Free agent closer Carlos Estévez will sign with the Kansas City Royals, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports. According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the eight-year veteran right-hander is receiving a two-year, $20 million deal with a $13 million club option for the 2027 season. At the trade deadline in 2024, the Los Angeles Angels traded Estévez to the Philadelphia Phillies. He is entering his age-32 season in 2025. In 54 games in 2024, Estévez had a 4-5 record with a 2.45 ERA and 26 saves, along with a 3.24 FIP and a 60 ERA-. Furthermore, he had a 0.910 WHIP, a .191 batting average against, a 23.6% strikeout rate, and a career-best 5.7% walk rate last season. Estévez also had a career-best 0.82 HR/9 rate in 2024.
Estevez’s deal with the Royals is expected to be for two years and $20 million with a $13 million club option ($2 million buyout), per source. So it’s 2/$22M or 3/$33M if the option is exercised.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) January 30, 2025
Free Agent Closer Carlos Estévez Signs Two-Year Deal with Royals
The Royals were one of the teams mentioned earlier this offseason as a potential landing spot for Estévez. With Kansas City, Estévez will likely be in the closer’s role, or he may platoon in that role with Lucas Erceg. Estévez is coming off one of the best seasons of his career. His ERA and FIP were both career bests. In 2023 with the Angels, Estévez was named to the All-Star team. Estévez has been a closer and a setup relief pitcher in the past. The Royals will now have more bullpen flexibility in high-leverage situations with Estévez on their roster. The veteran was one of the best relief pitchers in this free-agent class. Regardless of his eventual role, Estévez can be an effective high-leverage relief pitcher.
The Royals are looking to improve on a strong 2024 season in which they made the postseason for the first time since their 2015 World Series title. Getting a wild card spot out of the American League Central, they swept the Baltimore Orioles in the AL Wild Card Series before falling to the New York Yankees in three games to one in the ALDS.
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