Urquidy's sore elbow another challenge for Astros' rotation

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Less than two weeks before the start of the regular season, the Astros’ starting pitching depth is a growing concern as veteran right-hander José Urquidy walked off the field after throwing 43 pitches in a Minor League game on Friday with a sore elbow.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Urquidy pulled himself out of the game on the back fields of CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches in the third inning. He was scheduled to throw 60 pitches as he continued to build up for the start of the regular season. There was no immediate update on Urquidy’s condition.

“It’s not ideal, but I’m going to let the doctors look at him and see the extent of that injury,” Espada said prior to the club’s 5-3 win over the Phillies in Grapefruit League action.

Urquidy went 3-3 with a 5.29 ERA in 16 games (10 starts) in the regular season last year and spent three months on the injured list with right shoulder discomfort. He had been throwing well this spring -- yielding one earned run on nine hits to go with no walks and six strikeouts in nine innings across three starts in Grapefruit League play.

Who else is injured?

The Astros will have three starters begin the season on the injured list. Justin Verlander is still ramping up his workload after reporting to camp behind schedule because of a shoulder issue, while Luis Garcia (Tommy John surgery) and Lance McCullers Jr. (right forearm surgery) aren’t expected back until midseason.

There’s hope the club can get Verlander back sometime in April, but he’s yet to face hitters this spring and would probably require a couple of live batting practice sessions and at least four games under his belt to build up his pitch count. J.P. France (shoulder inflammation) and Shawn Dubin (shoulder inflammation) have been slowed by injuries, though France was scheduled to make his first spring start on Saturday.

State of the rotation

Prior to Urquidy’s elbow issue, the Astros were set to begin the 2024 season with a rotation of Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier, Urquidy, Hunter Brown and France. Valdez and Javier both regressed some last year, while Brown and France faded towards the end of their rookie seasons while throwing career-high innings.

Ronel Blanco, who started Friday’s game against the Phillies, would likely be the next man up to fill any open rotation slots. Brandon Bielak, who’s out of options, is set to make the club as a long reliever, but he could be stretched out to be a starter, as well.

Then there’s top pitching prospect Spencer Arrighetti, who made two Grapefruit League starts before being re-assigned to Minor League camp. He’s expected to pitch in the big leagues at some point this season -- maybe sooner than later.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said after the team announced Verlander was set to begin the season on the IL on March 5 that he didn’t plan to be in the market for another arm, but that could change depending on the extent of Urquidy’s injury.

Could signing Blake Snell make sense?

Snell, the lefty who won the 2023 National League Cy Young Award with the Padres, is one of the few free-agent pitchers remaining on the market. Astros owner Jim Crane said last Aug. 1, after Houston had re-acquired Verlander from the Mets, that the club coveted both “a starter and reliever" on the Padres, which was presumed to be Snell and closer Josh Hader, who signed a five-year, $95 million deal with Houston in January.

Snell threw four simulated innings on Friday in Seattle in front of scouts from teams, including the Giants and Astros, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. Those in attendance were said to be impressed with how ready he looks.

Snell went 14-9 and led qualified NL starters in ERA (2.25), pitchers’ bWAR (6.0), ERA+ (182) and hits per nine innings (5.75). He issued the most walks in the Majors (99), but overcame that with 234 strikeouts (second in the NL) and a .152 opponents’ batting average with runners in scoring position (best in the Majors). Snell is the first pitcher since Early Wynn in 1959 to win a Cy Young Award while leading the Majors in walks.

Left-hander Jordan Montgomery, who went 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in three appearances (two starts) against the Astros in last year’s AL Championship Series for the Rangers, is also a free agent. He was 10-11 with a 3.20 ERA in 32 starts in 2023 for the Cardinals and Rangers, who acquired him at the Deadline and watched him post a 2.79 ERA in 67 2/3 regular-season innings.

The Astros’ 2024 payroll is already trending to be just over the competitive balance tax of $237 million, but Crane hasn’t been shy about opening up the wallet to fill a need. And Houston certainly appears to be in need for some proven starting pitching.