Royals Add Trevor Richards on Minor League Deal

The Royals have signed right-hander Trevor Richards to a minor league deal, assigning him to their Triple-A affiliate in Omaha. The veteran reliever has struggled in recent years, bouncing between teams while trying to rediscover his form. After being traded from Toronto to Minnesota at last year’s deadline, Richards posted an alarming 18.6% walk rate in just 13 innings before being designated for assignment. His fortunes didn’t improve in 2025, as a minor league deal with the Cubs resulted in a 7.27 ERA over 8 2/3 innings, leading to his release earlier this week.

Despite his recent struggles, Richards has a history of success, logging 201 big league innings between 2021 and 2023 while striking out more than 31% of batters faced. The Royals hope he can regain some of that effectiveness and provide valuable bullpen depth. While Kansas City’s relief corps has performed well this season, injuries are inevitable, making experienced reinforcements a smart addition as the season progresses.