The Royals and left-hander Mike Minor are in agreement on a two-year deal, pending a physical, sources told MLB.com on Sunday night. The club has not confirmed the deal.
Minor, 32, pitched for the Royals in 2017 after signing a two-year deal with Kansas City in 2016. He spent most of that season rehabbing from shoulder surgery, but he pitched in 10 games between Triple-A Omaha and Double-A Northwest Arkansas and posted a 5.74 ERA.
Minor was a successful reliever for the Royals in 2017, appearing in 65 games while recording a 2.55 ERA. Minor even served in the closer role down the stretch that season, going 6-for-6 in save opportunities.
But the left-hander viewed himself as a starter and signed a three-year deal with Texas prior to the 2018 season. In 32 starts in 2019, Minor went 14-10 with a 3.59 ERA. He was traded this August to Oakland, where he made five appearances (four starts) with a 5.48 ERA.
The Royals have been searching for starting pitching depth, but they also could view Minor as a potential closer in the event they cannot re-sign closer Greg Holland.
The Royals also on Monday announced the signing of outfielder Michael A. Taylor, adding to an already crowded outfield for next season that was projected to feature a combination of Whit Merrifield, Bubba Starling, Edward Olivares and Franchy Cordero
A source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand that Taylor's contract is a one-year Major League deal worth $1.75 million, plus $1 million in incentives. The team hasn't confirmed the terms of the contract.
Taylor, who spent his first seven big league seasons with the Nationals and was a part of their World Series-winning team in 2019, elected to become a free agent in October after clearing outright waivers.
The 29-year-old played in 38 games for Washington in 2020, hitting .196 with five home runs and 16 RBIs. Taylor's best season came in '17, when he hit .271 with 19 home runs, 17 stolen bases, 53 RBIs and an .806 OPS in 118 games. He also homered in his only World Series plate appearance in '19.
Taylor is a career .237 hitter with 53 home runs, 184 RBIs, 77 stolen bases and a .686 OPS in 574 games, playing primarily center field.
In a corresponding move to make room for Taylor, the Royals designated left-hander Foster Griffin for assignment. The 25-year-old Griffin made his Major League debut for Kansas City on July 27 and pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings in his only appearance of the season.