The Kansas City Royals made a move after a loss at Fenway Park.
The Kansas City Royals bullpen struggled to keep the game close on Saturday during the team's loss to the Boston Red Sox, allowing runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings.
It did not matter much given the offense generated just one run via a home run from rookie catcher Carter Jensen, but it highlighted what has been a persistent problem all season long. Kansas City's bullpen is in dire need of reinforcements, and it was not shocking to see the team look for help on the waiver wire after the loss.
"We have claimed RHP Spencer Bivens off waivers from the San Francisco Giants and optioned him to Omaha," the Royals wrote on X.
For Bivens, he will look to get his career back on track in the minor leagues. The 32-year-old was designated for assignment by San Francisco when the Giants added another right-handed reliever in Duncan Davitt instead of retaining him.
Bivens has spent his entire big-league career with the Giants, having signed as an undrafted free agent and quickly moving through their system before his debut in 2024. Since then he has bounced between their bullpen and the minor leagues, particularly this season.
In 2025 he got an extended chance to be a consistent member of the Giants bullpen and made the most of it. Across 81 innings of work he posted a 4.00 ERA with 61 strikeouts, demonstrating he is capable of being a serviceable arm when his command is sharp and he is operating with confidence.
However, this year in limited time it has been a significant struggle, as he has owned a 14.40 ERA across five innings while striking out eight and walking four, with command being the primary issue throughout.
Kansas City is hoping they can help him address those command problems back in the minor leagues before giving him a shot in the big leagues. Given how poorly the Royals bullpen has performed all season, there is a genuine opportunity for Bivens to earn a call-up to the active roster before the year ends.
Even if that does not happen immediately, he fits a clear organizational need given how few proven arms Kansas City currently has available. A few strong outings in Omaha could go a long way toward securing him a permanent role with the team heading into 2027, which is when Kansas City is hoping to take a significant step forward as an organization.
The Royals will take on the Red Sox in a series finale on Sunday, currently owning a 66-83 record and trying to determine which players will be part of the solution next season.
