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  • Kansas City Royals Free Agent & Trade Rumors, Notes, & Tidbits

    The latest Kansas City Royals free agent and trade rumors, along with notes and tidbits about the team.
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    Steve Drumwright
    With the Kansas City Royals on the verge of officially being eliminated from postseason contention, you have to give credit to Maikel Garcia for coming back for the final 13 days of the regular season.
    The Royals activated their third baseman from the 10-day injured list Tuesday and sent outfielder Matthew Lugo down to Triple-A Omaha.
    Garcia has been on the IL since Aug. 21 with a strained left hamstring. That was just a few days after returning from another IL stint for a muscle strain in his left hand that kept him out nearly two months. Garcia is slashing .269/.324/.385 with three homers and 32 RBIs in 73 games.
    Lugo, who was claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels on June 2 and optioned to the minors, was called up when Garcia went on the IL. He appeared in just nine games and went 2-for-14 (.143/.200/.143).
    The Royals entered play Tuesday at 66-84, last in the AL Central, with a tragic number of three.
     
    Cory Moen
    The Royals have recalled RHP Lucas Erceg to the major leagues. The corresponding move to make room on the 26-man roster was to option RHP Easton McGee to Triple-A Omaha.
    Erceg pitched in 47 games in the majors prior to being optioned to Triple-A in mid-August. In those 47 games, he threw 43 1/3 innings while striking out 31 and had a 4-4 record with a 6.23 ERA. His peripheral numbers were slightly better, with a 5.60 FIP.
    McGee was recently called up on September 1 and has bounced back and forth between the major league squad and Triple-A. He was acquired by the Royals in mid-July after being designated for assignment by the Milwaukee Brewers.
    In nine appearances (seven with the Royals), he has a 7.15 ERA with nine strikeouts over 11 1/3 innings pitched. Between Milwaukee's Triple-A team and the Royals Triple-A team, he has thrown 55 2/3 innings at Triple-A with 60 strikeouts and a 6.95 ERA, while walking 21.
    Erceg has looked much better with Triple-A Omaha, throwing 10 1/3 innings in nine appearances. In that time, he has 13 strikeouts with three walks. He has a 1.74 ERA in that time and a 1.258 WHIP, which shows there have been some improvements made. He will hope to continue that improvement out of the Royals bullpen for the remainder of the season. 
    Kevin O'Brien
    On Saturday, the Royals claimed former San Francisco Giants reliever Spencer Bivens off waivers. Kansas City promptly optioned him to Omaha, according to the team's social media. 
     
     
    Bivens was a productive reliever for the Giants in 2024 and 2025 before being designated for assignment on September 9th. 
    In 2024, his rookie year, he posted a 3.14 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 27 appearances and 48.2 IP. Last year, he posted a 4.00 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in 54 appearances and 81.2 IP. While his ERA was higher, his 3.72 FIP last year was better than his 4.72 FIP in 2024. 
    When looking at his Statcast percentiles, Bivens showed a strong ability to generate weak contact and chase as a reliever. 

    Nivens ranked in the 88th percentile in GB%, 80th percentile in average EV allowed, 67th percentile in hard-hit%, and 66th percentile in O-Swing% last year. 
    This year, in limited action, he posted a 14.40 ERA and 3.00 WHIP. However, he generated a 4.90 FIP, 26.7% K%, and 13.3% K-BB%. While he saw decreases in his O-Swing%, GB%, and average EV, he showed much stronger CSW% and whiff%. He also has three above-average pitches TJ Stuff+ wise: the sinker (102), sweeper (107), and cutter (102). 

    Bivens has two Minor League options remaining and is still in pre-arbitration. He likely will compete for a Royals bullpen spot in 2027. 
     
    Cory Moen
    Infielder Michael Massey was reinstated from the 7-day concussion injured list. To make room on the active roster, outfielder Drew Waters was designated for assignment. 

    Massey has played in 110 games this year with the Royals, with a .276/.310/.444 slash line, which is good for a .755 OPS (112 OPS+). He has made the vast majority of his appearances at second base, but has also played some in the corner outfield and at third base. 

    Waters had his contract selected on September 1, but has not made an appearance with the Royals this season. He had appeared in major league contests every year from 2022-2025. With Triple-A Omaha, he has played in 98 games this season, with a .731 OPS, 12 home runs, and 17 stolen bases in 20 attempts. He has played all three outfield positions with some appearances as designated hitter as well. 
    Massey will likely continue to get most of the starts at second base for the remainder of this season.
    Cory Moen
    The New York Yankees have claimed RHP John Schreiber off waivers. Schreiber was placed on waivers a few days ago. This year with the Royals, Schreiber has pitched to a 3.65 ERA with a less stellar-looking 4.87 FIP. Over three seasons in Kansas City, he has pitched to a 3.71 ERA and 4.02 FIP.  
    The Yankees will take on the remaining salary of the $3.715 million deal Schreiber had with the Royals.
    In 49 1/3 innings pitched this year, he struck out 36 along with 22 walks. The 17.7% strikeout rate is a significant drop from the near-24 % rate he maintained earlier in his career. His walk rate has ticked up this year compared to his career average, now at 10.8% from 8.8%. 
    Schreiber will get an opportunity in the Yankees bullpen, giving them another major league-caliber arm for a team looking to make a run in the playoffs. 
    Kevin O'Brien
    On Saturday, after the Royals' latest victory over the Guardians, MLB Insider Joel Sherman reported that Kansas City had placed veteran reliever John Schreiber on waivers. 
     
    Schreiber was reportedly pushed to be traded at the Trade Deadline, but the Royals could not find any suitors or a suitable return. While the Royals have won 12 of their last 14, their playoff chances remain slim at 0.2%, according to Fangraphs. Thus, putting Schreiber on waivers allows him to be picked up by another playoff team, saves the Royals $600,000, and frees up a roster spot on the 40-man and 26-man active roster. 
    Teams have 48 hours to claim Schreiber on waivers. If he is not selected, he will remain on the Royals for the remainder of the year. The Reds placed Eugenio Suarez and TJ Friedl recently on waivers, but found no takers. 
    Schreiber came to the Royals from the Red Sox before the 2024 season, when he was traded for pitching prospect David Sandlin (who's currently in the White Sox organization). In 188 games and 165 IP with the Royals, he has posted a 3.71 ERA, 4.02 FIP, and accumulated a 1.1 fWAR.
    He's seen some regression this year. While his ERA is 3.65, his FIP is 4.88, his K-BB% is 6.9%, and his HR/FB% is 16.7%. Those are all the worst marks in a season of his three-year career with the Royals, and as a result, his fWAR is -0.3. His Statcast percentiles haven't been great either, as he's struggled to generate strikeouts and whiffs this year, even though his barrel rate allowed and GB% are still solid. 

    Those rates and numbers could explain why the Royals couldn't trade Schreiber by the Deadline. 
    MLB rosters expand to 28 on September 1st. Thus, waiving Schreiber could allow them to add another player on the active roster for that stretch run. Storm Chaser righty Lucas Braun and Naturals lefty Hunter Owen are two potential options that the Royals could bring up for the last month of the 2026 season.  
     
    Steve Drumwright
    As the Kansas City Royals try to hang around in the AL wild-card race, injuries can hit a little bit harder.
    Second baseman Michael Massey was placed on the seven-day concussion list Thursday by the Kansas City Royals. The Royals also optioned right-handed reliever Mason Black to Triple-A Omaha, while selecting the contract of left-handed reliever Anthony Gose and recalled infielder Josh Rojas, both coming up from Triple-A. Also, the Royals pulled right-hander Beck Way from his rehab assignment.
    Massey was injured in Tuesday's 5-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. He fielded a grounder from Nathan Lukes as he ranged to his right and made an off-balance throw for the out at first base for the second out in the fifth inning. But he hit his head as he crashed to the ground. He was removed from the game. Massey is a key part of the Royals' offense, putting up a .276/.310/.444 slash line with 11 homers and 44 RBIs. Massey also started the season on the injured list with a strained left calf.

    Rojas is up for the third time this season. In his previous stints, he had a .224/.253/.303 slash line with one homer and nine RBIs in 30 games.
    Black pitched two perfect innings in Wednesday's 3-0 loss to the Jays. His demotion is all about getting a fresh arm in the bullpen and Gose, who hasn't pitched in the majors since 2024, got the call. Gose intended to start the season in the Mexican League, but then signed a minor-league deal with the Royals on April 28. In 39 games and 46 innings for Omaha, he has a 4.89 ERA with 29 walks and 58 strikeouts. He last appeared in the majors with the Cleveland Guardians in 2024, pitching in just three games.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    The return of Maikel Garcia to the Kansas City Royals lasted just three games plus one at-bat.
    The third baseman was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday by the Royals due to a strained left hamstring. Right-handed reliever Carlos Duran was optioned to Triple-A Omaha, while taking their spots on the 26-man roster are outfielder Matthew Lugo and right-handed reliever Jose Cuas, who were called up from Omaha.
    Garcia was injured during the first inning Thursday after taking a big turn around third base following a misplay on a grounder to short. Nic Loftin took over at third base as Garcia exited the game. Garcia had just returned to the Royals' lineup Monday following a muscle strain in his left hand from the last week in June.
    Garcia is slashing .269/.324/.385 in 73 games, hitting three homers and driving in 32.
    The 25-year-old Lugo will be making his Royals debut. He has only appeared in the majors for 31 games last season with the Los Angeles Angels, posting a .232/.243/.464 with four homers and nine RBIs. The Royals claimed Lugo off waivers from the Angels on June 2. Between the Angels and Royals in the minors this season, he has a .265/.350/.473 slash line with 14 homers and 65 RBIs, along with 14 steals, in 100 games.
    Cuas has a 1.64 ERA in 10 games and 11 innings, with four walks and 13 strikeouts.
    Duran has appeared in two games with the Royals this year, allowing two runs in 1⅓ innings.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    The struggles of Lucas Erceg have resulted in a demotion.
    The right-handed reliever was optioned to Triple-A Omaha as right-hander Carlos Duran was called up from Omaha. The Royals are hoping Erceg can figure some things out in a less-pressurized environment.
    In Monday's 9-5 loss to the A's, Erceg gave up a run on a hit and two walks without getting an out in the ninth inning. That leaves him with a 5.57 FIP (6.23 ERA) in 43⅓ innings over 47 appearances with a 13.9% walk rate and 14.9% strikeout rate. Those are not only below last year's marks of 7.2% and 19.3%, but off his career rates of 10.3% and 22.8%. Erceg, formerly the Royals' closer, has 12 saves in 18 chances this season.
    Duran will be making his season debut for the Royals after having his MLB debut with the A's last year with one-third of an inning, allowing three runs on one hit and three walks. He signed in the offseason with the Los Angeles Dodgers and was added to the 40-man roster in early July before being acquired by the Royals in the Kris Bubic trade at the deadline. In 40 games at Triple-A between the Dodgers and Royals, he has a 3.15 ERA with a 13.9% walk rate and 30.8% strikeout rate.
     
    Philip Ruo
    The Royals have reinstated both Vinnie Pasquantino and Maikel Garcia from the injured list after their respective rehab assignments. The Royals have also called up left-handed reliever Connor Thomas to the major league roster.
    To make room on the active roster, the Royals optioned infielder Josh Rojas and right-handed reliever Jose Cuas to triple-A and designated veteran outfielder Starling Marte for assignment.

    Pasquantino has been out of the lineup since July 28 with a wrist injury. Garcia had been sidelined for a longer time with a muscle strain, not appearing since June 22. 
    Thomas was claimed off waivers from the Athletics on August 4 and made three appearances in Omaha before his callup to the Royals. In those three appearances, Thomas threw 2 ⅔ innings with a 6.75 ERA.
    Garcia’s return makes Rojas a surplus in the infield. Pasquantino’s return will allow Jac Caglianone to shift back to right field, making less room for Marte. Marte’s season in Kansas City has been underwhelming with a slash line of .242/.298/.314 with a 71 wRC+ and -0.5 fWAR. Marte’s DFA leaves one spot open on the 40-man roster.
    Cuas’s recent stint on the major-league roster was strong with no earned runs in 4 ⅔ innings pitched over five appearances.
    The Royals return home for a seven-game home stand after a West Coast road trip. Both Pasquantino and Garcia return to the starting lineup to face the Athletics tonight at Kauffman Stadium.
    Cory Moen
    RHP Eli Morgan has elected free agency in lieu of accepting an outright assignment to Triple-A Omaha after being designated for Assignment on August 13.
    Morgan signed a minor league deal in the offseason with the Royals and has been up and down between the majors and Triple-A. In the majors, he has thrown 19 2/3 innings, with a 5.12 ERA and an even worse 6.49 FIP.  He's given up 24 hits, nine walks, and recorded 16 strikeouts in that time. 
    In 25 2/3 innings at Triple-A, he has a solid 1.40 ERA and struck out 35 batters in that time as well. 
    With many teams looking for more bullpen depth, Morgan could latch on with another team rather quickly, even with disappointing numbers at the major league level. 
    Philip Ruo
    On Thursday, the Phillies and Twins played in Dyersville, Iowa continuing MLB's Field of Dreams Game series. The day after MLB's return to the cornfields of Iowa, Major League Baseball announced that the Royals will play the Boston Red Sox in next year's edition. 
    The Royals will be listed as the home team, and the game will take place on Thursday, August 12 with NBC Sports providing coverage. Both teams will get a day off on the 13th before resuming the three-game series at Kauffman Stadium on August 14-15.
    This will be the fourth edition of the Field of Dreams Game. The series took a break following 2022 in order to renovate and expand the complex in Dyersville next to the original film site before resuming the series in 2026.
    Teams participating in the Field of Dreams Game have traditionally worn throwback uniforms. While the Royals have not changed their look drastically in their history, expect a look reminiscent from the early years of the franchise. The Royals are the first true expansion franchise to participate in the series, although the Twins previously wore the original uniforms from their first season in Minnesota after relocating from Washington.
    Kevin O'Brien
    On Thursday afternoon during the Royals' off day, Kansas City announced that they had signed free-agent pitcher Tony Gonsolin to a one-year deal for the remainder of 2026 with a club option for 2027. To make room on the 40-man roster for Gonsolin, the Royals designated reliever Eli Morgan for assignment.
    Gonsolin was an All-Star with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2022 when he posted a 16-1 record, 2.14 ERA, 3.28 FIP, and 2.7 fWAR in 130.1 IP. However, the 32-year-old righty has struggled with injury the past few seasons, limiting him to just 139 innings of work since 2023. Gonsolin missed all of 2024 while recovering from Tommy John surgery in August of 2023, and he pitched only 36 innings in 2025, his season cut short by shoulder surgery.
    As a result, the Dodgers released him this past offseason, and he opted for free agency instead of an outright assignment to Triple-A. Due to his injury issues, no team picked him up this offseason or during the season.
    The Royals need pitching, especially after Luinder Avila and Stephen Kolek were the latest Royals pitchers to undergo Tommy John surgery. Avila and Kolek will be out all of 2027, and Cole Ragans, who underwent elbow surgery, won't return until the middle of 2027, at the earliest.
    Thus, Gonsolin gives the Royals some cheap upside, albeit with some significant injury risk.
    In 2025, Gonsolin struggled in seven outings, posting a 5.00 ERA and 6.02 FIP. That said, he did post a 24.2% K%, a 12.7% K-BB%, and sported an intriguing TJ Stuff+ summary profile, though his four-seamer rated as below average on a TJ Stuff+ end. 

    If the Royals can help Gonsolin get his four-seamer back to at least "average" post-surgery, then Kansas City may be getting an underrated starting pitcher in Gonsolin who can generate plenty of "swing and miss". In 2025, he posted a 30.3% K%, with strong whiff rates on his four-seamer (23.5%), slider (35.6%), and splitter (38%). 
    It's unlikely that Gonsolin will see any action this year, either at the Major or Minor League level. However, if Gonsolin shows progress in his development and rehab process, then the Royals will not just exercise Gonsolin's club option, but also give him a shot to earn a spot in the Royals' 2027 rotation, which is thin after Michael Wacha, Seth Lugo, and Noah Cameron. If healthy, Gonsolin will likely be battling for a rotation spot with Daniel Lynch IV (who just transitioned back to the rotation) and possibly John Means, who's also recovering from surgery last season. 
    To make room, the Royals designated Morgan for assignment. Morgan struggled with Kansas City, posting a 5.12 ERA, 6.49 FIP, and -0.3 fWAR in 19.1 IP. Morgan signed a Minor League deal in Spring Training and impressed, but he failed to find success with the Royals. It's unlikely that Morgan will remain in the Kansas City organization after this latest move.  
     
    Cory Moen
    The Royals activated Craig Kimbrel after officially signing him earlier in the day. In a stint with each of the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Mets, Kimbrel has appeared in 33 games, throwing 33 2/3 innings with 32 strikeouts and 16 walks. He has a .4.81 ERA with a 4.33 FIP. 
    Kimbrel has recorded 440 saves throughout his 17-year major league career, with most of that time (six years) spent with the Atlanta Braves.
    To make room for Kimbrel on the active roster, the Royals optioned RHP Easton McGee to Triple-A Omaha. McGee has struggled in limited action in the major leagues this year, with an 8.59 ERA with a slightly better 6.36 FIP over 7 1/3 innings over six appearances, four being with the Royals and the previous two being with the Milwaukee Brewers.
    McGee will provide additional depth, and you could see him recalled and riding the shuttle back to Kansas City before the season is over. 
    Cory Moen
    The Royals have claimed LHP Connor Thomas off waivers from the Athletics. Thomas was previously DFAed on Aug 1, shortly after the A's claimed him off waivers from the Atlanta Braves on July 31.
    Thomas has struggled in the majors in his brief appearances with the Brewers in 2025 and the Braves in 2026. He's thrown 11 2/3 innings over four appearances, giving up 27 earned runs. He has struck out nine hitters and walked eight in that time as well.
    In Triple-A with the Braves this year, he has had much better results, pitching to a 1.98 ERA over 12 appearances and 27 1/3 innings. In those innings, he has struck out 20 and walked eight. He will provide the Royals with relief pitching depth.
    No 40-man roster move was needed, as LHP Matt Strahm was designated for assignment earlier in the day. 
    Cory Moen
    The Royals have acquired RHP Nolan Hoffman from the Phillies. The Royals sent RHP Manuel Colon to Philadelphia in return. 

    Hoffman has thrown 4 2/3 innings for the Phillies this year, striking out two and walking three. At the Triple-A level, Hoffman has thrown 34 1/3 innings, stirking out 40 and walking 18 with a 5.24 ERA over 30 relief appearances. He was designated for assignment earlier today.

    Colon has thrown in the Arizona Complex League and at Single-A Columbia, throwing 29 1/3 innings combined (27 in the Complex League). He has a combined 5.83 ERA with 37 strikeouts and 12 walks in that time. 
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