Overview
- The Kansas City organization cut ties with right-hander Scott Barlow, with the move logged in the MiLB transaction record and reported Friday.
- Barlow had rejoined the Royals on a minor-league deal on July 1 after the Oakland A’s released him on June 24, and his second stint with Kansas City lasted roughly seven weeks.
- His Triple-A work with the Omaha Storm Chasers was poor: a 5.65 ERA in 14 1/3 innings, 15 walks in 67 batters faced, three wild pitches and five home runs allowed.
- Pitch-tracking data show a notable velocity decline this season, with his sinker/four-seamer sitting around 88–89.6 mph compared with career averages near 92 mph, coinciding with weaker command and more hard contact.
- Barlow is a nine-season major-leaguer with a strong 2021–22 peak that keeps open the possibility of another minor-league deal, but his 2026 metrics make him a risky, short-term pickup for playoff hopefuls before Sept. 1.