To the contrary, he’s a former Top-100 prospect who’s appeared in parts of four MLB seasons and pitched to a sub-4.00 ERA in each.
None of that is to say that Urquidy, 27, is expendable or ineffective.
Javier, meanwhile, is striking out nearly twice as many hitters as Urquidy and allowing home runs at a much lower rate (0.97 HR/9 to Urquidy’s 1.52). Each of Urquidy, Javier and Valdez are under team control through the 2025 season, but Valdez has stepped up as Houston’s No. Garcia was the American League Rookie of the Year runner-up in 2021 and is controlled four more seasons - the most of any current member of the rotation - making him less appealing to move from Houston's perspective. Turning to the list of plausible names for the Astros to consider, it’s fairly logical that Urquidy might top the list. Manager Dusty Baker told reporters that Brantley, who’s been on the injured list since June 26, has yet to even swing a bat, via Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle. The Astros don’t know when or whether backup catcher Jason Castro and left fielder Michael Brantley will return - Castro from a knee injury and Brantley from a shoulder issue (neither of which the team has elaborated upon to the public). Flipping an arm they control for multiple seasons, however, could be a means of bringing in some help at first base, in the outfield and/or behind the plate. It’s unlikely that Houston would move any member of its current rotation for pure prospects - not when the team has a firm grip on the American League West and appears poised for another potentially deep playoff run. Former top prospect Forrest Whitley, meanwhile, recently returned from a lengthy stay on the injured list and is building up in Sugar Land, too. Houston also has top prospect Hunter Brown tearing through Triple-A lineups, and righty Brandon Bielak (who has a bit of MLB experience already) is pitching well in Triple-A Sugar Land as well. Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez, Luis Garcia, Cristian Javier, Jake Odorizzi and Urquidy give them six viable starters on the big league roster, and that’s not even including Lance McCullers Jr., who’s on a rehab assignment and trending toward a return to the big league mound. A trade involving the Houston rotation isn’t a given, but the ’Stros have plenty of depth to withstand such a move if it means helping them address other areas of need.
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