Miami Marlins cutting bait on Jose Urena shows how far they have come

The Miami Marlins have finally decided to move on from Jose Urena as they have designated him for assignment.

With the Miami Marlins having a full 40 man roster, someone was going to get the boot after they acquired Adam Cimber. The Marlins needed to shore up their bullpen, and the ground ball generating righty can do just that without much of a cost. But someone would need to be let go.

That someone was Jose Urena. He has been designated for assignment as a corresponding move to their acquisition of Cimber, and is likely to land in free agency.

There was a time when Urena appeared to be a building block for the Marlins. He had been their Opening Day starter in 2018 and 2019, but was shelled in that outing. Although he mainly became known for throwing at Ronald Acuna Jr., Urena turned in a solid season.

Those years appear to be far away. Urena struggled over the past two years, dealing with injuries and ineffectiveness, occasionally being banished to the bullpen. In total, Urena produced a 4-13 record with a 5.25 ERA and a 1.481 WHiP over his final 29 appearances spanning 108 innings.

This also speaks volumes to how far the Marlins had come. There had been talk that the organization was fed up with Urena after he drilled Acuna in 2018, especially after manager Don Mattingly notably did not defend him, but they did not have the arms to replace him. Now, in a span of two seasons, he is no longer a necessary part of the pitching staff.

Even had the Marlins not acquired Cimber, it was entirely possible that Urena would have been let go. He was projected to earn anywhere from $3.8 to $4.2 million in arbitration, far more money than his production would indicate he is worth. The Marlins can afford to move on, both financially and in regards to the talent on their roster.

Jose Urena had been the longest tenured player on the Miami Marlins. Now, he has been designated for assignment, an example of how far the Marlins have come.