Former Dodgers Pitcher Julio Urias Eyes Career Resurrection as MLB Suspension Officially Concludes Later This Week Amid Interest

Julio Urías is back in the headlines—but this time, it’s not for scandal, but for opportunity. The former Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander, once seen as the franchise’s next ace, is set to be reinstated from Major League Baseball’s restricted list this week. Sources close to the situation say Urías has been quietly training, waiting, and most surprisingly, weighing his “options” as he plots a comeback that once felt improbable.

For Urías, the end of this suspension marks a turning point—either the start of his redemption arc or the end of a career that once glittered with promise. According to league insiders, multiple teams have quietly expressed interest in the 27-year-old lefty, intrigued by his on-field potential despite the heavy baggage that still shadows him.

Urías last pitched in the majors during the 2023 season for the Dodgers, finishing with an 11-8 record and a 4.60 ERA. While that campaign was far from his peak, it also came amid growing off-field concerns that would ultimately derail his momentum. On September 3, 2023, Urías was arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence, the second such incident in his MLB career. That arrest effectively ended his season—and any long-term plans the Dodgers had for him.

The league placed Urías on administrative leave shortly after the incident and later handed down an unprecedented suspension without pay that covered the remainder of 2023 and extended deep into 2024. This week’s reinstatement doesn’t just conclude that suspension; it opens a door that many thought might stay locked permanently.

Despite the optics, the intrigue around Urías’ potential return is very real. Pitching—especially left-handed pitching—remains a coveted commodity in MLB, and few players can match Urías’ combination of age, experience, and playoff pedigree. He was a critical part of the Dodgers’ 2020 World Series championship run, delivering clutch postseason performances that included recording the final outs in the clinching Game 6 against the Tampa Bay Rays.

That version of Urías—sharp, composed, dominant—is what several front offices are hoping still exists. And they may not have to wait long to find out.

According to multiple sources, Urías has kept himself in shape during his suspension, working with private trainers and occasionally throwing bullpen sessions away from the spotlight. One anonymous scout described a recent session as “vintage Julio,” with his velocity reportedly hovering in the 93-95 mph range and his off-speed pitches retaining their signature sharpness. “The stuff is there,” the scout said. “The question is everything else.”

That “everything else” is not minor. The cloud surrounding Urías’ past isn’t going away, and for any team interested in signing him, public backlash is a real and serious consideration. While MLB has cleared him to return, he still faces scrutiny from fans, media, and possibly teammates wherever he lands.

The Dodgers, for their part, have moved on. President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman made it clear early in the 2024 season that Urías would not be welcomed back to the organization. “We take these matters very seriously,” Friedman said at the time. “There is no scenario in which Julio returns to this clubhouse.”

With the Dodgers out of the picture, speculation has turned toward potential suitors. Among the teams rumored to have interest are the Baltimore Orioles, who are looking to reinforce their rotation for a postseason push, and the San Diego Padres, a franchise that has never shied away from taking chances on polarizing players. There’s also talk of the Houston Astros doing their due diligence, especially given their history of working with reclamation projects.

One executive from an American League team noted the “risk/reward” equation that comes with signing someone like Urías. “On the field, you know what he can give you,” the executive said. “But off the field, you better have a plan in place. If you don’t have strong leadership in your clubhouse, it could blow up on you.”

For Urías himself, the focus appears to be on proving that he deserves a second—or perhaps third—chance. He has reportedly spoken with multiple agents and advisors about how to handle his reentry into baseball, including whether to issue a public statement addressing the past or let his performance do the talking. Thus far, he has remained silent, declining all interview requests and keeping a low profile.

That silence speaks volumes. For a player once hailed as the “Mexican Sandy Koufax,” the fall from grace has been dramatic. Signed by the Dodgers at just 16, Urías climbed the organizational ranks rapidly, making his MLB debut at 19 and immediately showing flashes of brilliance. But his career has never followed a straight path. A series of injuries, a 20-game suspension for a previous domestic violence incident in 2019, and now this latest, more serious charge, have interrupted what could have been a Hall of Fame trajectory.

Yet here he is—older, hopefully wiser, and certainly aware that his baseball mortality is on the line. There will be no more second chances after this one. Wherever he ends up, Urías will need to show not only that he still has the stuff to succeed in the big leagues, but also the maturity and accountability to remain part of a professional organization.

It won’t be easy. The court of public opinion is often harsher than any handed-down suspension. Critics have already begun to question the morality of allowing Urías back into the game, arguing that MLB’s zero-tolerance stance on domestic violence is weakened by his return. Supporters, though fewer and quieter, argue that if the league deems him eligible, he should be allowed to earn a living like any other reinstated player.

One former teammate, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said he believes Urías still has the drive to make things right. “Julio’s not a bad guy,” he said. “He’s made some really bad choices, but I think he understands the weight of what’s happened. He’s got a long road ahead of him—not just to get back to the bigs, but to repair his image.”

And that road begins now.

Over the coming days, teams will weigh the upside of adding a potential ace-caliber arm against the certain media storm that will follow. Training sessions will be watched, agent calls will be made, and behind-the-scenes meetings will decide the future of a man whose name was once etched in silver on a World Series trophy—and then stained by headlines that had nothing to do with baseball.

There’s no playbook for what comes next. For Urías, the only certainty is that the ball is finally back in his hands. What he does with it will define not just the next chapter of his career, but perhaps how history remembers him.

In a sport that thrives on comeback stories, Julio Urías is hoping he has one left in him. Whether Major League Baseball—and its fans—are willing to listen is another story entirely.