SURPRISE, Ariz. -- After watching their bullpen morph into a top-10 unit with a 3.63 ERA, which was tied for sixth best in MLB in 2025, the Royals still focused on improving the ‘pen this offseason.
The result is a back-end trio the Royals feel can lock down most games and good depth that cover the middle innings with different looks and skillsets.
“With the bullpen, we raised the floor a little bit,” pitching coach Brian Sweeney said. “But there’s going to be some good competition. There may be guys that deserve to be in that bullpen, and they might be competing for one spot.”
There’s definitely competition brewing for the final bullpen spots this spring. Added into that are the pitchers building up as starters -- if it doesn’t look like someone will make the rotation, the Royals still have to assess whether he’s one of the 13-best pitchers in camp and should make the team as a reliever.
Here’s an early assessment of where the bullpen stands:
The locks: Carlos Estévez, Lucas Erceg, Matt Strahm, John Schreiber, Nick Mears
Estévez is the reigning MLB saves leader (42 in 2025) and will get the opportunity to close games again for the Royals. Erceg battled injuries last year, but he was still effective with a 2.64 ERA, and his stuff makes him an excellent setup man if he’s not closing games. Kansas City acquired Strahm to be a high-leverage lefty, but he’s been able to get righties and lefties out in his career. He’s ready for whatever role he finds himself in.
“I understand my value and all my roles that I’ve played,” Strahm said. “Whatever the team needs is what I’m willing to do.”
Schreiber and Mears, both righties, will likely fill those middle relief roles in mid-to-high leverage. The Royals acquired Mears from the Brewers this offseason after he posted a 3.49 ERA across 56 2/3 innings in 2025.
A few more outings like the bullpen Lange threw on Friday and he’ll be moved up a category for a ‘lock.’ Lange had lat surgery in 2024 and he didn’t make it back to the Majors until August of last season. He only pitched one inning for the Tigers, but everyone remembers him as a high-leverage reliever for Detroit a few years ago, when he notched 26 saves in ‘23.
“I remember facing him,” catcher Salvador Perez said. “Nasty. Excited that we got him.”
Lange is healthy and ready to join this bullpen, which would give the Royals some much-needed swing and miss for big situations; in ‘23, his curveball and changeup registered a 48.2% and 45.7% whiff rate, respectively. The changeup had people watching his bullpen on Friday excited.
‘I love punching tickets,” Lange said. “That’s what I like to do. When my name is called, go out there, and if I have a chance to put somebody away, I’m going to do it.”
The Royals will need another lefty with Strahm, and that’s where Lynch comes in. He focused on his delivery this offseason to find more swing and miss now that he’s a full-time reliever. Cruz is a high-octane arm who showed what he could do in spurts last year. McArthur is coming off a year in which he didn’t pitch at all, so his progression may be a little slowed.
Of the non-roster invitees, one stood out Saturday: Colleran, a 22-year-old right-hander whom the Royals selected in the seventh round of the 2024 MLB Draft, was up to 97-98 mph and has a good breaking ball and plus cutter.
Building up as starters, but…: Ryan Bergert, Stephen Kolek, Bailey Falter, Luinder Avila, Mason Black
If the rotation includes Seth Lugo, Cole Ragans, Michael Wacha, Kris Bubic and Noah Cameron, the Royals are going to have the rest of their starters make up a very good Triple-A rotation. However, they could always decide to pluck one or two for Kansas City’s bullpen.
The two to really watch are Avila and Falter. The Royals still believe in Avila as a starter, but there are enough voices on the Major League side saying he could make an impact as a reliever right now. The stuff ticked up when he got a chance in the ‘pen last year, and his curveball was devastating. Falter is out of options, so the Royals need to decide how and where he fits. He had a rough time last year when he was moved to the ‘pen, ultimately ending the season on the IL, but Falter could be another lefty out there.