Dodgers Sign Jose Urena to Contract amid Injury Woes After 15th Pitcher Hits IL

The Los Angeles Dodgers have struggled to keep their pitching staff healthy, so they reportedly turned to a veteran who recently hit free agency.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that the Dodgers signed reliever Jose Urena on Tuesday after losing their 15th pitcher to the injured list this week. Heyman noted that Urena will be in Los Angeles on Tuesday night for the team's game against the New York Mets.

Urena began the 2025 season with the New York Mets and surrendered five earned runs in his lone appearance with the team before being designated for assignment.

He elected free agency and signed with the Toronto Blue Jays last month, making six appearances with two starts and recording a 3.65 ERA before suffering the same fate he experienced with the Mets. After he cleared waivers on Monday, the Dodgers wasted no time in scooping him up.

Urena is a journeyman who began his MLB career with the Miami Marlins in 2015 and also pitched for the Detroit Tigers, Milwaukee Brewers, Colorado Rockies, Chicago White Sox and Texas Rangers. He has a career record of 44-77 with a 4.78 ERA and 643 strikeouts.

Los Angeles fell to 36-24 after losing Monday's series opener to the New York Mets 4-3. It was the team's second straight loss after dropping its series finale against the New York Yankees 7-3 on Sunday.

The Dodgers' pitching staff has been decimated by injuries to multiple key players, including starters Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, both of whom have been nursing shoulder injuries. Relievers Luis Garcia, Michael Kopech and Kirby Yates are all on the IL as well.

Los Angeles will try to get back on track on Tuesday against the Mets when it sends veteran ace Clayton Kershaw to the mound against Tylor Megill.