Three Free Agent Arms The Royals Could Call On To Relieve Their Bullpen Woes

[Sam Caulder]

The 2026 season certainly was not the year of the Kansas City Royals. That might be an understatement. After a 69-93 season, it’s back to the drawing board for Kansas City, and with a salary floor likely on the horizon, the Royals are one of many teams that will very likely need to increase their spending this offseason.

One way to do that is by improving the bullpen. Kansas City’s relief corps was arguably the worst unit in the league, finishing with a 5.03 ERA, the second-worst mark in baseball. Their 1.53 WHIP and 482 strikeouts were both dead last. With that in mind, let's take a look at three realistic bullpen options the Royals could target this winter. All three are featured on DiamondCentric's 2026-2027 top free agents list, and each could help fix the identity of Kansas City's bullpen.

LHP JoJo Romero

Kansas City doesn’t really have a proven, reliable left-handed reliever, and Romero could be exactly that. He comes in as DiamondCentric’s 42nd-ranked free agent after another solid season in which he finished with a 3.68 ERA or better for the fourth consecutive year, including a 2.07 mark in 2025.

Romero was traded from St. Louis to Milwaukee at this year’s trade deadline, and he’s been a valuable piece of the Brewers’ bullpen down the stretch. He’s helped strengthen a relief corps that has played a major role in Milwaukee’s postseason success. He succeeds primarily by inducing ground balls with his sinker, which features plenty of movement alongside his sweeper and changeup. He consistently produces one of the highest ground-ball rates in the league, and while his fielding-independent pitching (FIP) tends to sit a bit higher than his ERA, he’s still a useful late-inning option.

The Royals also have a quality defensive infield, which could help maximize Romero’s effectiveness. He’s not going to be the top reliever on the market, but his track record of consistency and ability to keep the ball on the ground would be a welcome addition to Kansas City’s bullpen. Romero and the Royals could be a match made in heaven.

RHP Jason Adam

Adam comes in as DiamondCentric’s 44th-ranked free agent, and like Romero, he’s been about as consistent as they come over the last handful of years. He’s finished with a 2.98 ERA or better every season since 2022, making him an intriguing option for a Royals team that desperately needs dependable relief arms.

He frequently pitches backward, leaning heavily on his slider and changeup before mixing in his four-seam fastball. He does a good job of limiting hard contact while keeping the ball on the ground, giving him another avenue to get outs even when he isn’t generating many strikeouts.

However, there are some legitimate concerns following his 2026 campaign. Adam missed a good chunk of the season with a shoulder strain and didn't return until the end of September. Across 34 1/3 innings, he posted a 2.62 ERA, but his strikeout rate dropped from 26% in 2025 to just 15.5% this year. His 4.85 FIP was also the highest of his career since his rookie season. His whiff and chase rates remained strong, suggesting his stuff can still be effective, but he wasn't putting hitters away at the same rate. 

Whether those numbers were the result of his shoulder injury or simply the effects of age remains to be seen. Adam will turn 36 next August, which could also help keep his price down. If his medical evaluations check out and the Royals can get him at a reasonable price, he could be a really strong addition to their bullpen. There's some risk involved, but the potential reward makes him worth considering.

LHP Sean Newcomb

Newcomb is coming off two really strong seasons in a hybrid role and comes in as DiamondCentric’s 49th-ranked free agent. He’s primarily been used as a bullpen arm, but he’s also made 11 starts over the last year and a half, giving him some valuable versatility.

This past season with the White Sox, Newcomb finished with a 3.09 ERA and a 3.21 FIP across 90 1/3 innings. He also recorded 84 strikeouts against 31 walks, showing that he can handle a substantial workload while keeping opposing offenses in check. Like Romero and Adam, Newcomb does a really good job of keeping the ball on the ground and limiting hard contact. He doesn't generate whiffs or chases at an outrageously high rate, but his six-pitch mix helps keep hitters off balance. He also increased his average fastball velocity from 93.3 mph in 2025 to 94.9 mph this past season.

He throws from a relatively flat arm angle, allowing his arsenal to generate plenty of arm-side run. Between his sinker, slurve, and ability to mix in different pitches, he appears to have found a niche as a swingman who can provide value in multiple roles.

And while he won't be the flashiest name on the market this winter, he's someone who could immediately improve Kansas City's pitching staff. His versatility would give the Royals another option when they need length out of the bullpen, while also providing some insurance in the rotation.

The Royals have plenty of work to do this offseason, and the bullpen should be near the top of their priority list. Romero offers a reliable left-handed option, Adam has an impressive track record if he can return to form, and Newcomb brings valuable versatility. If Kansas City can land the right combination of arms, its bullpen could look considerably different in 2027.

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