A Look At Three Relievers The Royals Could Add Before Spring Training Opens

The Kansas City Royals bullpen put together a strong season in 2025, seeing Carlos Estévez lead Major League Baseball in saves, Lucas Erceg lead all Royal receivers with a FIP of 3.49, and John Schreiber appeared in the 10th most games amongst all relievers, totalling 64 innings. 

The off-season has seen the Royals go out and acquire Matt Strahm from the Philadelphia Phillies and Nick Mears from the Milwaukee Brewers, to help bolster a Royals bullpen that recorded the seventh-lowest earned run average and eighth-least home runs in MLB. 

Héctor Neris was picked up on a minor league deal, Luinder Avila flashed potential in September, and Daniel Lynch IV found success in the left-hander’s first full season as a reliever. 

With under one month until pitchers and catchers report for spring training, here is a look at Luke Jackson, Justin Wilson, and Scott Barlow, as relievers the Royals could look to add prior to camp opening. 

Luke Jackson

Jackson appeared in 52 games in 2025, totalling 51 innings across three teams. The 34-year-old pitched for the Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers before closing out the season with the Seattle Mariners.

Jackson totalled a record of 2-5 with a 4.06 ERA and 1.35 WHIP. The numbers don’t jump off the screen at you, but it was Jackson’s third stop of 2025 with the Mariners that gave reason to believe that Jackson still has the ability to be elite.

The Mariners have a history of helping pitchers reach a new level, and that is what pitching coach Pete Woodworth may have helped Jackson do. In 10 games after being acquired by the Mariners, Jackson posted an ERA of 2.38, FIP of 2.69, WHIP of 0.88, and held opposing batters to an average of .162 in those 11 ⅓ innings. The strikeout numbers also jumped, sitting down 10 batters via a punch out across those appearances. 

Justin Wilson

Wilson has pitched with seven franchises over his 13-year career, most recently spending 2025 with the Boston Red Sox. In 61 games, Wilson posted a record of 4-1, an ERA of 3.35, and a WHIP of 1.41. This was the second straight season that the left-hander pitched in at least 60 games, and the seventh time overall. 

Wilson totalled a FIP of 2.95 in 2025 and struck out 57 batters in 48 ⅓ innings. Wilson held left-handed batters to an average of .212 and would give Royals manager Matt Quataro another trusted arm alongside the current lefties, Strahm and Lynch IV. 

In Wilson’s career, the 36-year-old has made the postseason seven times, recording a career ERA of 1.29, while limiting opposing batters to an average of .129. Wilson pitched in one playoff game in 2025 for the Red Sox, going 1 ⅔ innings against the New York Yankees, allowing no hits. The veteran presence could help give a young Royals team someone to turn to as the development of arms continues in 2026. 

Scott Barlow

A potential reunion of the former Royals closer, Barlow, who spent the 2025 season with the Cincinnati Reds. In 75 games, Barlow posted a record of 6-3, totalling 4.21 ERA and 1.39 WHIP. In 68 ⅓ innings, Barlow struck out 75 batters. 

Barlow is a pitcher who takes the ball when his name is called. In the past five seasons, Barlow has appeared in 71, 69, 63, 63, and 75 games. As many fans know, injuries can mount at any time, and having a durable arm that can routinely take the ball can help save bullpens from being overworked. 

Barlow’s FIP totalled in at 4.70 in 2025, the highest of the right-hander’s career, but the strikeouts were still there. Barlow retired 75 batters via the strikeout, up from 2024 when Barlow struck out 68. Opposing batters were only able to hit .200 off Barlow, the second-lowest average against of the 33-year-old’s career.