Kansas City Royals take flyer on Trevor Rosenthal

The Kansas City Royals have made another low key move in free agency, signing Trevor Rosenthal to a minor league contract.

As the Kansas City Royals continue their rebuilding project, they have continued to search for lottery tickets to expedite the process. The reality is that they are still a few years from contending, but there is nothing wrong with taking a chance in free agency. If it pans out, they may be able to flip that player for a prospect or two. Otherwise, the Royals will not be out much financially if they have to cut bait.

On Saturday, the Royals signed another potential lottery ticket, as they inked former Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training. Should Rosenthal make the major league roster, he will receive $1.75 million in 2020. He also has the chance to earn another $2.25 million in incentives in the coming year.

Rosenthal is certainly an intriguing reliever. He was one of the top closers in the game in 2014 and 2015, earning an All Star nod in the latter season. Over those two years, he posted a 2.65 ERA and a 1.338 WHiP, notching 93 saves. While his command was always an issue, with 67 walks in 139 innings, he also struck out 170 batters and allowed just 117 hits.

However, the bottom fell out on Rosenthal. He required Tommy John surgery during the 2017 campaign, and missed all of 2018. Expected to serve a key role in the Nationals bullpen in 2019, he instead began the year by allowing runs in his first three outings without recording an out. Dating back to his final outing with the Cardinals, Rosenthal was the first pitcher since at least 1908 to have four consecutive outings allowing a run without recording a single out. He also failed to record an out in his fourth appearance for the Nationals, allowing a walk and a hit batter, but somehow was not charged with a run as the bullpen spared him that indignity.

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After being released on June 23, he made ten appearances with the Tigers before being released again. While he signed with the Yankees, he never returned to the majors in pinstripes. All told, his 2019 campaign was a disaster, with a 13.50 ERA and a 2.413 WHiP over 15.1 innings. Rosenthal’s command completely deserted him, as he issued 26 walks, hit four batters, and threw nine wild pitches. His stint in the Yankees system was a disaster as well, as he allowed four runs on three walks, a hit batter, and a wild pitch while recording just a single out in AAA.

Yet, he is still worth the gamble. The velocity was there, even if Rosenthal could not harness his stuff. And he should be completely healthy after another offseason to recover from surgery. For a team like the Royals, who need to find major league caliber players wherever they can, Rosenthal is a worthwhile gamble.

Trevor Rosenthal is a solid no risk signing for the Kansas City Royals. If it works out, they may be able to land a piece for the future at the trade deadline. If not, then they really did not lose anything.