MLB Rumors: Royals Sign Former Red Sox Pitcher To Minor-League Contract

The latest MLB rumors have former Boston Red Sox pitcher Nick Robertson on the move … again. The right-hander signed a minor-league contract with the Kansas City Royals, according to KPRC2’s Ari Alexander.

MLB Trade Rumors reports Robertson spent most of this year in the Astros organization, but Houston released the 27-year-old on Tuesday.

Robertson made his MLB debut in 2023 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who traded him to the Red Sox that year in the deal which sent Enrique Hernandez to the West Coast.

The righty made nine appearances for the Red Sox, posting a 6.00 ERA in nine relief appearances. Following the 2023 season, Boston sent Robertson to the St. Louis Cardinals in the trade for outfielder Tyler O’Neill.

The Cardinals waived Roberson last season and he ended up spending time in 2024 with both the Los Angeles Angels and Toronto Blue Jays. The American League East leaders traded him to Houston this past April.

That’s a lot of movement for a player with just two seasons and 27 appearances on his resume.

“Control has been an issue, as his 16.6% walk rate is the highest mark he’s posted at any level in any single season of his career,” MLB Trade Rumors’ Leo Morgenstern wrote Tuesday. “Yet, the Royals must have seen something they liked; perhaps it’s his 47.8% groundball rate, which has helped him limit his opponents to just three home runs in 157 trips to the plate.”

Another thing Robertson does well is strike out batters. He has 40 MLB punchouts in 35 2/3 innings pitched, good for a 10.1 K/9 ratio.

He didn’t appear in a big-league game this season, but at Triple-A Sugar Land, he was 1-2 with three saves and 4.25 ERA in 34 appearances.

Robertson is joining a Royals organization that is four games back in the American League Wild Card standings.