appeared in 33 games (eight starts) with the Texas Rangers in 2024 and went 5-8 with a 3.80 ERA (4.62 FIP), a 1.32 WHIP, one save, 70 strikeouts and 39 walks. If Urena makes the team's Opening Day roster, he'll likely start out in the bullpen as a long reliever, which wouldn't give him any real fantasy value.

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jose Urena dominated the visiting Detroit Tigers in Wednesday's victory, throwing six innings of one-hit ball (one home run) with one walk and six strikeouts for his second win of the year. Urena had a bid for a perfect game going through five innings, but Tigers outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy homered on a fly ball to left-center field to end that. The 32-year-old journeyman right-hander has provided a stabilizing presence and found a home in Texas' injury-ruined rotation in 2024, posting a career-best 3.44 ERA alongside a 1.20 WHIP with 37 punchouts and 17 walks over 52 1/3 innings (six starts) for the Rangers. With that said, Urena will not be a recommended fantasy start in his next slated appearance against the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers at Chavez Ravine next Wednesday.

Texas Rangers right-hander Jose Urena (ankle, foot) said all is good with his left ankle/foot after he was hit by a comebacker in his last start on Friday against the Minnesota Twins. Urena will be good to make his next scheduled start on Friday for the start of a series against his old team, the Miami Marlins. The 32-year-old veteran shouldn't be facing any pitch-count limitations on Friday in what is one of the better matchups a pitcher could ask for, so fantasy managers shouldn't overlook Urena as a streaming option. Urena has been surprisingly solid in his four starts for the Rangers and is 1-4 overall with a 3.53 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with 30 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings over 14 outings (four starts). However, with Nathan Eovaldi back and Jon Gray (groin) potentially returning from the injured list next week, Urena could move back to the bullpen after his start on Friday.