Aaron Bummer Elects Free Agency After Royals Move

The Kansas City Royals have announced the optioning of left-handed pitcher Aaron Bummer to Triple-A Omaha, a move that allows him to elect free agency due to his veteran status.

Bummer, who is 32 years old, had a brief and difficult tenure with the Royals, pitching only 1 1/3 innings and allowing six runs in his sole appearance. He began the season with the Atlanta Braves but was released in May before signing minor league contracts with both the Cubs and Royals.

Throughout his career from 2019 to 2024, Bummer was a reliable relief pitcher, accumulating a 3.68 ERA over 273 2/3 innings. However, his performance has declined recently, with a 7.63 ERA in 15 1/3 innings this season before his release from the Braves and a subsequent 10.26 ERA after his outing with the Royals. Bummer's velocity has also decreased significantly, which may impact his chances of returning to the majors in the future.