Sources – Reliever Carlos Estévez, Royals reach 2 -year Agreement

On By Littum

Closer Carlos Estévez and Kansas City agree on a two-year-old $ 22.2 million contract with a club setting, sources of ESPN told Wednesday, adding a veteran relief to a Royals team hoping to continue his race of success after a surprise After the season last year.

The deal pays Estévez $ 10.1 million in each of the first two years, with the club setting worth $ 13 million and a $ 2 million buyout.

Estévez, 32, has spent the last two seasons as closer to the Los Angeles Angels and then, after a July-Handel, Philadelphia Phillies-with a High octan Fastball and a Swing-and-Miss-Slutter and Change. While his strike frequency dipped last year, his hiking also came down markedly and released the best version of him.

With a weak Bullpen in the first half of last season, Kansas City upgraded at the trade deadline by acquiring right-handed Lucas Erceg-AS became a dominant closer down on the stretch and right-hand man Hunter Harvey, who missed the postal season with injuries. Estévez’s presence along with Erceg gives Kansas City a potent one-to-stance in the late laps to supplement one of the American league’s best rotations.

Royals, who came out of a 106-loss season, improved with 30 games and beat Baltimore Orioles in the Wild-Card Round before losing to any American league champion New York Yankees. Kansas City signed Michael Wacha starts and traded for the other Baseman Jonathan India early in the winter and then signed right -handed Michael Lorenzen.

Estévez enriches a Bullpen that includes right -wing Handers Erceg, Harvey and John Schreiber and a Panot by Left Handers: Angel Zerpa, Sam Long, Daniel Lynch and potentially Kris Bubic, who is expected to compete with Lorenzen and right -handed Kyle Wright for Kansas City’s fifth starterjob.

After spending six seasons in Colorado, Estévez signed a two-year-old, $ 13.5 million deal with the angels and rose to the closer role. Since signing with Los Angeles, he has saved 57 games and knocked out 128 while walking 43 in 117⅓ laps with a 3.22 era.