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Dodgers' Urias focused on season despite impending free agency

Mitchell Layton / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star left-hander Julio Urias is entering his final season under club control, understanding that it could be his last with the only franchise he's known over his seven-year career.

"That’s not something you can hide," Urias said when asked if he'd thought about possibly leaving Los Angeles after 2023, according to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times. "Obviously, I’ll try to maximize my focus on baseball, and later, what has to happen will happen."

Urias authored a masterful season for the Dodgers in 2022, posting a 17-7 record with 166 strikeouts and leading the National League with a 2.16 ERA across 175 innings pitched.

The southpaw is in the rare position of hitting free agency at the peak of his career, which isn't lost on his agent Scott Boras.

"He offers a team the utter prime of his career," Boras said.

Urias is set to earn $14.25 million this campaign and expected to lead a Dodgers rotation that'll miss Walker Buehler's services for the entire season after he underwent Tommy John surgery in August.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, Urias is keeping his mind on taking care of business on the field.

"Right now, I’m focused on playing," Urias said. "My representatives and (the team) will have their time to talk, but right now, I’m 100% focused on the field."

The Dodgers signed the 26-year-old as an international free agent out of Mexico in 2012. He owns a lifetime 49-17 record with a 2.82 ERA, 3.44 FIP, and 593 strikeouts over 599 2/3 innings.

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