yahoo
Luis Urias, a nine-year Major League Baseball veteran, has candidly assessed his injury-marred 2026 season with the Toronto Blue Jays, calling it a 'pretty rough' year. The infielder, who was acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks in late June for cash considerations, saw his time on the field severely curtailed by physical setbacks.
Toronto's 2026 campaign was far from what many had anticipated, as the team was forced to use 64 different players over the course of the season due to a rash of injuries. Following the disappointing year, the Blue Jays are expected to be aggressive this offseason, while some players are participating in Winter Ball to accumulate additional reps.
Urias, who had spent the entire season in Triple-A before the trade, stepped into a key role in Toronto's infield but was hampered by injuries throughout his tenure. The 29-year-old appeared in only 26 games for the Blue Jays.
Now, Urias is set to suit up for Yaquis de Obregon in Sonora, Mexico, for Winter Ball. The move allows him to play in his home country, but he also expressed a desire to play a full season after barely seeing action in 2026 due to injuries.
After reporting to Yaquis de Obregon, Urias discussed his time with the Blue Jays and admitted the year was difficult. 'It was a tough season because I started with a calf injury, then had another one,' Urias said.
Urias aims to rebuild his stock in Winter Ball and demonstrate that he belongs on an MLB roster next season. The nine-year veteran is a pending free agent, and Toronto could have interest in bringing him back.
During his stint with the Blue Jays, Urias hit .250 with 3 home runs and 8 RBIs. The 29-year-old was ranked as the 36th-best prospect in MLB in 2018, ahead of players such as Dylan Cease, Jesus Luzardo, Corbin Burnes, Max Fried, Austin Riley, and J.P. Crawford, among others.
Toronto Turns Attention to Offseason
After failing to make the playoffs, the Blue Jays have shifted their focus to the offseason. Toronto has been one of the highest-spending teams in baseball, and general manager Ross Atkins expects that trend to continue, stating the team will be ready to go from Day 1 regardless of a potential lockout.
'We'll be ready to go from day one,' Atkins said. 'We have some work to do, but day one's not here yet. Having said that, we're always, in everything we're doing, preparing for multiple outcomes.'
Blue Jays President and CEO Mark Shapiro echoed Atkins' sentiments, expressing confidence that the team will handle business as usual. 'That's what we're going to do,' Shapiro added. 'We always prepare for multiple scenarios. So we will be prepared to adjust and adapt. Any new system adopted, there will be a timeframe for adjustment into that system. That's understood. But we'll follow the lead of the commissioner's office on the details of that.'
The Blue Jays finished the 2026 season with a 79-83 record.
Originally reported by yahoo.