Kansas City Royals Release Pitcher After 7 Weeks

The Kansas City Royals bullpen has been a disaster this year. All three of the team's expected high-leverage arms have been a disappointment.

Both Lucas Erceg and Matt Strahm were expected to serve as setup men. Strahm is off the team, having been released in August, and Erceg is currently in Triple-A due to underperformance. Both players posted an ERA above 5.00 in 2026.

The team's expected closer, Carlos Estevez, has pitched in just one game due to multiple injury setbacks including a left foot contusion and right shoulder strain.

As a result, Kansas City has had to get creative in finding solutions, not just for high-leverage moments but simply to find reliable relief options in general.

In early July, the Royals decided to turn to a player who once found success with the organization in right-hander Scott Barlow. However, the experiment lasted just seven weeks as Barlow has been released, according to MiLB transaction logs.

Barlow signed a one-year, $2 million deal this past offseason with the Athletics but pitched so poorly he was released in late June. He struggled to limit hard contact at the Athletics' hitter-friendly home ballpark in Sacramento, posting a 6.48 ERA during his time there.

The Royals signed him back in early July to a Triple-A deal as a bounce-back candidate, and unfortunately he did not improve. He posted a 5.65 ERA across 11 appearances at Triple-A Omaha.

His velocity continued to dip and he also struggled with command, ultimately leading to Kansas City's decision to release him.

Barlow may not find another opportunity elsewhere given that the Royals' situation is one of the worst in MLB and even they could not find a use for him. He may need to spend the offseason rebuilding before attempting a comeback in 2027.

It is a shame because Barlow experienced the best years of his career in Kansas City from 2018 to 2023, even serving as their closer for a stretch of that run.

He racked up 56 saves with the Royals during his first stint and posted a 3.39 ERA. Unfortunately, his production has dropped off significantly since then, and he has bounced around the league pitching for four different teams following his 2023 trade from Kansas City to the San Diego Padres.

For a pitcher who gave this organization several quality years, the ending is a tough one, but the results left the Royals with no other choice.