The White Sox added another potential closer to their bullpen by signing former Royals reliever Kelvin Herrera to a two-year, $18 million deal.
Herrera has a 2.82 career ERA, including a 2.75 ERA with the Royals from 2011-18. He posted a 1.05 ERA in 27 outings in 2018 before being dealt to the Nationals in June. He struggled in 21 outings for the Nats and was lost for the final month after suffering a torn Lisfranc ligament in his left foot while fielding a grounder.
Before the foot injury Herrera was disabled by a shoulder injury, but the Sox consider him a low-risk signing.
Despite a difficult end to 2018, Herrera, 29, is a power pitcher with a long history of effectiveness and joins Alex Colome in solidifying the back end of the Sox's young bullpen. He was a premier set-up man on the Royals during their back-to-back World Series appearances in 2014-15, and eventually became their closer.
Herrera has an option for 2021 that vests if he pitches in 110 games over the next two seasons and 55 in 2021, according to ESPN, which first reported the signing.
