Royals sign 13-year veteran southpaw to minor league contract

The Kansas City Royals announced Saturday that they have signed 13-year MLB veteran left-handed pitcher Matt Moore to a minor league contract.

Moore, who just turned 37 years old two days ago, last appeared in the Major Leagues with the Los Angeles Angels in 2024. He signed a minor league deal with the Boston Red Sox in February 2025 but did not make an appearance for Triple-A Worcester and was released in early April 2025.

Originally an eighth-round draft pick by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2007, Moore made his MLB debut on September 14, 2011. Shortly after his debut, he pitched seven scoreless innings in his fourth MLB appearance (regular season and postseason combined) during ALDS Game 1 against the Texas Rangers. Entering 2012, he was ranked as baseball’s No. 1 prospect and struck out 175 batters over 177 1/3 innings that season.

In 2013, Moore earned an All-Star selection at age 24, finishing 17-4 with a 3.29 ERA across 150 1/3 innings and receiving down-ballot American League Cy Young Award votes. He later underwent Tommy John surgery in 2014, and his performance declined in the following years. From 2017 to 2021 with the San Francisco Giants, Rangers, Detroit Tigers, and Philadelphia Phillies, he recorded a 5.89 ERA over 359 1/3 MLB innings and also pitched in Japan in 2020 with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.

Moore’s career rebounded in 2022 after moving to a full-time relief role, logging a 1.95 ERA with 83 strikeouts in 74 innings over 63 appearances with Texas. Across four teams in 2022-23, he compiled a 2.20 ERA in 126 2/3 relief innings. In 2023, he made 50 appearances between the Angels, Cleveland Guardians, and Miami Marlins. In 2024, he produced a 5.03 ERA over 51 appearances (48 1/3 innings) with the Angels before his season ended on August 25 due to a forearm injury.

If Moore reaches the majors, the Royals would become the ninth different MLB organization he has pitched for.

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