Kansas City Royals: Nine potential closer candidates for 2021 season
Who will close out games for the Kansas City Royals in the 2021 season?
Dayton Moore has made huge strides in ensuring that the Kansas City Royals have a dependable bullpen in 2021 and beyond. The bullpen was a major strength for the Royals when they went to back-to-back World Series, so it’s no wonder why Moore is looking to get that part of the team shored up first.
An important part of a dependable bullpen is having a top-notch closer and the Royals will have to decide who will earn that role this year. Who will be the Royals’ closer in 2021? Here are some options, grouped into different tiers.
Long Shots
Potential Closers for Kansas City Royals – No. 9: Ervin Santana
The Royals reunited with Ervin Santana after eight years and while he’s not the same pitcher he was during his first stint in KC, Santana could end up being a nice pickup for the boys in blue. He’s just three seasons removed from a season in which he finished with a 3.28 ERA in 211.1 innings pitched and an All-Star nod with the Twins.
While Santana is probably destined for a bullpen spot and not a rotation spot, it’s unlikely that he wins the closer job. If he has a dominant spring training, this could happen because anything is possible, but Santana will probably be someone who appears in shorter outings and not in high-leverage situations.
Potential Closers for Kansas City Royals – No. 8: Jakob Junis
After four years in more of a starting role, the writing is on the wall for Jakob Junis this year when it comes to his new role as a reliever. Junis appeared in eight games last year and started six of them. He finished the year in the pen and that’s likely where he’ll remain moving forward unless injuries occur and the Royals are in a pinch.
This could end up being a smart move for the Royals, as Junis has good stuff, but isn’t known to eat many innings. He didn’t pitch more than five innings in any of his six starts last year, so the bullpen will be a good place for him.
Junis will be able to use his slider more effectively in shorter outings and the Royals can ensure they get the best of what Junis has to offer in his new role. That being said, Junis isn’t a likely candidate to win the closer job simply because he’s still new to the bullpen. Anything can happen though.
Potential Closers for Kansas City Royals – No. 7: Richard Lovelady
There was a lot of hype when Richard Lovelady made his MLB debut in the 2019 season and for the most part, he hasn’t wowed. To be fair, he only pitched one inning last year, so the jury is still out on what kind of reliever Lovelady will be.
Unless Lovelady really wows in spring training, it’s doubtful he’s their closer. He’ll definitely have more opportunities to prove himself this year though, at least that’s the hope for the Royals. Lovelady gives KC a left-handed pitcher out of the pen and they’ll have to figure out the best times to utilize him in 2021.