With less than ten games left of the 2026 MLB season, most playoff-bound teams are beginning to formulate their Postseason rosters and load up for the final stretch. Despite players changing teams now being ineligible for the playoffs, it’s normal to see some last-second player movement as teams look to either find reinforcements for the final few games or add pieces for next year’s roster. The White Sox, who had to free up a roster spot for right-hander Drew Thorpe to be activated from the 60-day IL, fell victim to the late-season waiver wire, and quietly lost veteran righty Jose Urquidy to the Phillies this week.
Urquidy, 31, began his career with the Houston Astros and first reached the big leagues in 2019 at 24. By 2021, he’d become a mainstay in the Astros rotation. Over his five years in Houston, Urquidy pitched in 15 postseason games, posting a 4.08 ERA and winning the World Series in 2022 with Houston. After an injury wiped out his entire 2024 season and forced the Astros to non-tender him, Urquidy signed with the Detroit Tigers, where he made just two appearances in 2025. He joined the Pittsburgh Pirates for 2026 and posted an 8.53 ERA in five relief appearances early in the season before being sent down.
Jose Urquidy gave the White Sox a steady but unremarkable arm
The White Sox acquired Urquidy in a minor trade a week before the deadline to bolster their pitching depth, and he posted a 2.25 ERA in three outings with Triple-A Charlotte before getting the call-up to Chicago. Urquidy’s time with the White Sox was a mixed bag. He dominated the Cubs in a game at Wrigley Field back in August, but struggled when given a start against Texas the following week. He was mostly used as a bulk reliever after that, and his ERA was 4.37 in six overall appearances with the White Sox. With the team needing a 40-man roster spot for Drew Thorpe, whose rehab assignment had reached its maximum of 60 days, Urquidy became the odd man out, and he was designated for assignment earlier this week.
José Urquidy, K'ing the Side in the 5th pic.twitter.com/4kHoo6rKar
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 19, 2026
Urquidy was claimed on waivers by the Philadelphia Phillies, where he’ll hope to bolster the pitching staff of a team likely headed for October baseball, though he himself will not be eligible to be on the Postseason roster.
With the White Sox trying to hold onto their postseason spot with just nine games left to play, they’ll now rely on other arms to push them to the finish line. Righty David Sandlin is with the team and will start Friday night against Detroit, while veteran Luis Castillo has moved to the bullpen, and could take on a similar multi-inning role to the one Urquidy occupied for the season’s final few games. The White Sox also have Sean Newcomb, Grant Taylor, and Hagen Smith who have worked multiple innings on a regular basis this season, so Urquidy’s contributions likely won’t be missed.
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