The Kansas City Royals bullpen got a major reinforcement as they have reportedly signed right-handed reliever Carlos Estévez to a two-year, $22 million deal that comes with a club option for 2027. The deal includes a $2 million buyout of the $13 million option but should the Royals exercise that option the deal would be worth $33 million over three seasons.

Estévez, 32, has blossomed into one of the game’s best relievers over the last few seasons. Originally coming up through the Colorado Rockies system as an international free agent in 2011, Estévez spent the first six seasons of his big league career as a member of the Rockies. He debuted with the Rockies in 2016, appearing in 63 games and converting 11 saves en route to a 5.24 ERA in 55 innings of work. He struggled to a 5.57 ERA the following season and didn’t throw a pitch in the big leagues in 2018 after an oblique strain and right elbow strain sidelined him for most of the year and was then optioned to Triple-A for the rest of the season.

However, 2019 was the start of Estévez coming into his own as a reliever. He posted a 3.75 ERA in 71 appearances for the Rockies and though he struggled during the shortened 2020 season, bounced back nicely in his final two seasons with the club. From 2019-2022, Estévez tossed 214 2/3 innings with a 4.28 earned run average, 23.9% strikeout rate and 8.2% walk rate. Unable to retain him in free agency as a backend bullpen piece, the Rockies watched Estévez depart in free agency and sign a two-year, $13.5 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels.

Leaving Coors Field did wonders for Estévez showcasing his true talent on the mound. In Colorado, he owned a 5.57 ERA and despite strong strikeout and walk numbers, he struggled with run prevention. His 21 home runs allowed at Coors Field are more than any other ballpark with the next highest being the eight in his 54 career appearances at Angel Stadium. While a member of the Angels in 2023 and 2024, Estévez had a 3.36 ERA in 96 1/3 innings, becoming an All-Star in his first season and recording 110 strikeouts against 36 walks. Estévez was then traded to the Philadelphia Phillies at the 2024 trade deadline and played a key role in bolstering the Phillies bullpen down the stretch.

Over the last two seasons, Estévez has developed into the bonafide closer the Rockies had always hoped he’d become, throwing 117 1/3 innings with a 3.22 ERA, 26% strikeout rate and 8.7% walk rate while wracking up 57 total saves. In Colorado, he converted just 25 saves. The 2024 season was especially impressive for Estévez as the righty finished the year with a career-best 2.45 ERA. The adjustment of a trade likely impacted Estévez’s strikeout numbers in Philly as it dropped to a 20% clip after putting up a 26% rate in Los Angeles, but he was still effective by getting groundballs at a 40% rate to finish out the season and maintained his strong velocity.

He garnered plenty of interest from around the league, especially as other top relievers came off the market. Estévez brings the versatility of being a power arm out of the bullpen that can work as a middle reliever as needed but is better suited for late-game work, specifically the ninth inning. Featuring a three-pitch mix of a four-seam fastball (96.8 mph), slider (89.4 mph), and a changeup (89.4 mph), Estévez recorded a league-average 25.6% whiff rate and 23.6% strikeout rate. Known for being a little wild at times, he reigned in the walk rates and placed in the 86th percentile in the league. He won’t entice hitters to chase pitches very much, but his ability to attack the zone and overpower hitters has allowed him to try and limit hard contact.

It’s a big addition for the Royals who made plenty of moves last offseason to improve their rotation, still lacked in the bullpen throughout the 2024 playoff season. Their relievers had a collective 4.13 ERA last year, which placed them 20th out of the 30 clubs in the league. They had made attempts to bolster the pen during the season with the acquisitions of Lucas Erceg and Hunter Harvey. Erceg performed well enough after the trade, but Harvey was sidelined by a back injury and made just six appearances. However, both are returning for 2025 and with the addition of Estévez the backend of the bullpen is looking even better for the Royals if they can all stay healthy and remain effective. It will give the team some flexibility with the closer role thanks to Erceg and Estévez and provide a more reliable path in games for manager Matt Quatraro.