The Kansas City Royals are a team in transition.
The team let go of manager Mike Matheny and lost bench coach Pedro Grifol, who became the new manager of the Chicago White Sox.
Since then, they have hired Matt Quatraro as their new manager, promoted Paul Hoover to the bench coach role, and hired Brian Sweeney as their new pitching coach.
But yesterday, the team made their first move of the offseason.
Late on Tuesday, Kansas City signed veteran left-hander Ryan Yarbrough to a one-year contract.
The deal is worth $3 million.
On Twitter, the Royals posted a nice welcome message to their new addition.
We have signed LHP Ryan Yarbrough to a one-year contract.
Welcome to Kansas City, Ryan! pic.twitter.com/6QL23I6P4a
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) December 14, 2022
Yarbrough To Kansas City
The 30-year-old has spent his entire career with the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Seattle Mariners selected Yarbrough in the fourth round of the 2014 draft.
The left-hander made his Major League debut in 2018.
That year, he won 16 games and posted a 3.91 ERA in 38 appearances.
The past two seasons have not gone according to plan for Yarbrough.
Though he finished with a 9-7 record in 2021, the veteran lefty had an ERA of 5.11.
Yarbrough appeared in just 20 games in 2022, starting nine of them and going 3-8 with a 4.50 ERA.
Still, the left-hander has plenty of upside.
He has been to the postseason with the Rays in each of the past four seasons, so he has some big-game experience under his belt.
He also can be used as a starter and a reliever.
Pitching is one area where the Royals could use some help.
Yarbrough can provide some innings for the team and fill multiple roles.
