Scott Barlow‘s return to the Royals organization lasted about seven weeks. The former Kansas City closer, who signed a minor league deal with the Royals in early July after being cut loose by the A’s, was released yesterday, per the transaction log at MiLB.com.
The 33-year-old Barlow has had a bizarre season. He pitched poorly with the Athletics after signing a one-year, $2MM deal in free agency — but his struggles were entirely confined to the Athletics’ exorbitantly hitter-friendly home venue(s). Barlow was absolutely torched for 22 earned runs in 15 2/3 innings between West Sacramento’s Sutter Health Park and the brief cameo the A’s made at their own Triple-A facility in Summerlin. Opponents belted six home runs in that time. On the road, however, Barlow yielded only two runs in 17 2/3 frames.
Barlow appeared to be a prime change-of-scenery candidate, but his work with the Royals’ top affiliate in Omaha has arguably been uglier than his home splits with the A’s. He’s pitched 14 1/3 innings for the Storm Chasers and been tagged for nine earned runs. His 5.65 ERA isn’t as rough as the numbers he posted in the Athletics’ home contests this season, but Barlow has walked 15 of the 67 batters he’s faced with Omaha (22.4%). He’s plunked another and also thrown three wild pitches. And while the ERA isn’t as inflated in Omaha as it was with the A’s, he’s still served up five homers (3.14 HR/9) in his 14 1/3 innings there.
Barlow’s velocity in Omaha is particularly alarming. In his career, he’s averaged 92.1 mph on his sinker and 93.4 mph on his four-seamer. Last year with the Reds, he sat at 92.5 mph and 92.2 mph, respectively, on those two pitches. But with the A’s, he sat 89 mph on both pitches — and he’s been at 89.6 mph on the sinker and 88.1 mph on his four-seamer with the Storm Chasers.
During his 2021-22 peak with the Royals, Barlow was genuinely excellent. He pitched 148 2/3 innings with a 2.30 ERA, 28.2% strikeout rate, 8.4% walk rate, 40 saves and 20 holds. He’s since been more of a serviceable but command-challenged setup man, logging 191 1/3 innings with a 4.28 ERA and 13% walk rate in 2023-25. This is the first season he’s been unable even hold a roster spot in the majors.
Another club could scoop Barlow up on a minor league deal as a means of adding some depth before this year’s postseason eligibility deadline on Sept. 1. A contending club isn’t going to view Barlow as any sort of reliable answer, but playoff hopefuls routinely bring in veteran arms to safeguard against injury this time of year. Barlow’s big velocity drop and substantial command woes — both in terms of throwing strikes and avoiding the middle of the plate this year — will give plenty of clubs pause, however. It’s possible he’ll have to wait for the offseason (when he can focus on regaining some of that lost velo), but his track record should get him another look on a minor league deal at some point.
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