The Philadelphia Phillies’ bullpen has already changed significantly this offseason. The metamorphosis continued Wednesday, when their All-Star closer signed a new contract with another team. He was one of the finest bullpen relievers available on the free agent market after making 26 saves with the Phillies and Los Angeles Angels in 2024.
He will now return to the American League, joining a Kansas City squad that advanced to the AL Division Series in a comeback season in 2024. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Estevez’s contract is two years long with a team option for 2027. Jon Heyman of the New York Post was the first to report the arrangement on Twitter/X. The financial terms are not yet known.
Heyman claimed earlier this month that a “half dozen teams” were interested in the right-hander, who will make his first All-Star appearance with the Angels in 2023. Estevez signed a two-year contract with the Angels in December 2022 for a comparatively low $13.5 million. Estevez anticipated commanding a larger price in his next contract after demonstrating expertise closing in the heat of a playoff race.
The Phillies were unlikely to bring back Jeff Hoffman and Estevez, their two closers last season. Ultimately, they retained neither. Hoffman signed a free agent deal with the Toronto Blue Jays earlier this month.
Estevez, who turned 32 in December, is 27-31 in 438 career games, dating back to 2016 with the Colorado Rockies. The native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, thrived in his first full-time closing job in Los Angeles, making 51 saves in 98 appearances with the Angels from 2022 to 2023.
Jordan Romano, a longtime Blue Jays closer, now appears to be the most likely candidate to take up the empty closer position in Philadelphia. Romano was non-tendered by the Jays in November 2024, and in December he signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. Estevez joins a Royals bullpen that lacked an obvious closer among right-handers Lucas Erceg, Hunter Harvey, John Schreiber, and Chris Stratton.
While the Royals’ starting pitchers were strong in 2024, going 60-50 with a 3.55 ERA, their relief pitchers combined for a 26-26 record with a 4.13 ERA, ranking 20th in MLB.
Leave a Reply