Royals Miss Out on Another Familiar Bullpen Arm as Jakob Junis Heads to Texas
The Kansas City Royals made headlines earlier this offseason by bringing back a familiar face in left-handed reliever Matt Strahm, reuniting with the veteran eight years after his initial stint in Kansas City. It was a move that signaled the club’s intent to shore up its bullpen - but it also left fans wondering if more reunions were on the horizon.
Turns out, Strahm may have been the only one.
Despite adding the experienced southpaw, the Royals have remained active in exploring bullpen depth, particularly from the left side, according to MLB.com's Anne Rogers. But the reality is, Kansas City could’ve used quality arms from either side of the mound to bolster a relief corps that now features Strahm, Lucas Erceg, and closer Carlos Estévez at the back end.
That’s where names like Hunter Harvey and Brad Keller entered the conversation - both right-handers with Royals ties and potential fits for a team looking to solidify its middle innings. But those doors closed quickly: Harvey signed with the Cubs, and Keller landed a sizable deal with the Phillies after a standout postseason run in Chicago.
And now, another potential reunion has slipped away.
On Sunday, Jakob Junis agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal with the Texas Rangers, per Ken Rosenthal. That officially takes another familiar option off the table for Kansas City.
Now, let’s be clear - Junis wasn’t going to headline the bullpen. He’s not a lights-out closer or a flashy, high-leverage addition.
But he didn’t need to be. What Junis brings to a bullpen is versatility, experience, and consistency - traits that would’ve made him a valuable depth piece behind the Royals' established late-inning trio.
Since leaving Kansas City after the 2021 season, Junis has quietly reinvented himself. Once a struggling starter for the Royals in the late 2010s and early 2020s, he’s transitioned into a reliable bullpen arm - and the numbers back it up.
In 2023 with the Giants, Junis posted a 3.87 ERA across 40 appearances, 36 of them in relief. That was just the beginning.
In 2024, he split time between the Brewers and Reds, producing a stellar 2.69 ERA and a sharp 0.85 WHIP. And in 2025, he became one of the Guardians’ most dependable bullpen arms, logging 66.2 innings over 57 appearances with a 2.97 ERA.
That kind of production, especially from someone who can pitch multiple innings and handle various roles, is exactly what teams covet in today’s game. He’s not just a middle reliever - he’s a Swiss Army knife, capable of bridging the gap on days when starters falter or workloads pile up.
For the Royals, that flexibility could’ve come in handy. Injuries to the rotation in 2025 forced the bullpen to shoulder more innings than expected, and having someone like Junis - who can eat innings and keep games within reach - would’ve been a valuable asset.
Instead, Kansas City will have to look elsewhere.
There’s still time this offseason, and there’s still a need. But it’s hard to ignore the missed opportunities - three potential reunion candidates, all gone: Harvey, Keller, and now Junis. Familiarity isn’t everything, but when paired with recent performance and roster need, it can be a difference-maker.
The Royals took a solid first step with Strahm. But if they truly want to build a bullpen that can support a young rotation and compete deep into games, they’ll need to keep looking - and act fast before the next opportunity slips away.