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Royals Decline 2027 Club Option on Carlos Estevez
The Kansas City Royals have declined their $13 million team option on right-hander Carlos Estevez (shoulder) for the 2027 season, per the MLBPA. Estevez is now a free agent and is free to sign with any team this winter. The 33-year-old had a completely lost season due to injury in 2026, making just one appearance for Kansas City this past season. Estevez may also be set to miss a significant chunk of 2027 as well, as he underwent shoulder surgery in early September. The veteran right-hander was a highly productive closer for fantasy managers as recently as the 2025 season, when he recorded a 2.45 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP with 54 strikeouts and 42 saves across 66 innings (67 games). However, he faces a long road back to fantasy relevance at this point, given his current health situation.
Source: MLB Players Association
Source: MLB Players Association
Carlos Estevez to Have Season-Ending Shoulder Surgery Next Week
Kansas City Royals veteran right-handed reliever Carlos Estevez (shoulder) is set to have season-ending right-shoulder surgery next week, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Estevez had been throwing in Arizona, but he was not progressing much. It is very unlikely that he was going to get back to the Royals this year, but this will officially end his 2026 season and likely his time with the Royals with the club option for 2027. The 33-year-old Dominican hurler officially has a strained rotator cuff in his right shoulder. Estevez, a two-time All-Star who had a league-high 42 saves with the Royals last year, appeared in just one game in 2026, allowing six earned runs in one-third of an inning against the Atlanta Braves on March 28 for a blown save and a loss. His issues started way back in spring training, when his velocity was way down. Estevez actually hit the injured list initially after being hit by a comebacker, and then he suffered a shoulder injury while rehabbing. A bounce-back season could be coming with a new team in 2027, but at this point, we have most likely seen the best that Estevez has to offer as a late-inning reliever.
Source: MLB.com - Anne Rogers
Source: MLB.com - Anne Rogers
Steven Cruz has Interesting Deep-League Appeal
Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Steven Cruz has been working as the closer lately. He has earned four of the team's last five saves and appears to have a strong hold on the closer role right now. Cruz did give up two earned runs during his latest appearance against the Athletics on Wednesday. Outside of that, Cruz has looked good enough on the mound to warrant adding in deep leagues. Overall, Cruz owns a 4.37 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and a 51/18 K/BB ratio across 45 appearances. There's enough value here to warrant scooping up Cruz in deep leagues.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Steven Cruz Is Taking Over the Ninth
Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Steven Cruz picked up his fourth save Friday, August 14, working a scoreless ninth in a 7-6 win over the Los Angeles Angels. Cruz allowed one hit and struck out one, freezing Mike Trout for the final out. It was another ninth-inning chance for the right-hander, who has now recorded all four of his saves over his last 15 appearances. Cruz has been much better than his 4.17 season ERA suggests lately, posting a 2.40 ERA and 0.87 WHIP across those 15 outings. Alex Lange has moved into lower-leverage work, while Cruz has been getting the ninth more often. The job isn't completely secure yet, but Cruz is clearly the arm to chase from this bullpen right now. Yahoo managers haven't moved much yet, either, with Cruz rostered in just 6% of leagues. He's worth grabbing in deeper formats for anyone looking to add saves.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Steven Cruz Claiming a Bigger Portion of Saves in KC
Kansas City Royals right-handed reliever Steven Cruz has jumped into the saves picture for the Royals after Alex Lange has allowed 16 runs in his last 10 appearances. Cruz was entrusted in a save situation on Wednesday against the division-rival Minnesota Twins, and he delivered to close out the 2-1 win. He threw a clean inning with one strikeout to earn his third save of the season for the Royals. The 27-year-old Dominican pitcher is 2-3 in 2026 with a 4.29 ERA (5.50 FIP) and 1.21 WHIP with 48 strikeouts and 17 walks in 42 total innings pitched in his fourth year in the majors with the Royals. Cruz's surface stats aren't all that impressive, but he's been much better since the start of July, allowing only four earned runs on 11 hits while walking three and striking out 13 in 15 2/3 innings during that stretch. He's also picked up all three of his saves and has added two holds. It's unclear if veteran reliever Carlos Estevez (shoulder) will even be able to make it back at all this year, so Cruz could have plenty of runway to close out the year as the Royals' primary closer over Lange. Cruz is rostered in just 3% of Yahoo leagues and is widely available.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Alex Lange Blows Third Save on Tuesday as Long-Term Questions Arise
Royals right-hander Alex Lange blew his third save of the season on Tuesday, continuing a difficult stretch out of the bullpen. Lange allowed two earned runs and one walk while recording just two outs, marking his third blown save in his last five opportunities. The 30-year-old has struggled to protect leads, posting an 11.20 ERA and 1.90 WHIP over his last 15 appearances. His season numbers have also taken a hit, as he now owns a 6.33 ERA and 1.55 WHIP. Those recent struggles are likely to cost him ninth-inning opportunities if they continue. Fantasy managers should look elsewhere for saves until Lange can regain his form and reestablish himself in high-leverage situations.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Alex Lange Bounces Back on Tuesday, Tallies Save in Scoreless Frame
Kansas City Royals right-hander Alex Lange recorded his ninth save of the season on Tuesday night, pitching a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts in his team's 3-2 win over the San Francisco Giants. Lange had struggled in July leading up to his outing on Tuesday, allowing eight earned runs across 3 2/3 innings (four games) this month. However, it appears as though Kansas City is sticking with him as its primary option in the ninth inning. Although he's recorded a 6.15 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP across 41 innings so far this year, Lange has converted a respectable nine out of 11 save chances. Fantasy managers should be aware of the damage he might do to their ratios, but Lange remains a viable source of saves to target on the waiver wire.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Alex Lange Stumbles in Monday's Save Opportunity Amid Lengthy Skid
Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Alex Lange blew his save opportunity on Monday night against the Giants, but he earned the win after the Royals rallied in the bottom of the ninth. Lange entered the game with a two-run lead, and he started the inning strong with back-to-back strikeouts of Rafael Devers and Heliot Ramos. He gave up a game-tying homer to Willy Adames with two outs before getting the last out of the inning. The Royals won in the bottom of the ninth on a walk-off bunt from Nick Loftin, giving Lange his first win of the season. Lange has allowed eight runs in his last three games in just 2 2/3 innings. Over his last six games, he has a brutal 23.40 ERA with a 40.9% hard-hit rate against him. Lange is still the team's primary option at the end of the game at this point, but Daniel Lynch IV and John Schreiber could step in as the closer if Lange continues to stumble.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Carlos Estevez Begins Throwing Program
Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Carlos Estevez (shoulder) has begun a throwing program as he works his way back from a right rotator cuff strain he sustained in April. Over the past few months, the 33-year-old reliever made substantial progress, advancing to the point where he was able to throw multiple bullpen sessions in June. However, he then suffered a setback that required an injection to relieve the pain. He has only now been able to resume a throwing program, and the extent of his current workload remains unknown. While there is no exact timeline for his return, it's safe to say he won't be back on the mound for the Royals anytime soon. That being said, it's still quite possible that he pitches in 2026, although when that happens will depend on how he continues to recover and whether he can avoid another setback.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Daniel Lynch IV a High-End Closer to Stash in Royals Bullpen?
Right-handed reliever Alex Lange is the current closer for the Kansas City Royals, but left-hander Daniel Lynch IV could be worth stashing for fantasy managers in deeper leagues who are speculating on saves in the second half. Lynch, a former first-rounder in 2018 out of the University of Virginia, began his MLB career as a starter before transitioning to a full-time relief role in recent seasons. At the All-Star break, the 29-year-old southpaw sits with a 2-2 record, 2.35 ERA (3.15 FIP), 0.94 WHIP, one save, 33 strikeouts, and only 12 walks in 38 1/3 innings pitched across 39 appearances out of the bullpen. Since taking the loss to the Chicago White Sox on June 27, Lynch has thrown 4 1/3 shutout innings with a walk, three strikeouts, and a hold for the Royals in four games in July. Lynch has 10 saves on the season and could be next in line for saves in KC if Lange struggles. Veteran Carlos Estevez (shoulder) has been on the injured list all year after getting hurt in his first outing of the season, and there's no clear timetable for his return. Lynch is rostered in only 3% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Alex Lange Worth the Ratio Risk for Saves?
Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Alex Lange entered the break with eight saves, but the 5.92 ERA and 1.53 WHIP make him a tough reliever to trust. He had converted seven straight save chances before July, then allowed five earned runs in two-thirds of an inning against the Mets on July 8. That outing was not a blown save, though, and Lange remains the leading option for the ninth. The walks are still a problem. Lange has issued 22 in 38 innings, leaving little room when balls start falling in. Carlos Estevez (right rotator cuff strain) is not expected back until August, while Lucas Erceg and the rest of Kansas City's bullpen remain alternatives if Lange slips again. At 19% rostered on Yahoo, he is a saves gamble rather than a set-and-forget closer. RotoBaller ranks him 44th for Week 16 and recommends him in 12-team leagues. Managers chasing saves can make the add, but the ratios may hurt.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Alex Lange Worth a Waiver Claim Despite the Ratio Risk?
Kansas City Royals reliever Alex Lange has converted all seven of his save chances since moving into the late-inning mix on June 3. His latest came June 28, when he retired the White Sox in order two days after being tagged for five runs in a blowout loss. That quick return to the ninth was a useful vote of confidence. Lange owns a 4.95 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, and 37:21 K:BB over 36 1/3 innings, so the risk is obvious. Kansas City still has Lucas Erceg, Daniel Lynch IV, and Matt Strahm available, but Lange has received the save chances. Carlos Estevez (shoulder) also suffered another setback and received an injection July 1, making an imminent return unlikely. RotoBaller ranks Lange 21st among closers and recommends him in 12-team leagues. At 23% rostered on Yahoo, he is worth a claim for saves-needy managers who can absorb the ratio volatility.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Carlos Estevez Receives Injection, Shut Down the Rest of the Week
Kansas City Royals right-handed reliever Carlos Estevez (shoulder) suffered a setback with his shoulder after throwing a bullpen session on June 27. He received an injection on Wednesday and will be shut down for the rest of the week before being re-evaluated, according to MLB.com. Estevez initially went on the 15-day injured list on April 1 with a left-foot contusion, but he suffered a right rotator-cuff strain while rehabbing and was transferred to the 60-day IL on June 15. The 33-year-old veteran Dominican hurler only made one appearance this year for the Royals before getting injured, and he allowed six earned runs in just one-third of an inning. Estevez had a career- and league-high 42 saves in his first season with the Royals in 2025, but in addition to his injuries this year, his velocity was noticeably down in spring training. He easily has the most closing experience of anyone in KC's bullpen, but it could be a choppy ride for fantasy managers who are stashing him whenever he returns in the second half of 2026. Estevez is rostered in only 39% of Yahoo leagues now.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Alex Lange a Priority Add for Saves in 12-Team Leagues?
Kansas City Royals reliever Alex Lange was called upon in a save situation on Monday after his recent disastrous appearance. Two days after allowing five runs while recording one out in a 22-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox, he retired the side in order for his seventh save on June 28. That vote of confidence matters. Kansas City used Lucas Erceg in the seventh and Matt Strahm in the eighth before turning to Lange with a one-run lead. His ratios remain a concern, however. Lange has a 4.95 ERA and 1.49 WHIP with 37 strikeouts and 21 walks over 36 1/3 innings in 2026, but he has converted all seven of his save chances in June. Carlos Estevez (shoulder) remains on the 60-day injured list and felt discomfort after a June 27 bullpen session, which could give Lange a longer leash as the closer. At 23% rostered on Yahoo, Lange is a priority add in 12-team leagues for fantasy managers chasing saves, but it could be a bumpy ride.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Carlos Estevez to be Re-Evaluated After Potential Setback With Shoulder
Kansas City Royals right-handed reliever Carlos Estevez (shoulder) suffered a shoulder injury while rehabbing his foot on May 6. He threw a bullpen session on June 27, but his right shoulder didn't feel great, so the Royals will re-evaluate him in the coming days, according to MLB.com. Estevez initially went on the 15-day injured list on April 1 with a foot injury, but he was transferred to the 60-day IL on June 15 with a right rotator-cuff strain in his shoulder. It's unclear exactly what is wrong with the 33-year-old Dominican veteran now, but he's unlikely to come off the IL to rejoin the Royals' bullpen before the All-Star break next month, and depending on what the team finds this week, Estevez could be out well into the second half of the season. Right-hander Lucas Erceg was the next man up for saves in KC with Estevez hurt early in April. Erceg has 12 saves, but he has since been booted from the closer's role in favor of Alex Lange, who has converted all seven of his save opportunities in June. It's becoming harder to justify holding Estevez in fantasy baseball leagues as we near the end of the first half. He's currently rostered in 42% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
