With their depth already being tested three weeks into spring training, the New York Mets signed veteran right-handed pitcher Jose Urena to a minor-league contract.
The 33-year-old was utilized as a swingman last season by the Texas Rangers. In 109 innings, he went 5-8 with a 3.80 ERA, 70 strikeouts, and a 1.321 WHIP.
Of his 33 appearances, 24 came as a reliever, where he experienced much more success. He had a 2.92 ERA and a 1.268 ERA in 64.2 innings pitched coming out of the bullpen. In nine starts, he was 2-6 with a 5.08 ERA and 1.399 WHIP.
On the surface, Urena appears to be projecting as more of an innings eater should the Mets need him. The calendar has yet to turn to March and they have already lost two of their starters in Frankie Montas (lat) and Sean Manaea (oblique). Montas is shut down for six to eight weeks and will need a spring training to ramp up toward his Mets debut, meaning he will not be available until late May or early June.
Manaea has been shut down indefinitely and is expected to start the season on the injured list.
It leaves the Mets with Paul Blackburn, coming off spinal surgery, Tylor Megill, Griffin Canning, and Griffin Canning jockeying for spots in the rotation behind Kodai Senga, David Peterson, and Clay Holmes.
Urena is a four-pitch pitcher who relies predominantly on a hard sinker that averages 96 mph and a slider that clocks in at roughly 87 mph. An 88-mph changeup and a seldom-used 96-mph four-seam fastball are also a part of his mix.
He does not get a lot of strikeouts. In fact, his 15.1% punchout rate ranked in the third percentile of Major League Baseball last season. His groundball rate of 50.6%, however, was in the 84th percentile and could play well with a fundamentally sound defense behind him.
