3 seemingly useful NY Mets free agent signings that already failed to be impactful

3) Jose Urena

Jose Urena is going to end up playing with all 30 organizations this year before the season is over with. The Mets can claim to be the first to provide him with laundry. Inked to a minor league deal this offseason after a solid year with the Texas Rangers pitching to a 3.80 ERA as a starter and reliever, his potential role was quite obvious. In fact, with the way the Mets have used other relievers this year, Urena had a real opportunity to stick around if all he could do was pitch well.

Urena would have his shot early on. Unfortunately, despite a 19-5 victory on April 28 over the Washington Nationals, Urena got knocked around badly in the second of three innings. The Nationals scored against him 5 times in that frame. Out of minor league options, the Mets decided best to forego letting Urena stick around to eat up another inning. He was promptly designated for assignment.

Pitchers like Urena can look more useful than they actually end up being. While a swingman who can give you innings as a starter and reliever is welcomed, Urena hasn’t always been reliable when it comes to the important things like run prevention. Multiple years of finishing with an ERA over 5.00 did enough damage for Urena to lose the benefit of the doubt.