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KC Royals: Will Greg Holland Ever Pitch For Royals Again

By Alec Tilson

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It’s been a great run for Greg Holland, but elbow surgery could spell the end of his days as a Kansas City Royals pitcher.

KC Royals reliever Greg Holland underwent successful Tommy John surgery Friday, according to The Kansas City Star‘s Andy McCullough.

"The Royals believe Holland initially sustained a tear in his ligament late last summer. Holland chose to pitch through the discomfort. He posted an 0.82 ERA in the playoffs."

Typical Holland. Elbow ligament is torn, and he still finds a way to pitch through a World Series run and through most of September the following season.

But has Holland thrown his last pitch ever as a Kansas City Royal?

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Holland was due a nice salary next season through arbitration. Since he’s not going to be game-ready until this time next year at the earliest, the Royals will likely non-tender (cut loose) Holland to avoid paying him $10 million-ish in arbitration to not pitch in 2016.

Holland is eligible to become a free agent after 2016.

Of course, the Royals could non-tender Holland (allowing him to immediately become a free agent) then re-sign him to a long-term deal. That deal would likely include a team-friendly (low) 2016 salary and maybe a few years tacked on. But that would put the Royals on the hook for what will be a 31-year-old power reliever to return to pre-elbow-surgery form.

It’s not always a good bet.

As a Royals fan, you’d love to see a deal worked out. Holland deserves better than to be let go. For his five-plus seasons as a KC Royals reliever and closer, the Royals have paid Holland about $14 million, according to Baseball-Reference.com. Jonathan Papelbon made $13 million last season.

In 319 innings as a Royal, Holland owns a 2.42 ERA, 145 saves and a 1.12 WHIP. He’s a two-time All Star and he posted 47 and 46 saves those seasons – good for third in the MLB both years.

He’s earned every dollar he’s made as far as performance.

Unfortunately for Holland, the ordinary lifespan of a closer in today’s game is short. Jeff Montgomery and Dan Quisenberry both pitched more than 800 innings. Montgomery notched 304 saves as a Royal for crying out loud, but it’s a different game nowadays. And Holland isn’t Jeff Montgomery.

Best case is that Holland rehabilitates, regains his velocity and is ready to pitch a Major League season at the start of 2017. That’s a long way away, and there’s no guarantee the Royals believe Holland will be the same pitcher.

As far as betting on a guy though, as a competitor and a pitcher, I think Holland has a case. He’s a warrior. Hopefully he’s given the benefit of the doubt and can return to the Royals…one day.

Next: KC Royals: Five Reasons They Won't Return To World Series

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