Royals sign left-handed pitcher Mike Minor to two-year deal

The Royals have signed left-handed pitcher Mike Minor, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports it is a two-year deal. Terms have not been disclosed and Rosenthal indicates the deal is pending a physical. Minor previously pitched for the Royals in 2017 as a reliever, after recovering from shoulder surgery. He had a 2.55 ERA in 77 ²⁄₃ relief innings, resurrecting his career.

Minor has gone on to re-establish himself as a starting pitcher since then, making the All-Star team and receiving Cy Young Award votes with the Rangers in 2019 when he finished with a 3.59 ERA as a 7.8 WAR pitcher, according to Baseball Reference. His numbers regressed last year and he had a 5.56 ERA with 62 strikeouts and 56 ²⁄₃ innings in 12 games with the Rangers and Athletics.

Minor, who turns 33 in December, would likely join the Royals as a starter and would join a rotation that already features Brad Keller, Danny Duffy, Brady Singer, and Kris Bubic. Other pitching prospects like Jackson Kowar, Daniel Lynch, and Asa Lacy should be Major League-ready soon, but without a minor league season, they will likely need some more seasoning before joining the big league rotation.

Tuesday update: Deal is official.