The Royals have re-signed reliever Greg Holland, the team announced. It’s a one-year, $2.75MM deal, reports Jeff Passan of ESPN (Twitter link). The pact also contains a possible $1.5MM in incentives, reports Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com (via Twitter).
Holland, 35, had a stellar rebound effort in Kansas City this past season after a pair of down years. Over 28.1 innings spanning 28 games, the right-hander worked to a 1.91 ERA/2.52 FIP. His 27.7% strikeout rate, while strong, wasn’t much different than it had been in prior seasons. Holland’s turnaround was more a reflection of a significant improvement in his strike-throwing. After walking over 15% of opposing hitters in each of the prior two seasons, the veteran sliced his walk rate to 6.3% in his return trip to Kansas City.
Always known for his slider, Holland leaned on the breaking stuff more than ever last season. Cutting his fastball rate from nearly half to less than two-fifths of his offerings, per Brooks Baseball, Holland generated whiffs on 13.1% of his pitches despite pedestrian velocity. Using the heater less often corresponded with an improvement in the pitch’s effectiveness. Presumably, that reflects opposing hitters’ expectations of seeing a breaking ball.
Even though the Royals weren’t contenders, Holland stayed in Kansas City past this year’s August 31 trade deadline. He’ll now return for another season at the back end of an intriguing bullpen. Kyle Zimmer, Josh Staumont, Jesse Hahn and Scott Barlow all join Holland in coming off strong seasons, making the relief corps a high-upside area of the roster for manager Mike Matheny.
This continues an active early portion of the offseason for Royals GM Dayton Moore and the front office. Moore suggested last month he expects the club to be competitive next season. Kansas City has since brought back Holland and added Carlos Santana and Mike Minor. The Royals still seem like something of a longshot to stick with the Twins, White Sox and Indians over a full season, but they’re markedly improved over the 2018-19 teams that each lost over 100 games.
ayy that’s two correct
I second that! Lol
This was one of the safest picks.
Now I feel stupid for picking St. Louis lmao. I thought he would go to a team needy for pen help, I didn’t even consider the thought of him re-signing.
You actually thought St. Louis would sign him again after that train wreck he was while there? They have a ton of internal options for the pen anyways and probably won’t sign any relievers, but Holland was about the last one they would ever sign.
Dude, that’s why I got it wrong lmao. I know that.
Greg Holland could have got 60 saves, 0.90 ERA and the Cardinals would never have signed him. He was a complete disaster for them in 2018.
You’re not alone. I didn’t think the Royals would re-sign him, either. I would have guessed a higher base salary as well.
And if it makes you feel any better, I originally had McCann to the Mets, then switched to Realmuto after Cano was suspended.
Yeah, have him put on a Cardinal uniform and watch his ERA get close to double digits. It got to the point where they only used him if they had at least a 5 run lead. Usually more like 7 or 8 run lead and he still gave up 2 or 3 runs then, and nearly every time he came in. They only paid him $14 million i think it was.
I figured the Cleveland Indians would be in on Holland.
Well, at least I got this one correct. So far that’s 2, but one was Drew Smyly as a freebee.
I guessed right with Gausman and Stroman and of course they get removed from the contest.
Dangit, I had him going to St Louis. I think I might get Hendriks right though… I had him going to Houston.
Very possible. HOU is interested in Hendriks. I have Hendriks going to PHI & Hand going to HOU.
I think I had both Yates and Hendriks going to the White Sox. I figured the Sox would be in on one of them and thought it was better to get half right than neither.
I had Yates to San Fran
The Giants seem like they want to go all in on pitching, but I just don’t see it. Not because they don’t have the resoures to, but it just wouldn’t make sense given their current situation. Definitley after 2021, but not this off season.
same
Wow. I’d have taken that all day. Holland to Iglesias would’ve been nice.
Where is the leaderboard for the free agent contest anyways? Did y’all manage to get it developed?
probably waiting for a few morw signings
Thats 2 for 6 LETS GO
Royals up to 3 top-50 signings! I would never have guessed that. Neither did MLBTR, who did not have them picked for any top-50 signings.
I love what KC is doing right now. They might have to be a team I root for in 2021 a little bit…
How can I check how I am doing in the FA contest?
I just go back to the confirmation e-mail they sent me after the contest was finished, and I look at that.
Thx
Good job KC!
Second that!
Glad to have Holland back. Royals doing work.
Great signing. What happens to Brad Hand now?
Umm… idk why this would effect Hand any, but I still think the Dodgers cop him.
Why does this impact Brad Hand? lol… I assume nothing happens to Hand now… And he continues the offseason/free-agency period exactly how he was before Holland resigned…
What happens to Yasiel Puig now?
Hats off to the Royals for being one of the most active team in free agency so far. Glad to see them investing in their club and trying to put a winning product on the field this season. Let’s hope more teams follow suit vs. selling off talent to save money.
As a White Sox fan, I might have preferred that they not try quite so much to win. But it’s good for baseball, so I can’t really complain.
Royals Payroll up to $84,000,000 for 2021, so they still trimmed payroll (was $101 Million in 2020) from last year and have improved on top of that. well done so far and likely not done.
Could be a sneaky WC contenders next year, but a lot needs to go right but at least they are trying which is good for baseball.
I should have never let Feng-Feng advise me on making my selections.
I read a really interesting article on Fangraphs the other day about how average fastball velocity is normally increasing each season, but in 2020 it stalled, and the amount of fastballs thrown also dropped. Pitchers are starting to use fastballs as more of a power pitch now after a mix of off-speed pitches rather than trying to fool hitters with breaking pitches after fastballs. Pitchers becoming more predictable has caused them to change their philosophy recently and it’s quite odd.
Smyly (freebie), McCann, and Holland for correct pucks in the contest!
Wonder if he took a slight discount here? I know he’s up there in age and finances are hard to predict right now, but on a one-year deal, I feel he could’ve done a bit better.
Maybe, but if I were a GM I would definitely not be counting on this guy to be a key bullpen cog given his record the past few years.
He loves Kaufmann Stadium. He likes looking at the waterfalls.
Where do I go to complain that I won’t be able to yell, “Break up the Tribe!” any more?
Censorship woooohoooo!
Yeah what a joke that they closed comments on that board
KC may be sneaky good next season
I’ll take that bet.
I’m glad they’re not tanking, but they’re still a team better positioned to sell at the deadline than they are a team that could contend.
Cleveland Cleavers
Cleveland Steamers.
The Royals have brought in 4 free agents who can help on offense, defense and pitching both as a starter and a relief closer. They have spent less than what they spent last year on Gordon, Kennedy, Montgomery and Franco (full season numbers) and have given up ZERO prospects to do so!! They have improved and I can see 1 or 2 more moves is all. A good hitting and on base type left fielder and/or another starter (Veteran to a 1 year deal) that allows them to put Duffy in the pen. Closing out games with Hahn, Holland, Satumont and Duffy (in no order). Like in 2014 and 2015 making these games 5 innings then LIGHTS OUT!!
I’m kinda smitten on J. Profar with his youth, versatility, & relative affordable contract I’m sure he’ll sign. He’s the perfect acquisition for the Royals which with all the signings previous, I truly do think that would put them in the playoff picture albeit not quite a WS contender.
Absolute steal
Love it . New owners spending a little money to win!!!
Holland must have wanted to return to KC because I’d imagine he could’ve gotten more $ elsewhere. Unless teams really don’t think hes got anything left in the tank — which seems highly unlikely given how dominant he was last season. I would have expected just about any team to be interested in him for just $2.75M — in fact if I were the GM of say the Red Sox I would have easily been willing to offer him closer to $5M and possibly even offer him the CL role outright based on how dominant he was in 28 games in 2020.
Yes it does seem like KC got him on the cheap. I think just about any team could use a guy like him in the pen. But handing him the CL job might be a bit risky
Scott Boras is part of the problem of why players are getting 35+ mil aav. He’s a greedy talentless man with beady little eyes. Wouldn’t doubt if he’ll demand 300+ mil for KB. He won’t get that. Cubs had a chance to try to extend him after 2015. They never offered him an extension. Hate to see Bryzzo break up. Its only a matter of time. Time to move on and extend Baez and Rizzo.