Royals sign former Phillies, Cubs 4.86 ERA swingman

Jul 11, 2026 - 15:45

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Royals sign former Phillies, Cubs 4.86 ERA swingman originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Kansas City Royals have added a 10-year Major League veteran on a minor league deal.

According to his MLB transactions page, right-hander Vince Velasquez has signed with the AL Central club.

Velasquez, 34, made two appearances with the Chicago Cubs earlier this season, throwing 3.1 scoreless innings with just one hit allowed.

That wasn't enough to convince the Cubs to keep him around, as he elected free agency instead of an outright assignment to Triple-A after being DFA'd.

"This time around, however, Velasquez has opted for a change of scenery in Kansas City’s organization," Mark Polishuk of MLB Trade Rumors wrote Saturday.

"While the Cubs’ unending string of pitching injuries would’ve seemed to provide an opportunity for Velasquez to return to Chicago at some point this season, it’s possible he saw the Royals (a likely deadline seller) as a better avenue to an open roster spot when and if K.C. moves some players at the trade deadline," Polishuk added.

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From 2016-21, Velazquez was a regular in the Philadelphia Phillies' rotation as a back-end starter.

His best season came in 2016, when he posted a 101 ERA+ and struck out 27.6% of the batters he faced.

The 2010 draft pick made his MLB debut in 2015 with the Houston Astros.