The Royals added a familiar veteran arm on Saturday, signing right-hander Vince Velasquez to a minor league contract and sending him to Triple-A Omaha after his run with the Chicago Cubs organization ended.
Velasquez, 34, became a free agent on June 30 after turning down an outright assignment to Triple-A Iowa. Chicago had designated him for assignment, and once he cleared waivers, he had the option to refuse the outright because he had previously been outrighted in his career.
His time with the Cubs was brief but eventful. Chicago first brought him in on a minor league deal in February, then called him up to the big league roster twice during the season.
Both times, he was designated for assignment soon after. He also elected free agency earlier in the year after another DFA before rejoining the Cubs on a fresh minor league contract.
This time, though, he moved on to Kansas City.
Velasquez logged two appearances for Chicago in 2026, working 3 1/3 scoreless innings. Those were his first major league innings since 2023. He sat out the entire 2024 season while recovering from elbow surgery, including Tommy John surgery, then pitched in 2025 in the KBO League and in the Cleveland Guardians’ farm system.
A former second-round pick in the 2010 MLB Draft out of Garey High School in Pomona, California, Velasquez has now appeared in parts of 10 MLB seasons since debuting with the Houston Astros in 2015. He was once ranked among baseball’s top 100 prospects by MLB Pipeline and Baseball Prospectus. In his rookie year with Houston, he posted a 4.37 ERA across 55 2/3 innings in 19 appearances, seven of them starts.
He later spent six seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies from 2016 through 2021, putting up a 4.93 ERA with 642 strikeouts and 243 walks over 582 2/3 innings in 133 appearances, including 116 starts. Philadelphia designated him for assignment in September 2021 before releasing him, and he later signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres.
Kansas City is getting an arm with experience in multiple roles, as Velasquez can work as a starter or a long reliever. His Triple-A Iowa numbers this season, though, came with a 6.15 ERA over 33 2/3 innings, a 16.2% walk rate, and a 26% strikeout rate.
In Other News...
Former Royals Starter Suddenly Lands In An Uncomfortable Trade Conversation
The Reds are heading toward a deadline that could force some uncomfortable decisions, and the conversation has already turned to players who might not fit their long-term picture if the standings keep sliding. One of the names in the mix is a former Royals starter, which naturally makes this a story Kansas City fans will follow a little more closely than most, even if the move would be driven by Cincinnatis needs more than anything tied to the Royals.
Singers season has not been smooth, but teams around the league still tend to value pitchers who can take the ball every fifth day and help stabilize a staff. With an expiring contract adding another layer to the discussion, he could wind up as one of the more interesting arms on the market if the Reds decide to listen, and the question now is whether a contender sees enough there to make the call. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Add Pitching Depth As Another 40-Man Decision Looms
The Royals kept working the margins of their pitching staff Tuesday, adding a right-hander from Milwaukee as they continue to sort through the back end of the roster. The move gives Kansas City another arm to stash in the system, and it comes after the pitcher had been designated for assignment by the Brewers last week.
He brings a recent mix of big-league and Triple-A experience, including a pair of brief outings in Milwaukee this season and a strong run in the minors since the start of 2025. For the Royals, the immediate question is less about the cost of the deal than how they keep the 40-man roster moving, especially with another injury-related decision already part of the shuffle. [Read more 🡒]
Jac Caglianone Put Royals Power On Display With One Detail Fans Loved
Jac Caglianones first Home Run Derby appearance gave Royals fans exactly the kind of power display they had been hoping to see. Under the lights at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, the rookie showed off the kind of raw pop that has made him such a buzzworthy part of Kansas Citys future, and he did it with enough authority to turn heads well beyond the Royals fan base.
The best swing of the night came when one of his drives kept carrying all the way to the third deck, a reminder of just how loud his contact can be when he squares one up. Caglianone finished with eight homers in the opening round, and even without a trip to the next stage, the debut reinforced why his bat has become such a big draw for Kansas City. [Read more 🡒]