KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Royals have reached an agreement with reliever on a two-year, $22 million contract, adding another potential closer alongside Lucas Erceg, according to a source familiar with the deal.
The contract includes a $13 million option with a $2 million buyout, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity as the agreement is pending a physical. Kansas City will need to make room for Him on the 40-man roster once the deal becomes official.
He, pitched in 54 games last season for the Angels and Phillies, posting a 2.45 ERA. He recorded 20 saves with Los Angeles and added six more for Philadelphia as they won the NL East. However, he surrendered the decisive home run against the Mets in Game 4 of the National League Division Series.
An All-Star with the Angels two years ago, He went 5-5 with a 3.90 ERA in 63 appearances.
The Royals acquired Erceg from the Athletics last season during their push for a wild-card spot. He delivered strong performances down the stretch and in the postseason, stabilizing what had previously been an inconsistent bullpen. Now, Erceg and Estévez are expected to form a formidable late-inning duo.
Kansas City’s bullpen will also feature returning arms Sam Long, Kris Bubic, Angel Zerpa, and John Schreiber, all part of last season’s much-improved relief corps. The team also hopes to get more production from Hunter Harvey, who was acquired at the trade deadline but managed just 5 2/3 innings due to a back injury.
Further bullpen reinforcements could come from the starting rotation competition. The Royals bring back All-Stars Cole Ragans and Seth Lugo, while also re-signing Michael Wacha and Michael Lorenzen, who are projected to fill the first four rotation spots.
Bubic, Alec Marsh, and Daniel Lynch IV could compete for the fifth spot, though any of them could shift to the bullpen if Kyle Wright, acquired from the Braves while recovering from shoulder surgery, is healthy enough to start.
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