Free agency has just begun for Major League Baseball, and while you can expect the Royals to grab up some much-needed players (probably not high-profile players, barring a trade), one of their biggest targets should be left-handed relief help.
Last season, the Royals deployed these left-handed options out of the bullpen: Daniel Lynch IV, Angel Zerpa, Sam Long, Bailey Falter and Evan Sisk. Their respective WAR numbers were 1.3, 0.3, -0.7, -0.7 and 0.1. That combines for 0.1 across the five different lefties, and that’s even worse if you take out Lynch’s 1.3. The unit was very underwhelming.
Lynch and Zerpa will probably be back for the Royals, at least to start the year, but Long is already out. Sisks was dealt for Falter, who is out of options and could be a starter or reliever.
Here are some left-handed relief free agent options I think the Royals should target.
Milner will turn 35 in early January, but would be a veteran presence in the back end of the Royals bullpen. I think he would be the Royals’ high-leverage left-hander if they pursued him. Lefties hit just .208 against him last season in 120 at-bats. Overall, for Milner, he posted a -0.6 WAR last season but is a 1.1 WAR player for his career, so he has consistently been a solid, above-average reliever in his career.
Prior to somewhat of a tough season with the Rangers last year, Milner was really good in 2023, posting a 1.7 WAR. He has a career ERA of 3.84 and a FIP of 3.79 career-wise as well. With that being said, he is consistent, and what you see is what you are going to get.
Milner has a four-pitch mix with a sweeper, sinker, changeup, and a four-seamer. He won’t overpower hitters, but his funky arm angle is effective. He sits between 78–88 mph on the gun. Milner should be a cheap option; this would be the top lefty I’d hope the Royals go after.
Guenther will be 30 years old when the season starts next year, and this name might sound familiar, as the last two seasons, he’s been a part of the “bullpen barrage” system the Detroit Tigers have deployed.
Guenther doesn’t have a ton of MLB experience, throwing just 51.2 innings for his career, but he has shown flashes of potential in his short MLB time. Career-wise, Guenther displays reverse splits, having been way more effective getting righties out than lefties. Right-handed hitters are hitting just .206 in 107 at-bats, while lefties are hitting .315 in 89 at-bats against him.
Injuries have been a big issue for Guenther, having had Tommy John surgery in 2022 and missing most of last season after suffering from left hip arthroscopy. Guenther has a four-pitch mix — a sinker, slider, four-seamer, and splitter — and if anyone watched the postseason, you saw how important the splitter seems to be in today’s MLB. Similar to Milner, Guenther won’t overpower anybody, topping out at 91 mph. He should be rather cheap as someone who was hurt last season, and I think he could be a nice bounce-back candidate for the Royals. I’d put him as a second option behind Milner in terms of pursuit.
Soto will be 31 years old by the time Opening Day comes around, and it’s another name that should sound familiar to Royals fans. Soto started his career and spent four years in Detroit and two years with Baltimore, pitching for their Wild Card team that the Royals swept in 2024.
Soto is a two-time All-Star, and he hasn’t had a really good season since 2021, but he provides a lot of value to the Royals in the sense of the postseason experience that he would bring, as he’s been in the playoffs with the Phillies and Orioles. Soto has had command issues in his career, but Brian Sweeney and crew could be just what Soto needs to hone that in. For his career, Soto has been effective at getting righties and lefties out — lefties obviously more effectively, with them hitting just .211 against him, but righties are only .258 career-wise against him.
Soto is also the potential strikeout pitcher the Royals need from a lefty. A concern and complaint I have seen a lot the last couple of seasons about the Royals’ pen is a lack of swing-and-miss dudes. Soto’s career K/9 is 9.8, so he has struck out over a batter per inning.
Soto uses five pitches but is mainly a sinker/slider guy; he occasionally throws a four-seamer, splitter, and sweeper. He is the overpowering type, with that sinker coming in around 97 mph on average. While he might cost a heftier price than Milner or Guenther, I wouldn’t mind the Royals trying to bring him in. Although, I somewhat find him and Zerpa to be redundant. I’d put him third on my list of pursuit.
Cabrera would be the youngest of all the options, being just 29 all of next season, and he’s coming off his worst year of pro ball, being with four different teams and posting a -0.8 WAR. Career-wise, Cabrera is a -1.1 WAR player, so not great. So why would I include him in this list, you might ask? Well, he is going to be super cheap, and if you want the Royals to make a big splash signing or trade, he’d fill a need and not take up a lot of the payroll.
Also, remember how effective Taylor Clarke was for most of the season last year? I’m not saying Cabrera will replicate that success, but I think he’s an interesting profile for the Royals to take a flyer on and see if Sweeney and crew can fix. His splits are rather even for right-handers and left-handers, and his K/9 is decent, sitting around 8.6 for his career.
He deploys a five-pitch mix — a cutter, sinker, splitter, curveball, and a four-seamer. He tops out around 96 mph, so he can bring some heat. I’m not too overzealous on pursuing Cabrera, but he could be a flyer the Royals snatch up.
Who do you think I left off the list? What left-handed relievers do you think the Royals should pursue? Whoever it is, let’s hope they are a more effective group than the one the boys in blue trotted out this past season.ra will replicate that success, but I think he’s an interesting profile for the Royals to take a flyer on and see if Sweeney and crew can fix. His splits are rather even for right-handers and left-handers, and his K/9 is decent, sitting around 8.6 for his career.
He deploys a five-pitch mix, a cutter, sinker, splitter, curveball and a four-seamer. He tops out around 96 mph, so he can bring some heat. I’m not too overzealous on pursuing Cabrera, but he could be a flyer the Royals snatch up.
Who do you think I left off the list? What left-handed relievers do you think the Royals should pursue? Whoever it is, let’s hope they are a more effective group than the one the boys in blue trotted out this past season.
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