José Ureña had a record-setting year in 2025, and that included a week with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Ureña not only joined the Buddy Kennedy club, playing for both World Series teams — the Dodgers and Blue
Jays — but the veteran pitcher tied a major league record by pitching for five teams in 2025. Only three players in National League/American League history have played for five teams in one season, and all are pitchers, a byproduct of the modern trend of teams churning through pitchers at a rapid rate.
Oliver Drake was the modern trendsetter with his five-team 2018, and Mike Baumann in 2024 did the same. Outfielder Bobo Leonard also played for five teams in the Negro Leagues in 1924.
Ureña’s first stop of 2025 was with the Mets, for whom he had a perfect stint in my opinion — one appearance on April 28, allowing five runs while recording a three-inning save. Then came seven games in May for the Blue Jays.
The Dodgers signed Ureña on June 3, capping a six-day stretch that also saw the Dodgers trade for relievers Alexis Díaz and Will Klein. Ureña pitched that night, entering a tie game in the ninth, and got two outs but also allowed a double, which was stranded after he left.
Two days later, Ureña got seven outs while allowing a run in another game against the Mets. The Dodgers won both of his appearances 6-5, including June 5, the only game of the Dodgers season in which the score matched the date.
Roster churn continued on June 10, when Ureña was designated for assignment to make room for Matt Sauer getting called up. But that didn’t stop his journey, as he pitched four games for the Twins in August and six games for the Angels in September. Ureña’s time with each of his teams was relegated within one month. Just think, had he gotten to the majors with the Twins sooner rather than spending July in Triple-A St. Paul, there might have been time for a sixth team.
Maybe next year.
2025 stats
Age: 33
Stats: 2 games, 3 IP, 1 run, 2 K with Dodgers; 4.58 ERA, 6.85 xERA in 19 games for five teams
Salary: unknown with Dodgers (original minors deal with Mets paid pro-rated share of $2 million in majors)
Game of the year
Ureña got seven outs from the sixth to the eighth innings on June 5 against the Mets in a game the Dodgers were trailing. He allowed three hits and a run, and struck out Jeff McNeil and Francisco Alvarez in a no-decision. The first strikeout included a Will Smith back pick to nail Starling Marte at third for an inning-ending double play.
Roster status
Ureña is a free agent.
