Former Royals closer Greg Holland, who missed the 2016 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery that he underwent last October, has thrown off a mound three to four times and is set to host a showcase for interested teams within the next week, agent Scott Boras tells Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Per Boras, Holland’s velocity is currently in the low 90s, and the showcase will take place either at Boras’ sports facility in Florida or near Holland’s North Carolina home.
Holland, 30, was one of the game’s elite relievers prior to tearing his ulnar collateral ligament and requiring surgery. From 2011-14, he amassed 113 saves for the Royals while recording a minuscule 1.86 ERA with a 358-to-91 K/BB ratio in 256 1/3 innings (12.6 K/9, 3.2 BB/9). Adding in his postseason work in 2015 tacks on another 11 innings of one-run ball with 15 strikeouts against five walks.
However, Holland’s numbers took a turn for the worse in 2015, as he worked to a solid-but-unspectacular 3.83 ERA with 9.9 K/9 against 5.2 BB/9. His average fastball, which once sat a tick over 96 mph, was instead a more pedestrian 93.6 mph. Clearly, something was wrong with Holland, and manager Ned Yost made the shocking revelation at the time his ligament tear was reported that it appeared Holland actually tore his UCL late in the 2014 season, meaning he pitched the entire 2014 postseason and the entire 2015 campaign with a torn UCL. The extent of the tear was likely minimal in nature at first, but by the end of that ’15 season, it was reported to be a “significant” tear — hardly a surprise after more than a year of pitching through the injury.
Back to the present day, Boras tells Sherman that his client is “back at it full steam” and suggested that his client’s market will be “interesting” in light of the value that is being placed on premium bullpen arms in the postseason. While Holland comes with considerably less certainty than the free-agent market’s top relief arms — Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen and Mark Melancon — the upside of signing him is tantalizing, especially considering the fact that he’ll 17 months removed from Tommy John surgery when Spring Training opens.
Holland has already been linked to the Royals recently, but teams in search of top-tier bullpen arms figure to certainly check in with Boras — especially those that miss out on the aforementioned free agents. Teams that seem likely to pursue high-end relief arms this winter include the Giants, Cubs, Dodgers, Yankees and Nationals, though Holland’s price point should be reasonable enough that even clubs that won’t go anywhere near the big three relievers at their expected asking prices could view Holland as an opportunity to add a comparable talent at a reduced rate.
Always liked Holland, hope the showcase goes well.
I would like to see the A’s go after him if his velocity is back. I don’t really trust Madson a whole lot but with Holland, Madson, Doolittle and Dull that would be a pretty good bullpen
Yes i would absolutely love to sign the guy something like 3/20 would be awesome.
Pretty sure if relievers are signing for $80mil this offseason Boras isn’t going to be tying his guy up in a 3-year deal for a sliver of that amount (assuming he and Holland are confident about the comeback.) He would rather Holland have a strong season and come back to sign a $50m+ contract the next offseason.
Oaktown might be a good place for him in a pitchers park on a 1 year deal. Would get his stats up for a monster 2017 FA campaign.
Shutdown pens win postseason games. They should definitely try to sign him.
Lol the As aren’t going to be winning any postseason games next year
DBacks should definitely consider him
Giants good make a play for him with how bad the bullpen collapsed this year.
I keep saying a Mike Minor type contract would be the best case scenario
like 2/8 or something Broken down like 2017: $4m AAV plus about $6,000,000 of additional incentives makes sense to me.
Mets should get involved.
Boston need some one like him!5m incentives will do!
Agree with you on this. He could possibly be a great buy low /high potential signing.
With Koji/Taz/Ziegler f/a makes sense to bolster own. Carson Smith will hopefully be back by ASB
Agree with you both. Holland could be a great addition to Sox bullpen.
I’m thinking there’s 30 fan bases that think he’d be a good addition to their team
Don’t forget, on a super team-friendly contract.
I’d like the O’s to seriously consider him. He could be the closer if they trade Britton or another possible dominant piece for an already dominant bullpen if Britton isn’t traded.
As a Royals fan i don’t want to see him back, i tired of resigning old players we once had
He’s only 30 years old. You wouldn’t want him back at all? I’m a Royals fan as well and I would like him to be resigned. I’m more worried about our starting rotation.
Mets need to at least make an offer assuming he performs well in the showcase. They won’t be getting Jansen or Chapman and with the Familia news today that bullpen is suddenly a gigantic question mark
This sounds like a dan duquette move already
Nah. Duquette only signs washed up old guys out of their prime who cost a draft pick
Truer words have never been spoken my friend
If Greg were willing to sign a 1 year deal with the Braves for 7 mill with a club option for a second year, Id be all for it. I don’t think any team should be giving him double digit amounts of annual value. Should not gander more than 3 years
Should not garner
Wow. Seems like everyone thinks he’s a great guy to sign. Troy Percival, Andrew Bailey, Ryan Madson, Neftali Feliz, Bobby Parnell. Not every relief pitcher returns to form after a significant injury, and some take time to return to form. I wish him well, but I can see teams being leery of multiple years, and I can see him wanting security, if it means signing for less. It doesn’t sound like he is throwing at the same velocity as before his injury. Until he does, I’m fine with him signing with YOUR team.
Comes to spring training every year 91-92! They actually work up to top speed. Plus normally about 2-3 mph faster in game situation due to adrenaline.
Should be looked at by every team but would probably only go to a contender on a 1 year deal with a player option which if all goes well he’ll decline.
I expect he’ll sign a one year deal with maybe a club option, to prove he’s healthy. Something like $7M with a $10M club option with a $2.0M buyout.
And yes a lot of teams will be in on him, but maybe not at that price with a fair amount of risk.
As a Royals fan I don’t think Holland will come back here unless Davis is traded. Not that he doesn’t like Davis but because then at best he is the 7th inning man with Herrera and Davis filling the last 2 innings. Think he’ll want to go to a place that at least gets him the 8th inning job.