The MLB offseason has been progressing steadily, with many teams making moves, although the Kansas City Royals have remained relatively quiet in recent weeks. Meanwhile, some of their former players have found new opportunities elsewhere. On December 16, ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel reported that former Royals pitcher Matt Sauer had signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the 2025 season, which includes an invitation to the team’s spring training.
Sauer, who made his major league debut with the Royals, had a short stint in Kansas City. Originally drafted by the New York Yankees in the second round of the 2017 MLB Draft, Sauer spent several years in the Yankees’ minor league system. However, he was never added to their 40-man roster. In December 2023, the Royals took advantage of this situation by selecting him in the Rule 5 Draft, a process that allows teams to claim players who are not on a major league roster. To secure Sauer, the Royals paid the Yankees $100,000, but in exchange, they were required to keep Sauer on their 26-man roster for the entirety of the 2024 season. If they failed to do so, they would have had to offer Sauer back to the Yankees for $50,000, as per the Rule 5 Draft’s stipulations.
Despite having never pitched above Double-A, Sauer made the Royals’ Opening Day roster in 2024 as a relief pitcher. At that point, he was ranked as the No. 22 prospect in the Royals’ farm system. On March 31, 2024, Sauer made his MLB debut against the Minnesota Twins, pitching a scoreless inning while allowing just one hit. His early performances were promising, as his next three outings were also scoreless. However, things took a turn for the worse shortly thereafter.
In his fourth appearance, against the New York Mets on April 13, Sauer struggled significantly. After giving up a two-run home run and walking two batters in the first three pitches, the Royals pulled him from the game. This marked the beginning of a rough stretch for the 25-year-old pitcher. By May 19, his ERA had ballooned to a disappointing 7.71, and his WHIP stood at 2.08 in 16.1 innings of work. Over his 14 appearances, Sauer gave up 23 hits, 14 earned runs, and 11 walks, while recording only 9 strikeouts. His lack of effectiveness led to his designation for assignment on May 20. Just six days later, the Royals returned Sauer to the Yankees for $50,000, the same amount they had originally paid to claim him six months earlier.
After returning to the Yankees organization, Sauer’s struggles continued. He was assigned to the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate, where his performance was even worse. Sauer posted an ERA of 16.20, allowing 15 earned runs in just 8.1 innings pitched. This poor showing led to his demotion to the Yankees’ Double-A affiliate on July 5. At the end of the 2024 season, Sauer elected to become a free agent.
Now with a new opportunity in the Dodgers’ minor league system, Sauer has the chance to rebuild his career. While it is unlikely he will make the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster, he will have a chance to show what he can do during spring training. The Dodgers are known for their excellent pitcher development program, which may offer Sauer the environment he needs to improve his performance. If Sauer can work on refining his control and other aspects of his game while in the minors, there could be an opportunity for a call-up to the major leagues later in the season. For now, Sauer’s journey continues in search of a fresh start with his third MLB organization.
