The Kansas City Royals announced today that the club has come to terms with right-handed pitcher Kelvin Herrera on a two-year deal, avoiding arbitration. Consistent with club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Herrera, 25, put together an outstanding 2014 campaign, going 4-3 with a 1.41 ERA (11 ER in 70. IP) in 70 appearances. His ERA ranked fifth among Major League relievers last season, which included a streak of 31.0 consecutive scoreless innings from June 27 to September 16, the second-longest in the A.L. The righty did not allow a home run in 2014, extending his streak to 95.0 consecutive innings without surrendering a roundtripper, dating back to July 28, 2013. Herrera is 13-14 with a 2.56 ERA and 210 strikeouts in 214.2 innings in his big league career.
Holland, 29, was named to the American League All-Star team for the second-straight season and earned the first Mariano Rivera Award as the league’s top relief pitcher in 2014. The righty finished third in the Major Leagues with 46 saves, to go along with a 1.44 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 62.1 innings over his 65 relief appearances. He enters the 2015 season ranked second among Royals relievers with 381 career strikeouts, trailing only Jeff Montgomery (720). Holland has converted 93 of his 98 save opportunities since the start of 2013 (94.9 percent), which is the highest percentage in baseball during that span.
The signing of Holland leaves first baseman Eric Hosmer as the Royals’ only arbitration-eligible player who has not agreed on a contract for 2015.