The Kansas City Royals announced on Wednesday evening that right-handed reliever Greg Holland has been non-tendered, while Francisco Pena has been traded to the Baltimore Orioles for cash.
Holland joined the big league squad back in 2010 when he was promoted from Triple-A Omaha. He was drafted by the Royals in the 10th round of the 2007 amateur draft.
While in Omaha, the 30-year-old pitched to a 3.81 ERA with a 4-3 record in 35 relief appearances. Holland came to the big leagues and proved himself worthy of a big contract and is looking to do so again.
Holland had a rough 2015 season that was plagued with injury. Before coming to the conclusion that he needed Tommy John surgery, the Royals closer recorded a 3.83 ERA while saving 32 games in 44.2 innings.
In the two previous seasons, Holland combined to save 93 games with a 1.32 ERA and appeared in two All-Star games.
Holland enters the free agent market, as he was eligible for arbitration for the final time this winter, and is projected to get a contract worth somewhere around $11.3 million.
As noted by MLBTradeRumors, Kansas City has expressed interest in working out a two-year contract that would allow the team to retain Holland, who was among the most dominant pitchers in baseball when healthy.
Holland is currently recovering from Tommy Johns surgery and will most likely miss the entire 2016 season, however, he still has value and should receive a multi-year deal because when healthy he is a game changer in the back end of a bullpen.
With the deadline less than an hour away, the Royals and Holland were unable to negotiate a deal to keep the right-handed reliever in town. Holland and his agent Scott Boras are free to speak with the other 29 teams in baseball. There is sure to be plenty of suitors for the All-Star closer.