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A Look at the Offseason for the Rest of the American League Central

Philip Ruo
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Philip Ruo

Royals Keep Contributor
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Image courtesy of © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Royals have been active this offseason, addressing needs in the trade and free agent markets. The Royals have also secured their manager for the long term by signing Matt Quatraro to a three-year contract extension.

The Royals have boosted their bullpen by adding Alex Lange as a free agent and acquiring Matt Strahm and Nick Mears in trades. The outfield has also gotten needed help with the signing of free agent Lane Thomas and the trade for Isaac Collins. After these additions, the Royals are still in the market for a left-handed reliever and an impact bat for the lineup. 

The Royals have also had notable departures. Angel Zerpa and Jonathan Bowlan left via trade. Key players departed in free agency, including Hunter Harvey, Adam Frazier, Mike Yastrzemski, Luke Maile, Michael Lorenzen, Randal Grichuk, Sam Long, Kyle Wright, MJ Melendez, and Taylor Clarke.

Other teams in the Royals’ division have also been active this offseason. Let’s take a look at the rest of the AL Central to see where their rosters stand at this point in the offseason.

Chicago White Sox

The White Sox have been very active, and their offseason is headlined by the surprising signing of Munetaka Murakami from Japan. Murakami initially had many teams interested in signing him, but interest cooled when they looked at his swing-and-miss rates in Japan. 

Additions

  • Purchased 3B/1B Munetaka Murakami to a two-year deal. 2025: Played in Japan (Yakult Swallows)
  • Signed LHP Sean Newcomb to a one-year contract. 2025 WAR: 1.6
  • Signed LHP Anthony Kay to a two-year contract. 2025: Played in Japan (Yokohama Bay Stars)
  • Traded for LHP Chris Murphy (Boston). 2025 WAR: 0.5
  • Traded for OF Everson Pereira (Tampa). 2025 WAR: -0.3
  • Traded for OF Tristan Peters (Tampa). 2025 WAR: -0.4
  • Traded for IF/OF Tanner Murray. 2025: Minors
  • Selected RHP Alexander Alberto in the Rule 5 Draft (Tampa Bay). 2025: Minors
  • Selected RHP Jedixson Paez in the Rule 5 Draft (Boston). 2025: Minors

Subtractions

Still Out There

While the White Sox are still in a rebuild, they may look to trade Luis Robert Jr. and maybe even Murakami if he has a strong start in Chicago.

Cleveland Guardians

The Guardians have had a pretty quiet offseason, with the only notable movements being in their bullpen. They will also look to fill the void in the pitching staff following the indictments of Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz for charges linked to illegal sports betting.

Additions

Subtractions 

  • RHP Zak Kent (free agent to St. Louis). 2025 WAR: 0.1
  • LHP Matt Krook (free agent to the Athletics). 2025 WAR: 0.0
  • OF/1B Jhonkensy Noel (signed off waivers to Baltimore). 2025 WAR: -1.4
  • LHP Sam Hentges (free agent to San Francisco). 2025: Injured
  • RHP Emmanuel Clase (indicted on sports betting charges). 2025 WAR: 0.7
  • RHP Luis Ortiz (indicted on sports betting charges). 2025 WAR: 0.6

Still Out There

While the Guardians have had recent success making the playoffs, they might need additions to become true postseason contenders.

Detroit Tigers

Most notably, the Tigers retained Gleyber Torres with their qualifying offer and signed Kenley Jansen to boost the back of the bullpen. Right now, the Tigers look to be running it back with most of last year’s team returning.

Additions

  • Re-signed 2B Gleyber Torres to a one-year qualifying offer. 2025 WAR: 2.9
  • Signed P Kenley Jansen to a one-year contract. 2025 WAR: 2.4
  • Re-signed RHP Kyle Finnegan to a two-year contract. 2025 WAR: 1.0
  • Claimed RHP Dugan Darnell off waivers (Pittsburgh). 2025 WAR: 0.3
  • Claimed RHP Jack Little off waivers (Pittsburgh). 2025 WAR: 0.0
  • Signed RHP Drew Anderson to a one-year contract. 2025: Played in Korea (SSG Landers)
  • Traded for LHP Johan Simon (Toronto). 2025: Minors

Subtractions

  • RHP Chase Lee (free agent to Toronto). 2025 WAR: 0.2
  • RHP Randy Dobnak (free agent to Seattle). 2025 WAR: 0.1
  • RHP Alex Lange (free agent to Kansas City). 2025 WAR: 0.0
  • OF Justyn-Henry Malloy (traded to Tampa Bay). 2025 WAR: -0.2

Still Out There

The big question remaining is what to do about two-time reigning Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal. Reports indicate that the Tigers and Skubal have the largest arbitration gap in MLB history. If Skubal wins his arbitration hearing, are the Tigers more likely to trade him, and if they win, are they more likely to be aggressive and try to win in what is likely to be Skubal’s last year in Detroit?

Minnesota Twins

The Twins have been rather quiet this offseason, with small additions and no major departures. 

Additions

  • Traded for RHP Eric Orze (Tampa Bay). 2025 WAR: 0.6
  • Traded for C Alex Jackson (Baltimore). 2025 WAR: 0.6
  • Signed 1B/DH Josh Bell to a one-year contract. 2025 WAR: 0.4
  • Traded for UT Eric Wagaman (Miami). 2025 WAR: -0.4

Subtractions

Still Out There

While there were a lot of departures at the trade deadline last year, the Twins have been reluctant to let go of key players Joe Ryan, Pablo Lopez, and Byron Buxton. Maybe there are other additions on the horizon if they do intend to keep their stars and compete in 2026?

While the perennial division-contending Guardians and Tigers don't have the same glaring weaknesses as the Royals do, Kansas City may have been the most aggressive team in the AL Central in actively upgrading its roster in 2026. The Royals still probably need one more impact bat to improve their offense. The front office has signaled a willingness to use their rotation depth to make a move to strengthen the offense, but until they do, they will not be considered true contenders in the division or even for an AL Wild Card spot.


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Kevin O'Brien Draft Eligible

Kevin O'Brien

Royals Keep Editor
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Thanks for putting this together. It's good to see the moves other teams in the division have made and what their plans are for 2026. 

Detroit and Minnesota are interesting ones. Cleveland will likely stay pat for the most part, sans a MiLB deal here or there. However, Detroit has some work to do if it wants to take advantage of the Skubal window while it can. They could use another OF piece, especially if Malloy isn't coming back.

Minnesota is an interesting dilemma, too. The ownership is obviously cheap, but they have some good talent there on the pitching and hitting end. They got to stay healthy, but it's not a question of seeing them surge to a hot start if all the chips fall right. But as you said, will they add to this current group or sell more pieces as they did last Deadline? Kinda hard to tell right now. 

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