The Royals have reached a two-year, $22 million agreement with reliever Carlos Estévez, adding another possible closer to their roster alongside Lucas Erceg, according to a source familiar with the deal who spoke on Wednesday night.
The contract includes a $13 million option with a $2 million buyout. The deal is pending a physical, and Kansas City will need to make room for Estévez on the 40-man roster once that’s completed.
Estévez, 32, pitched in 54 games for the Angels and Phillies last season, finishing with a 2.45 ERA. He saved 20 games for the Angels and six for the Phillies, helping them win the NL East. However, he allowed the crucial home run against the Mets in Game 4 of the National League Division Series.
Two years ago, Estévez made the All-Star team while with the Angels, going 5-5 with a 3.90 ERA in 63 appearances.
Kansas City acquired Erceg from the Athletics last season as part of their push for a wild-card spot. Erceg pitched well through the end of the season and into the postseason, stabilizing what had been a weak bullpen. Now, he and Estévez will form a strong one-two punch in the late innings.
The Royals will bring back Sam Long, Kris Bubic, Angel Zerpa, and John Schreiber from last season’s much-improved bullpen. They’re also hopeful that Hunter Harvey will be available after being acquired at the trade deadline but only pitching 5 2/3 innings due to a back injury.
Kansas City may get more help from the bullpen depending on how the starting rotation shakes out.
The Royals return All-Stars Cole Ragans and Seth Lugo, and they’ve re-signed Michael Wacha and Michael Lorenzen. These four are expected to be in the starting rotation, with Bubic possibly competing for the fifth spot.
Alec Marsh and Daniel Lynch IV could also compete for the fifth spot, or all three might end up in the bullpen if Kyle Wright is healthy enough to start games this season. The Royals acquired Wright from the Braves knowing he would miss the entire previous season while recovering from shoulder surgery.
