Royals sign Mike Minor to two-year deal

The Kansas City Royals have signed Mike Minor, taking the veteran pitcher off of the free agency market. Minor is signing a two-year contract worth $18 million.

Minor will reportedly receive $7 million this upcoming season and $10 million in the 2022 season, per MLB Network Insider Jon Heyman. However, the possibility exists for Minor to make up to $30 million when his contract ends. Heyman adds that the veteran starter has a $1 million buyout in 2023 on a $13 million option.

The 32-year-old starting pitcher is coming back to the AL Central after spending the last half of 2020 season with the Oakland Athletics. Minor played for the Royals back in the 2017, where had a record of 6-6 and 2.55 ERA.

This summer, Minor was traded by the Texas Rangers to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for two prospects and future cash considerations at the trade deadline. In his short stint with the Athletics, Minor posted a record of 1-1 with an ERA of 5.48. He also recorded 27 strikeouts and a career-high 11.4 strikeouts per 9.0 innings in 21.1 innings pitched.

Before being moved to Oakland, the 6-foot-4 pitcher spent the last three seasons with the Rangers. In those three seasons, Minor had an All-Star appearance in 2019, which happened to be his best year in Texas. During that season, he had a career-best 14 wins, 3.59 ERA, and 200 strikeouts. The Royals are hoping that he can return back to his 2019 or even 2017 form to help their starting young rotation.

Mike Minor came up in the Atlanta Braves system and spent five years with the big league club, before joining the Royals, Rangers, and A’s.