Former Dodgers Ace Julio Urías Has Multiple Opportunities to Resume MLB Career, Agent Scott Boras Confirms in Bold Update

Julio Urías, once the shining southpaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ pitching rotation, has a future in Major League Baseball—at least according to super-agent Scott Boras, who recently spoke out about the left-hander’s career outlook. Despite the legal troubles that have kept Urías sidelined since 2023, Boras insists that his client has received interest from multiple teams and will have options to return to the mound.

For Dodgers fans, and for the wider baseball world, the name Julio Urías evokes a complicated mixture of brilliance, promise, and now controversy. The 27-year-old hurler played an instrumental role in the Dodgers’ 2020 World Series title, famously closing out Game 6 with nerves of steel and elite-level stuff. Just three years ago, he was leading the National League in wins and looked every bit the future ace Los Angeles could rely on.

But things changed in a hurry.

In September 2023, Urías was arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence—his second such arrest after a 2019 incident that led to a 20-game suspension by MLB. Although the 2019 case was ultimately not prosecuted, and the 2023 incident did not lead to formal charges after the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office declined to pursue a felony case, the damage to Urías’ public image and professional standing was considerable.

The Dodgers, long a franchise proud of its player image, moved quickly. Urías was placed on administrative leave by the league, and the club made no effort to bring him back after his contract expired following the 2023 season. There was little chatter around the league as the 2024 campaign rolled in—Urías remained unsigned, unspoken for, and seemingly, unwanted.

But now, in a bold and headline-grabbing moment, Boras has re-entered the conversation.

“Julio is working hard, staying ready, and is focused on the next chapter of his career,” Boras told reporters during a recent media session. “There are teams interested. He has options.”

What exactly those options entail remains unclear. Boras did not name any specific teams or give a timeline, but the statement alone has reopened conversations in baseball circles. Could a team actually be ready to take a chance on a pitcher with legal baggage but undeniable talent?

The calculus is complicated.

Urías, when healthy and focused, ranks among the most effective left-handed pitchers in the game. In 2021, he posted a 2.96 ERA over 32 starts and finished with a major-league-best 20 wins. The following season, he was even better statistically, logging a 2.16 ERA, finishing third in National League Cy Young Award voting, and proving to be a reliable arm in both the regular season and playoffs.

Those credentials don’t just vanish—and in a league where starting pitching is in high demand and low supply, the temptation to give a former ace another chance could prove too strong for some front offices.

Still, the controversy surrounding his off-field behavior cannot be ignored. Teams would be taking a considerable PR risk by signing Urías, particularly in an era where player conduct is scrutinized closely by both the league and the public. The optics of bringing him in—especially for a contending team—could alienate fans and invite intense media scrutiny.

Yet Boras is undeterred.

“I think teams understand the difference between an accusation and a conviction,” he said. “And they also understand talent. We’re talking about a guy who’s still in his prime and has done things on the mound that few pitchers have. He deserves the opportunity to prove who he is—not just as a player but as a person.”

That rhetoric has long been part of the Boras playbook—control the narrative, position the client for redemption, and wait for the right team to make the call. It has worked before with players whose careers were derailed by injury or age. But legal troubles, especially those involving domestic violence allegations, make the road back much more difficult.

For Urías, even with the backing of Boras, the journey back will likely need to begin on a minor-league deal or a non-guaranteed contract. No team is going to hand him ace money or years without first seeing a full, unblemished commitment to both his craft and his conduct.

There’s also the question of what version of Julio Urías still exists. He hasn’t thrown a pitch in a major league game since August 2023. He’s approaching 18 months removed from competitive action. While reports suggest he has stayed in shape and is throwing simulated games, there is no substitute for real mound time.

“Julio has been training, throwing bullpen sessions, and following a program that would allow him to return with minimal ramp-up,” Boras noted. “We’re not talking about starting from zero. He’s ready.”

One intriguing possibility is a late-season signing by a team looking to stockpile arms before a playoff push. Injuries to rotations are a given in August and September, and a club willing to gamble on Urías could offer him an opportunity to ease back in through bullpen work or spot starts.

There’s also the potential of an offseason signing, giving Urías a full spring training to rebuild value ahead of 2026. For Boras, who often plays the long game with his clients, that timeline might be ideal.

“I’ve always said that talent will have a seat at the table. Julio’s talent hasn’t gone anywhere,” Boras said.

Reactions from around the league have been mixed. Some anonymous executives say they’re watching the situation closely, while others have privately admitted they wouldn’t touch Urías regardless of Boras’ efforts.

“Everyone knows what he can do on the field,” one AL general manager told a reporter under condition of anonymity. “But the risk is more than just performance. It’s the clubhouse, the city, the fans. You have to weigh everything.”

That’s the gamble—one that will define the next chapter of Julio Urías’ career.

There’s precedent, of course. Several players with off-field issues have returned to the majors and rebuilt their careers, at least on the field. Aroldis Chapman, Roberto Osuna, and even Trevor Bauer—though with wildly different outcomes—have all been in similar territory. But none of those situations are exactly the same. Public sentiment shifts quickly, and so do the circumstances surrounding individual cases.

For Urías, every day away from the game adds another layer of uncertainty. But Boras remains confident.

“He’s only 27,” the agent emphasized. “He has many years ahead of him if he’s given the chance.”

The Dodgers, for their part, have moved on completely. Their current rotation is built around a new generation of talent, and there have been no indications they’d consider a reunion. If Urías returns to MLB, it will almost certainly be in another uniform—perhaps in a smaller market where the spotlight isn’t as bright, or with a rebuilding team looking for a reclamation project.

That could serve both parties well: Urías gets a fresh start, and the team gets a potential frontline starter at a discount. If the pairing works, it could become one of baseball’s great redemption stories. If not, the downside is built into the deal.

What happens next depends on timing, opportunity, and whether any team is willing to cross the bridge from talent to tolerance. In the high-stakes world of professional sports, those lines are often blurry, and the answers aren’t always clear.

But what is clear is that Julio Urías’ name is back in the headlines, thanks to Scott Boras—a man known for turning silence into opportunity and controversy into contracts.

And just like that, the baseball world is once again watching Julio Urías.