Carlos Estévez has joined Kansas City’s bullpen, finalizing a $22 million, two-year contract with the Royals. The deal includes a club option for 2027.

The Kansas City Royals made Santander a three-year offer and increased it to $66 million, according to sources briefed on the talks. But by the time they presented Santander with their enhanced proposal,

Carlos Estévez and the Royals are in agreement on a two-year, $22.2 million contract with a club option, sources told ESPN, adding a veteran reliever to a Kansas City team hoping to continue its run of success after a surprise postseason appearance.

Estévez heads to a Kansas City team that had been looking to shore up the bullpen heading into the 2025 season. The Royals had turned to Lucas Erceg down the stretch to serve as the closer and bringing in Estévez helps give them more options.

Pitcher Carlos Estevez waves to his Philadelphia Phillies teammates in the bullpen in a game against the Houston Astros last August. The Kansas City Royals have reportedly added the veteran right-hander to their bullpen on a two-year, $20 million contract. Photo Credit: Yong Kim/Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

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,

The Royals add All-Star closer Carlos Estévez on a two-year deal to boost their bullpen after last season’s struggles.

The Royals and reliever Carlos Estévez have agreed to a two-year, $22 million contract, giving Kansas City another potential closer alongside Lucas Erceg, according to a person familiar with the deal.

After their improbable run to the postseason last year, the Kansas City Royals‘ contending window seems firmly open in 2025. This winter they’d already