Kansas City Royals Announce Disappointing Roster Move

The Kansas City Royals have made a roster move involving Carlos Estevez that impacts the back end of their bullpen early in the season. Estevez, who serves as Kansas City’s closer, entered the year as one of the team’s most reliable arms after an outstanding 2025 campaign. However, his first appearance of the new season did not go as planned, both in terms of performance and health.

The Royals announced on X after Wednesday's game against the Minnesota Twins that Estevez had been moved to the 15-day injured list with a left foot contusion. Right hander Steven Cruz replaced him on the roster. We have made the following roster moves: pic.

twitter. com/9MwOIFawtp — Kansas City Royals (@Royals) April 1, 2026 The injury occurred during Estevez’s season debut when he was struck by a comebacker off the bat of Drake Baldwin. The outing itself was already difficult, as Estevez allowed six runs and recorded just one out while blowing the save.

That appearance also continued a concerning trend, as his velocity appeared to be down compared to last season. This latest development adds to what has been a rough start for the veteran reliever. It comes as a sharp contrast to his performance in 2025, when he delivered one of the best seasons of his career.