The Kansas City Royals are taking a low-risk swing on a familiar face. Scott Barlow, the right-handed reliever who spent five-plus seasons with the organization before being traded in 2023, is back on a minor league deal. The team confirmed the signing Thursday, just days after the Athletics released him.
Barlow’s 2026 season in Oakland was a mess. A 6.48 ERA over 36 appearances. A career-high in earned runs allowed. He got designated for assignment on June 21 and cut loose three days later. But the Royals’ bullpen is currently the worst in baseball by ERA (5.40), so they’re hoping a reunion might spark something.
Here’s the thing about Barlow’s numbers this year: they don’t tell the whole story. At Oakland’s home venues in West Sacramento and Las Vegas, he got hammered — a 12.64 ERA across 15 2/3 innings, with six homers allowed. On the road? He posted a 1.02 ERA in 17 2/3 innings. That kind of split screams “ballpark effect” more than “guy is cooked.”
Why the Royals are taking a flier
Barlow is 33 now. He’s not the guy who saved 40 games across 2021-22 with a 2.30 ERA. But his underlying stuff isn’t dead. He generated a 13.8% swinging-strike rate this season, well above the league average of 11%. Hitters made contact on only 67.7% of swings against him, compared to 77% league-wide. Those are not broken numbers.
The strikeout rate did drop to a career-low 19.1%, and his walk rate spiked to 12.5%. But again, look at the road split: 9.1% walk rate. The stuff is there. The consistency isn’t.
Kansas City originally drafted Barlow in 2011. He debuted in 2018 and grew into one of their most reliable relievers, finishing with a 3.39 ERA and 6.7 bWAR over his first stint. The Royals traded him to San Diego at the 2023 deadline for pitching prospects Henry Williams and Jesus Rios. Only Williams is still in the system. Barlow spent 2024 in Cleveland and 2025 in Cincinnati before landing with Oakland.
What happens next
Barlow will report to Triple-A Omaha. The Royals aren’t committing to anything. They don’t have to. The Athletics are still on the hook for the remaining $2 million on his salary. If Barlow gets called up, Kansas City only pays the prorated league minimum.
That’s the kind of math that makes this deal a no-brainer. The Royals need arms. Barlow needs a change of scenery. And if nothing clicks, they move on with zero financial pain.
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