Santana elected free agency Wednesday.
The soon-to-be 39-year-old right-hander will explore his options on the open market after he filled a long-relief role for Kansas City for most of the 2021 season. Over 38 appearances spanning 65.1 innings, Santana submitted a 4.68 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and a 52:22 K:BB.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Ervin Santana: Fills bulk role Tuesday
Rotowire
Santana allowed three hits and two walks with three strikeouts in three innings during Tuesday's 6-4 win over Cleveland.
Starter Brady Singer left with an arm injury in the first inning, but Santana was able to provide some length out of the bullpen. The 38-year-old hasn't had a great September, posting a 6.75 ERA and 2.36 WHIP in 9.1 innings, so Tuesday was a rare bright spot. He's fared better on the year with a 4.76 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 51:22 K:BB across 64.1 innings overall, mainly in a multi-inning role.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Ervin Santana: Takes win in extras
Rotowire
Santana (2-2) fired a scoreless 10th inning, allowing just a walk to earn the win over the Twins on Friday.
Santana entered the bottom of the 10th inning in a tie game with a runner on second. He issued a leadoff walk to Luis Arraez, but retired the next three batters in order to keep the game tied. The Royals scored two in the 11th inning to give Santana the win. The 38-year-old has a 4.70 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with 46 strikeouts in 59.1 innings this season.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Ervin Santana: Stuck with loss
Rotowire
Santana (1-2) took the loss Wednesday versus Cleveland, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and a walk with one strikeout in one inning.
Higher-leverage relievers Josh Staumont and Scott Barlow had already pitched, and Santana allowed Cleveland to scrape together a pair of runs in the 11th and take the game. The veteran right-hander has had few poor outings of late, as this was just the second time in his last 12 appearances he's allowed runs to score. Santana owns a 4.50 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 44:17 K:BB across 56 innings this season, mainly as a multi-inning reliever.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Ervin Santana: Earns first win
Rotowire
Santana (1-1) struck out two across two perfect innings to earn the win Thursday versus Seattle.
Starter Brad Keller exited early with a shoulder injury with Kansas City behind, but the team pulled ahead in the sixth inning. Santana was awarded the win officially after strong work in the seventh and eighth innings. He's been excellent in August, allowing just one run on seven hits and three walks while dialing up 13 strikeouts in 15.1 innings. The veteran right-hander now has a 4.42 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 43:16 K:BB across 55 innings overall.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Ervin Santana: Seeing irregular work
Rotowire
Santana has pitched just five times since the start of July, allowing nine runs in 5.2 innings.
The 38-year-old's recent work has given manager Mike Matheny little reason to trust him, but Santana has still seen an unusually light workload. The veteran right-hander allowed a walk in a scoreless inning Sunday versus Toronto. It was the first time he didn't allow a run since June 18. He's pitched to a 5.75 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 31:14 K:BB through 40.2 innings this year, mainly in a low-leverage role.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Ervin Santana: Yields three runs in relief
Rotowire
Santana allowed three runs on four hits and a walk with two strikeouts in 1.2 innings in a 14-6 loss to Cleveland on Saturday.
Santana has struggled since the start of June, posting a 7.97 ERA and 1.48 WHIP across his last 20.1 innings spanning 10 appearances. He's only kept opponents off the scoreboard in three of those outings. The bulk reliever has a 5.67 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 30:13 K:BB across 39.2 innings overall.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Ervin Santana: Yields three runs in relief
Rotowire
Santana allowed three runs on three hits and a walk with three strikeouts over 3.1 innings in Saturday's 8-0 loss to Texas.
Kyle Zimmer threw a scoreless inning as the opener Saturday, but Kris Bubic struggled in the second and couldn't complete the frame. Santana's lone mistake was a three-run home run to Joey Gallo in the fourth. Through 15.2 innings in June, Santana has allowed 10 runs, 12 hits and five walks while striking out 14. He's yielded four homers this month and has now allowed seven long balls for the year. The right-hander owns a 4.37 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 26:10 K:BB across 35 innings overall as a bulk reliever.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Ervin Santana: Continues in long-relief role
Rotowire
Santana allowed three runs on four hits and struck out three over four innings in Monday's 10-3 loss to Detroit.
Santana has filled a flexible bullpen role lately, covering multiple innings in three of his last six outings. The 38-year-old has a 3.99 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 19:7 K:BB across 29.1 innings this season. As long as he's relatively stretched out in his bulk-relief role, he could be a candidate for a spot start should the need arise.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Ervin Santana: Works four innings
Rotowire
Santana allowed three runs on three hits and two walks with four strikeouts in four innings in Monday's 8-3 loss to the Angels.
Top prospect Jackson Kowar only lasted two-thirds of an inning in his major-league debut Monday, so Santana was called on for a long relief outing. The right-hander has filled a versatile role for Kansas City this year, as seven of his 11 appearances have covered multiple innings. He's posted a decent 3.70 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 16:7 K:BB across 24.1 innings. He's most likely to see assignments as a bulk reliever or spot starter.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Ervin Santana: Handed loss Saturday
Rotowire
Santana (0-1) took the loss Saturday at Minnesota after giving up three runs on four hits with two strikeouts and one walk over three innings.
The 38-year-old made his second start of the season and threw 30 of 47 pitches for strikes, and he was removed during the fourth inning after issuing a leadoff walk. Santana could receive another start or two given the Royals don't have another scheduled off day until June 17.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Ervin Santana: Starting Saturday
Rotowire
Santana will start Saturday's game against Minnesota, Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star reports.
Santana made a spot start in mid-April, and he'll make his second start of the season at Target Field on Saturday. The right-hander has posted a 2.20 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in 16.1 innings across eight appearances (one start) to begin the year.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Ervin Santana: Tosses scoreless inning
Rotowire
Santana pitched a perfect inning with two strikeouts in Thursday's 7-2 loss to Tampa Bay.
The right-hander worked the eighth inning and got through it without adding any extra damage. Santana has been effective in a relief role this year with a 2.20 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 10:4 K:BB across 16.1 innings. He's not likely to pitch in high-leverage situations, so there's not much the 38-year-old can offer to fantasy managers.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Ervin Santana: Pitches three scoreless innings
Rotowire
Santana allowed two hits and a walk with one strikeout in three scoreless innings in Tuesday's 8-7 loss to Detroit.
Starter Brady Singer lasted only 3.1 innings Tuesday in what looked like it would be a lopsided loss. Santana's strong work in the sixth through eighth innings allowed Kansas City to stage a comeback attempt, but reliever Scott Barlow allowed a walkoff single in the ninth. Santana has a 2.51 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 7:4 K:BB across 14.1 innings, primarily in a long-relief role.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Ervin Santana: Works four innings
Rotowire
Santana allowed a run on two hits and two walks with two strikeouts in four innings during Friday's 9-1 loss to Minnesota.
Starter Brady Singer (heel) was pulled from the game after two innings. Santana ended up logging the most innings of any Kansas City pitcher Friday. He has a 3.00 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 4:2 K:BB across nine innings in three appearances this season. Santana could be an option for spot starts but is most likely to see long-relief assignments.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Ervin Santana: Logs two innings Tuesday
Rotowire
Santana pitched two innings, allowing two runs on four hits with one strikeout in a 14-7 loss to the Rays on Tuesday.
Santana was the only one of eight Royals pitchers to complete two innings in a game that saw the Rays score early and often. The veteran right-hander has a 5.40 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and two strikeouts across five innings in two appearances. Santana can be expected to fill a multi-inning role in the bullpen and occasionally work as a spot starter.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Ervin Santana: Solid in spot start
Rotowire
Santana didn't factor into the decision in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Blue Jays, allowing one run on two hits over three innings while striking out one in a 3-2 win.
The veteran righty gave the Royals a solid, if short, performance in his spot start, tossing 25 of 36 pitches for strikes. The team doesn't have any vacancies in its usual rotation right now, but Santana's effort may have been enough to earn a long-relief role rather than a trip back to the alternate training site.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Ervin Santana: Set to start Saturday's nightcap
Rotowire
Santana will start Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Blue Jays, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.
The 38-year-old had his contract selected by Kansas City on Tuesday, and he's now poised to make his season debut following Friday's postponement. Santana could receive a longer look in the rotation with a strong showing Saturday.. The right-hander didn't pitch last season and had a 9.45 ERA over 13.1 innings with the White Sox in 2019.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Ervin Santana: Contract selected by Royals
Rotowire
Santana had his contract selected by Kansas City on Tuesday.
The veteran right-hander missed out on the Royals' Opening Day roster, but he'll join the team less than two weeks into the regular season. Santana last pitched in 2019, when he posted a 9.45 ERA over 13.1 innings with the White Sox; he should fill a long-relief role for the Royals.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Ervin Santana: Not on Opening Day roster
Rotowire
Santana did not make the Royals' Opening Day roster, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
The 38-year-old right-hander seemed like a candidate for long relief during spring training, but Santana wasn't included on the 26-man roster. He signed a minor-league deal with the Royals in December, so he could bide his time at the alternate training site or Triple-A Omaha once the minor-league season begins.
