Still looking for ways to enhance a bullpen that needs improvements, the Kansas City Royals have turned to a familiar strategy. According to their online transaction log, the team has signed former Royals reliever Taylor Clarke to a minor league contract. It’s unclear if he was also invited to spring training, a common practice for such signings.
The Royals have a history of giving former successful relievers a second chance, especially those who have struggled in recent seasons. In 2020, they found success with ex-St. Louis Cardinals star Trevor Rosenthal and former closer Greg Holland, who had helped the team reach the World Series in 2014 and 2015. Both had strong seasons. The Royals also brought back Wade Davis and Joakim Soria, although those returns didn’t match the success of Rosenthal and Holland.
Now, Clarke is getting another shot with Kansas City after pitching sporadically but effectively during parts of the 2022 and 2023 seasons. However, this opportunity comes with some risk for the Royals, given Clarke’s recent injuries and inconsistent performance.
Clarke’s Track Record with the Royals
Although Clarke returns with a 5.95 ERA over five seasons and 183 games in the majors, his two years with the Royals weren’t as bad as his overall numbers suggest. After signing with the team just before the owners’ lockout in late 2021, the right-hander had an up-and-down 2022 season.
Clarke began the year on a high note, posting a 0.75 ERA in mid-May, but he then allowed 13 runs in his next six outings. He bounced back with a solid 2.10 ERA over his next 25 games, but an oblique injury cut his season short, limiting him to just four more appearances. He finished the year with a 4.04 ERA and a 3-1 record.
The following year, Clarke continued to struggle with consistency. After a rough start, he found his groove in May and June before falling off again for much of the season, ultimately finishing with a 5.95 ERA and a 3-6 record—his worst ERA to date. He also dealt with an elbow issue late in the season, though he did show promise with a 0.71 ERA in May, three saves in September, and a 9.92 K/9 rate over 59 innings.
Can Clarke Find Success in Kansas City Again?
Kansas City traded Clarke to the Milwaukee Brewers last December for infielder Cam Devanney, who has performed well in the minors, and pitcher Ryan Brady, who could reach Triple-A Omaha in 2025. Unfortunately for Clarke, he didn’t pitch in the majors in 2024 after suffering a meniscus tear in late March. He appeared in just 22 games at Triple-A Nashville, finishing with a 2-4 record and a 4.90 ERA.
Now, Clarke and the Royals are hoping he can return to the big leagues, overcome his injury setbacks, and recapture the form he showed at times in 2022 and 2023. If he does, he could provide a valuable addition to manager Matt Quatraro’s bullpen.
