Royals sign top closer on market to ratchet up AL Central arms race

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With exactly two weeks left until pitchers and catchers report to spring training, the Kansas City Royals have finally bolstered their bullpen, signing veteran reliever Carlos Estévez to a deal out of free agency. ESPN's Jeff Passan reported the agreement on January 29, and MLB.com's Mark Feinsand later confirmed that it's a two-year, $20 million contract with a $13 million club option for the 2027 season or $2 million buyout.

Since the Royals — who have not yet confirmed the deal — have a full 40-man roster, they will need to make a corresponding move to officially add Estévez.

The news of Estévez joining the Royals comes mere hours after the Detroit Tigers formally announced their signing of Tommy Kahnle, and just five days after the Cleveland Guardians signed Paul Sewald, ratcheting up the competition in the AL Central for 2025.

Carlos Estévez joins the Royals' bullpen

After ranking 20th in MLB with a combined ERA of 4.13, 23rd in WHIP at 1.33, and 30th — dead last — in strikeouts at 463, the struggles of the Royals' bullpen last season have been well-documented. The team acquired closer Lucas Erceg at the deadline to bolster their flailing relief corps, but with newly-added Hunter Harvey on injured list, there were few other bright spots among the group.

Estévez started 2024 with the Los Angeles Angels, accumulating a 2.38 ERA, 0.74 WHIP, 32 strikeouts, and 20 saves in 34 innings before he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies on July 27. He pitched 21 innings in Philadelphia, recording a 2.57 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 18 strikeouts, and 6 saves, and became a free agent at the end of the season.

Coming off a career-best season, Estévez was ranked 28th on The Athletic's list of the top free agents of 2024-25. Still, his potential to regress is concerning, especially considering his career ERA sits at 4.21 — far higher than the 2.45 ERA he accumulated between the Angels and Phillies last year — and his strikeout rate dropped from 25.8% in Los Angeles to just 20.5% during the second half of the season in Philadelphia.

Going into spring training, it will be interesting to see whether the Royals keep Erceg in the closing role, or shift him to being a set-up man for Estévez, who has been a closer for the past two seasons. Erceg posted a 2.88 ERA in 25 innings for the Royals after being acquired from the Athletics at the trade deadline last season, racking up 11 saves in 13 opportunities. Having significantly bolstered the struggling bullpen, the 29-year-old has a strong case for staying in the closing role this season — especially if the Royals are concerned that Estévez could experience some regression — but only time will tell.

Regardless of whether the Royals use Estévez as a closer, set-up man, or just a reliever for other high-leverage situations, he's a big addition to the relief corps, putting Kansas City in a much stronger position to take on the AL Central this year.

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