- Carlos Estevez, a free agent right-handed closer, has agreed to a two-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, according to several media outlets on Wednesday night.
The Philadelphia Phillies, who acquired Estevez on July 27 prior to the trade deadline last summer, divided the season between the Los Angeles Angels and the team that named him an All-Star in 2023.
The Royals have not officially confirmed the agreement, but it is rumored to be around $22 million.
Estevez, who turned 32 on December 28, pitched 55 innings in 54 bullpen appearances last season, going 4-5 overall with a 2.45 ERA, 26 saves, 12 walks, and 50 strikeouts.After 438 bullpen appearances with the Colorado Rockies (2016–17, 2019–22), Angels (2023–24), and Phillies (2024), he has a career 27–31 record with a 4.21 ERA, 82 saves, 161 walks, and 440 strikeouts in 419 1/3 innings. Due to injury, he was unable to play in 2018.
After finishing 86-76 the previous season and qualifying for the postseason for the first time since 2015, Kansas City lost to the New York Yankees 3-1 in the ALDS after sweeping the Baltimore Orioles 2-0 in the American League wild-card round.
