Around this time last year, the Royals brought back franchise icon Greg Holland on a minor-league pact and it paid off in a major way. He posted a 1.91 ERA in 28.1 innings of work with 31 Ks in 2020, off of a rough few seasons in the National League in 2018 and 2019 posting a 4.61 ERA in 82 innings of work. He was an All-Star with Colorado in 2017, his first year out of the Royals organization.

Prior to that, he had spent 2010-2015 with Kansas City, that culminated in a World Championship. He had already been a multi-time All-Star but missed all of 2016 due to Tommy John Surgery.

Over the course of his first tenure, Holland was arguably the best relief pitcher in baseball. In seven seasons as a Royal, he has a 2.38 ERA with 461 K in 348 innings of work, as well as 151 saves. The 36 year old is guaranteed $2.75M in 2021, with $1.5M in incentives. It’s a one year commitment.

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