Hated Atlanta Braves rival José Ureña selected free agency after being jettisoned by the Toronto Blue Jays. The former Miami Marlin is a familiar name to Atlanta fans based on his history with the team's best player. The pitcher opted not to give Ronald Acuña Jr. the chance to continue his leadoff home run streak, plunking the star outfielder in a 2018 game. It sparked the benches to clear and would end in a suspension for the pitcher.
While beanings often happen, they rarely occur so blatantly without any clear context. The Braves outfielder hadn't done anything out of bounds and was simply feasting at the plate in an impressive start to his career.
This has resulted in years of a strong distaste for the struggling pitcher. Since leaving Miami, the pitcher has bounced all over the league, with the latest setback being the Blue Jays designating the starter for assignment. The veteran elected free agency and wasted no time picking a new landing spot.
Braves Rival José Ureña Has Signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers signed the veteran to a major league deal with the hopes of finding surprise bullpen production. Ravaged by injuries, the Dodger pen has been searching for answers throughout much of the 2025 season. If there was one concern for a loaded roster, it is the ability to get a game to the finish line.
However, when you have the loaded lineup the Dodgers boast, this is a relatively unalarming problem. Still, for the defending World Series champs to have a chance to repeat, the team is going to need to either pay up at the trade deadline or find surprise contributors. Ureña has the velocity and pitch selection to have an impact in short relief.
The question is whether or not the Atlanta rival can find a level of consistency that has eluded him for much of the veteran's career. For the Dodgers, it is a no-risk move the team can easily pivot away from if things aren't working. With this in mind, it is a solid move for the top team in the National League and an unfortunate chance for a hated rival to continue an underwhelming career.