How one MLB pitcher has navigated ‘not fun’ nomadic season: No such factor as residence

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Peering for any signal of his identify on the lockers contained in the Los Angeles Angels clubhouse, José Ureña was doing a observe he’d change into far too conversant in this season.

He seemed alongside the wall closest to the doorway, then once more on the adjoining aspect. He scanned the again wall on the opposite aspect of the huge room, earlier than being pointed to the far nook close to the again exit. The 33-year-old veteran pitcher was formally residence. At least for now.

This is a observe that has change into far too acquainted for Ureña. When he signed a contract with the Angels amid their journey final week, it was his fifth big-league crew of the season, tying a big-league document held by solely two different gamers.

“It’s not fun, but at the end of the day, it’s business,” he mentioned of his numerous instances being designated for task. “They can control it. They’re looking for some player; they want to put you out. But you’ve got to keep pushing.”

It’s been a slog of a season for Ureña, who has been DFA’d by 4 different groups. He began the 12 months with the New York Mets, made one look, a three-inning save, and was let go. He was picked up by the Toronto Blue Jays, with whom he made six largely first rate appearances, then was let go.

He pitched three innings for the Los Angeles Dodgers, then received a chance with the Minnesota Twins after their epic commerce deadline sell-off. Both instances, DFA’d. He’s additionally pitched 22 2/3 innings for Triple-A groups in Syracuse, New York and St. Paul, Minn.

Ureña has been a baseball nomad, and never by selection. He has lived in DFA limbo, taking his younger youngsters from metropolis to metropolis, shuttling throughout the nation and even into Canada. He has met many new teammates however hasn’t gotten an opportunity to know them.

“It’s not easy,” Ureña mentioned. “But it’s not too hard, either. The game is still the same, just new people.”

The Dominican right-hander was as soon as a reasonably profitable starter for the Miami Marlins, even making an Opening Day begin in 2018, his second of two seasons posting a sub-4.00 ERA. He spent his first seasons in Miami. Over the previous 5 years, nevertheless, he has pitched for 12 organizations.

Right now, little recourse exists for gamers like Ureña — or relievers Mike Baumann and Oliver Drake, each of whom additionally pitched for 5 groups, in 2024 and 2018. Though Ureña technically may have accepted an outright Triple-A task, he has elected free company, a commonsense transfer for a participant in his state of affairs.

Like many gamers in his circumstance, he’s adequate to be on a 40-man roster however not valued sufficient to remain on one. It’s a destiny that befalls just a few gamers each season for various causes.

In some instances, if a participant has choices remaining, it may be a worthwhile asset on the waiver wire. In Ureña’s case, it’s his lack of choices that has led him to be DFA’d. And his availability as an efficient, inning-eating lengthy reliever has saved groups sufficient in his companies. Though the final collective bargaining settlement prohibited groups from optioning a participant greater than 5 instances in a season, no rule actually addresses what Ureña has skilled in 2025.

“I hope,” Ureña mentioned when requested if he needs one thing within the guidelines modifications to account for conditions like his. “But it’s something we don’t control.”

Reliever Casey Lawrence has been DFA’d six instances this season, together with 5 instances by the Seattle Mariners and as soon as by the Blue Jays. In his state of affairs, there was little threat of getting claimed, as Seattle has positioned the 37-year-old into DFA limbo again and again.

Last season, infielder Livan Soto was designated for task 5 instances. He spent the spring being DFA’d by the Angels and Baltimore Orioles two instances every, earlier than later being DFA’d by the Cincinnati Reds. His swap hitting, middle-infield protection and minor-league choices made him a sizzling potato, flying coast to coast.

“It’s difficult navigating all of that,” Soto mentioned on the time. “It’s something that I can’t control. … I’ve been working with a mental coach that’s been helping me through all of this throughout this time. It’s helping me stay strong mentally.”

Ureña understands this life and has accepted it. Each time he has been DFA’d, he has flown again to his offseason residence in Orlando, Fla., to proceed figuring out. When he pitched 5 shutout innings in lengthy aid Friday — his Angels debut — it was his first outing in 17 days.

The robust efficiency probably saved his job. The Angels, like many groups, have a penchant for chopping their lengthy relievers as quickly as they’ve pitched. He gained’t be becoming a member of a record-breaking sixth crew.

“It’s extremely difficult,” Angels interim supervisor Ray Montgomery mentioned. “I’ve never been in that position — to bounce through so many teams. It’s a positive-negative. You’re good enough to continue to get chances but, in the same breath, don’t fit with whatever team you’re with.”

Ureña has tried to have his youngsters stick with him as a lot as doable all through this debacle, however each state of affairs has been completely different. Sometimes he’s been residing out of a resort, and that makes household life tough. “Papa is working,” he mentioned, chuckling.

Every time he has inked his identify on a contract this 12 months, he has believed the crew would need him for the entire season. So far, that hasn’t been the case, and he doesn’t know but if the Angels shall be his crew or simply one other pit cease.

He may now personal a white residence jersey, hanging up in his locker, in his residence ballpark. But in a 12 months that may solely be described as one lengthy, epic street journey, there actually is not any such factor as residence.

“Every player, the next team they join, they want to be there,” Ureña mentioned. “They want to be home. They want to be there until the last day. But the game sometimes doesn’t go the way you want.”

(Top picture: Nicole Vasquez / MLB Photos through Getty Images)