Royals finalizing 2-year deal with Estévez to strengthen bullpen (source)

KANSAS CITY -- The Royals made a move to bolster the back end of their bullpen on Wednesday night and are finalizing a two-year contract with All-Star right-handed closer Carlos Estévez, sources told MLB.com.

The deal, worth a guaranteed $22 million over two years, includes a $13 million option for a third year -- or a $2 million buyout if the Royals decline the option, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.

The club has not confirmed the deal, which is pending a physical. The Royals will have to make a 40-man roster move when the Estévez signing becomes official.

Estévez, who turned 32 in late December, is coming off arguably his best season yet, posting a career-best 2.45 ERA across 54 appearances between the Angels and Phillies. The right-hander had a 2.38 ERA and 20 saves for the Halos before being sent to the Phils ahead of the Trade Deadline as one of the premier relievers on the market.

The Royals had trade discussions centering on Estévez at the Deadline, but they instead acquired Lucas Erceg -- who is under team control for five more years and posted a 2.88 ERA with Kansas City down the stretch -- from the A's as their closer.

Now Kansas City will have both Erceg and Estévez at the back-end of their bullpen, with both likely to get save opportunities, the pair providing a dynamic threat in the eighth and ninth innings.

Estévez has been one of the more reliable closers in the Majors over the past couple seasons. He averaged a career-best 11.3 strikeouts per nine innings in 2023 en route to earning his first All-Star selection. And while his strikeout numbers dipped in '24, he also cut his walk rate by more than half while recording a career-best 0.91 WHIP.

Estévez relies on a 97 mph fastball, slider and changeup, the latter of which registered a 37% whiff rate last season. Hitters batted just .192 against him in 2024.

Estévez's time in Philadelphia last year got off to a good start, though he stumbled down the stretch. After putting up a 1.72 ERA in his first 14 appearances for the Phillies, the veteran closer had a 5.06 ERA over his final six regular-season appearances, and he allowed a decisive home run vs. the Mets in Game 4 of the NLDS.

The Royals felt good about their bullpen at the end of 2024, thanks in large part to Erceg bursting onto the scene and solid performances from Sam Long, Kris Bubic, Angel Zerpa and John Schreiber.

But Kansas City has been keeping an eye on the reliever market throughout the offseason, wanting to see if the club could add another weapon. The Royals are also bullish on a healthy return for Hunter Harvey, another late-inning reliever they acquired just before the Deadline last year.

Harvey, 30, only threw 5 2/3 innings for the Royals before missing the rest of the season with a back injury. But in 2022-23, the right-hander posted a 2.70 ERA over 100 innings. If he’s able to return to that form, the Royals are looking at a solid trio to help close out games.