Royals sign veteran reliever Anthony Swarzak to a minor league deal

The Royals have signed veteran reliever Anthony Swarzak to a minor league deal, according to the MLB.com transactions page. The 35-year old right-hander was released by the Diamondbacks in April after giving up five runs in 4 ²⁄₃ innings with four strikeouts.

Swarzak is an 11-year MLB veteran with a 4.36 ERA in 645 ²⁄₃ innings with the Twins, Indians, Yankees, White Sox, Brewers, Mets, Mariners, Braves, and Diamondbacks, mostly as a reliever. He was originally a second-round pick out of high school in south Florida by the Twins, and spent the first five years of his career with them. He has bounced around since then, but enjoyed a terrific season in 2017 with the White Sox and Brewers, posting a 2.33 ERA with 91 strikeouts in 77 ¹⁄₃ innings. Since that season, however, he has a 5.34 ERA in 84 ¹⁄₃ innings. He was released in summer camp by the Phillies last year and did not pitch in the 2020 season.

Swarzak is a fastball/slider pitcher who averages 93 mph on his heater. The Royals have needed some depth in their bullpen with Jesse Hahn and Kyle Zimmer both on the Injured List, and already three 35+ year-old relievers in their pen.