Royals Acquire Righty Connor Seabold from Blue Jays in Minor Move

The Kansas City Royals have acquired right-handed pitcher Connor Seabold from the Toronto Blue Jays, according to club announcements. In return, the Blue Jays receive 21-year-old right-hander Denis Samudio and cash considerations. The move comes as Toronto designates Seabold for assignment, while Kansas City transfers Carlos Estévez to the 60-day injured list to make room on the 40-man roster.

Seabold, 30, joins the Royals after a brief stint with the Detroit Tigers and a short return to Toronto’s roster. Acquired by the Tigers in March, he posted a 3.45 ERA across 15 2/3 innings, striking out 3.3 batters per nine innings while walking only 1.3 per nine. His fastball averaged 93.5 mph during his time in Detroit, showing a slight uptick in velocity compared to his 2025 season.

The Blue Jays initially signed Seabold to a minor league deal this spring and tried him in a relief role after velocity gains in camp. When Toronto’s injury situation opened roster space, they reacquired him by sending prospect Juanmi Vasquez to Detroit. Seabold pitched 3 1/3 innings for the Jays but was designated for assignment again after the team’s pitching situation stabilized.

Despite a 4.26 ERA and 17.2% strikeout rate on the season, Seabold’s underlying metrics remain encouraging. His average exit velocity, hard-hit rate, and barrel rate all sit at or above league average, suggesting he remains a viable bullpen option. This is the second time in a month that a team has added him by acquiring a minor leaguer before he reached waivers.

The Royals’ need for bullpen help is urgent. The team has been plagued by injuries, with Seth Lugo, Cole Ragans, and Kris Bubic all on the injured list. The bullpen has also been stretched thin, with Estévez, James McArthur, and Nick Mears out of action. Stephen Kolek has provided some relief, pitching 7 1/3 innings in his latest outing, but the unit remains in flux.

Samudio, 21, is an international signee from Panama who has thrived in the minors. He owns a 2.56 ERA with a 29.2% strikeout rate and 8.8% walk rate across 56 1/3 innings. He was recently named an honorable mention on FanGraphs’ list of top prospects in the Royals’ system, praised for his 95 mph fastball and elite vertical break.

Estévez’s move to the 60-day injured list is a formality. He has been sidelined since suffering a left foot contusion and later a rotator cuff strain during rehab. He is eligible to be reinstated at any time.

The Royals will now look to integrate Seabold into their strained bullpen. With Mitch Spence recalled and Stephen Kolek having given them a recent boost, Seabold’s arrival offers a fresh arm as Kansas City navigates a tough stretch of pitching injuries. The team will finalize his assignment once he reports.