Julio Urias Rumors: Cardinals Have Dodgers Star ‘Atop Their Wish List’ in Free Agency
From Dodger blue to Cardinal red, is St. Louis the next destination for Julio Urias?
With his impending free agency coming up this offseason, Urias is one of the top pitchers on the market — and the Cardinals will reportedly be one of the top teams going after him.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, St. Louis will aggressively try to get a pitcher this offseason, and Urias is “atop their wish list.” The Cardinals have had one of the worst starting rotations in baseball this season.
“The Cardinals will pursue at least three starting pitchers in trades and free agency, president John Mozeliak said, with Julio Urias of the Dodgers, Blake Snell of the Padres and Aaron Nola of the Phillies sitting atop their wish list.”
Via USA Today
Urias has been in the Dodgers organization since he turned professional at the age of 16. He made his debut in 2016 at the age of 19.
In eight seasons with the Dodgers, the 27-year-old has had his ups and downs. Even though he came up at 19, he didn’t figure out his role in the pitching staff until the 2020 season.
Urias was a fringe starter in 2020 but made an impact from the bullpen as he threw the final pitch of the 2020 World Series.
He solidified himself as a full-time starter in 2021 when he led the league in wins with 20. The following season he came in third place for Cy Young voting after leading the league in ERA.
Even though his 2023 hasn’t lived up to the hype of the previous two seasons, Urias is starting to look like one of the best pitchers in baseball once again. He has won his past four starts and has only given up four earned runs in those starts.
No matter where Urias goes in the offseason, he will be getting paid as one of the top pitchers in this year’s market. Experts believe that he could sign for five years and north of $150 million. And apparently, that could be with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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