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    Notes about the team are posted here.

    53 rumors in this category

      Kevin O'Brien

       

      On Monday afternoon, the Kansas City Royals via social media officially announced the addition of free-agent outfielder Starling Marte. 

      Reports came out over the weekend that Kansas City had signed Marte to a deal, pending a physical. By the end of the day on Monday, it seems like they were able to get everything cleared and formally introduce their newest outfielder to the Royals fanbase. 

      MLB.com Royals beat writer Anne Rogers shared the details of Marte's one-year deal. He will have a $1 million base salary with up to $2 million in incentives, according to Rogers' report on Twitter. 

       

      With Marte's addition, the Royals' payroll goes up to at least $149 million, possibly $151 million if Marte hits those incentives. That is $13 million higher than their payroll a year ago, according to Roster Resource payroll data. 

      Roster Resource projects Marte as a bat off the bench who will likely be in the lineup against left-handed starting pitchers when their left-handed outfielders need a break. That includes Jac Caglianone and Kyle Isbel, who are projected to play left and center field, respectively. Marte is projected to get around 238 to 252 plate appearances this season, according to most projection systems. Fangraphs' Depth Charts, ZiPS, and The BAT X are the most optimistic, projecting wRC+ marks of 98, 100, and 97, respectively. 

       

      To make room on the Royals' 40-man roster for Marte, Kansas City also announced that Dairon Blanco would be designated for assignment. 

       

      Blanco made his MLB debut late at 29-years-old due to visa issues when he came over from Cuba. He didn't make his Minor League debut until 2018, when he was 25. The Cuban-born outfielder started his career in the Athletics organization and came over to the Royals in 2019 in a trade for reliever Jake Diekman.

       

      He had solid campaigns as a bench outfielder for the Royals in 2023 and 2024, posting a 102 wRC+ and 96 wRC+ in 138 and 132 plate appearances, respectively. Blanco's main strength as a player was his baserunning ability, as he stole a combined 55 bases from 2023 to 2024. That skill set made him an interesting player worth watching this spring. 

      Unfortunately, the 32-year-old outfielder dealt with an Achilles injury last year and didn't seem quite as explosive in 2025. As a result, he only played in nine games and had just eight plate appearances in the Major Leagues last season. He spent most of the year in Omaha, and while he stole 32 bases, he only hit .253 with a 93 wRC+ in 295 plate appearances with the Storm Chasers. Furthermore, his Statcast percentiles weren't all that impressive either, as seen in his TJ Stats summary from Triple-A a year ago.

      Dairon Blanco AAA TJ-2025.png

      If Blanco clears waivers, he could return to the Royals as a non-roster player. He could also opt to become a free agent and sign with another club this offseason, with the hope that he could have a better chance of making the Opening Day roster in another organization. Over 171 career Major League games, all with the Royals, Blanco has a career 99 wRC+, 1.7 fWAR, and 59 stolen bases. 

      Kevin O'Brien

       

      On Sunday, after the Royals' 5-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox, Kansas City announced moves regarding three position-player prospects who were non-roster invitees. That included catchers Blake Mitchell and Ramon Ramirez, as well as outfielder Carson Roccaforte. 

       

      Much like the pitching moves, these transactions do not come as a surprise. Mitchell, Ramirez, and Roccaforte were likely to begin the year in the Minor Leagues, and their experience this spring was more to get them experience with the big league club. With many of the Royals' stars in the World Baseball Classic, and Opening Day approaching, it made sense for the Royals to assign the three talented prospects to Minor League camp.

      All three had their share of struggles in Cactus League play, albeit in limited samples. 

      In 10 plate appearances, Mitchell slashed .125/.300/.250 with a .550 OPS. While the Royals' No. 2 prospect had a 20% walk rate, he also had a 30% strikeout rate. The 2023 first-round pick still has potential, but he will need to cut down the strikeouts and improve in the power department in order to compete for playing time in Kansas City in 2027 or 2028. Mitchell could begin the year in High-A or Double-A, depending on the catching situation in Northwest Arkansas. 

       

       

       

      Ramirez was an even bigger long shot to make the Royals squad, especially since he hasn't played beyond Low-A Columbia. In 9 at-bats, the 20-year-old slashed .111/.273/.111 with a .384 OPS. He did score two runs and had two hits in his short Cactus League stint. It is likely that Ramirez will begin the year in High-A Quad Cities. 

       

       

       

      Lastly, Roccaforte had the best spring of the trio, slashing .200/.385/.300 with a .685 OPS in 10 at-bats. The 23-year-old showed strong plate discipline with three walks and two strikeouts. He also stole a base and hit a double.

       

       

       

      Roccaforte will likely make the move up to Triple-A Omaha, competing for playing time in the outfield with John Rave, Kameron Misner, Drew Waters, Tyler Gentry, and Gavin Cross, according to Roster Resource. 

       

      Kevin O'Brien

       

      The Winter Meetings ended on Wednesday, but the hot stove discussion didn't conclude by any means. On Wednesday evening, it was reported that Mike Yastrzemski, who came over to Kansas City at the Trade Deadline last year, agreed to a multi-year deal with the Atlanta Braves.

       

      Yastrzemski was a massive boost to a Royals lineup that was stagnant for most of the season.

      In 50 games and 186 plate appearances, the 35-year-old outfielder slashed .237/.339/.500 with a 127 wRC+, 1.14 BB/K ratio, and 1.3 fWAR. His fWAR was 0.3 higher than his fWAR in 97 games with the Giants earlier in the season. The outfielder also showcased excellent plate discipline and strong launch ability with the Royals, as illustrated in his Statcast percentiles via TJ Stats.

      Mike Yastrzemski TJ Statcast-2025.png

      For the season, the Royals' offense ranked 22nd in baseball with a 93 wRC+, according to Fangraphs. However, from August until the end of the season, the Royals ranked 11th in wRC+ with a 107 mark. Yastrzemski's presence in the lineup had a significant effect on that turnaround. 

      According to Sam Forsberg of Discuss Baseball, the Royals and Braves were the two primary teams in the mix for Yastrzemski this offseason. 

       

      While nothing official was confirmed, the Royals likely offered Yastrzemski a deal. MLB.com Royals beat writer Anne Rogers mentioned at the conclusion of the Winter Meetings that the Royals had made offers to free agents, but were waiting for their decisions. 

       

      Losing out on Yastrzemski is tough, especially considering his impact after the Trade Deadline. That said, at 35, it may be challenging for Yastrzemski to live up to the contract he just signed with Atlanta. If the Braves exercise his option, he'll be nearly 40 by the end of the deal. He also has struggled in his career against lefties, with a career 79 wRC+ against southpaws, according to Fangraphs.

      Royals GM JJ Picollo will continue to scour the free-agent and trade markets for outfield help. According to multiple reports, acquiring a couple of outfielders this offseason is the top priority for Kansas City. 

      Photo Credit: © Peter Aiken-Imagn Images

      Philip Ruo

      The Royals announced last week their broadcast schedule for Spring Training games in the Cactus League, outlining how fans can enjoy the Royals as they prepare for the 2026 MLB season.

      The Royals begin playing games this Friday, February 20 at 2:00 p.m. CT against the Texas Rangers at their shared stadium in Surprise, Arizona.

      Only three of their games will not be broadcast in any format this Spring. All three of those games fall on days where two games are played.

      Three games will be televised on Royals.tv, the new home for Kansas City’s regular season games:

      • March 5 vs. the Texas Rangers - 7:05 p.m. CT

      • March 13 vs. the Arizona Diamondbacks - 8:05 p.m. CT

      • March 17 vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers - 8:05 p.m. CT

      You can find our guide on how to watch Royals.tv here.

      29 games will be available for audio streaming on royals.com. 22 of those games will be available on a radio broadcast; 16 games on 96.5 The Fan (including the three Royals.tv broadcasts), and six on The Bet 1660. The remaining seven games will air exclusively at royals.com. See the post from the Royals above for the breakdown of which games will be available on which stations. All games are listed on Central Time.

      Kevin O'Brien

      On Thursday afternoon, the Royals announced that they would be bringing back catcher Luke Maile on a minor league deal. That also includes an invitation to spring training. 

      Maile played in 25 games and had 54 plate appearances with the Royals last year, primarily filling in as the backup catcher after Freddy Fermin was traded to San Diego at the Trade Deadline. The 34-year-old journeyman catcher hit .244 with the Royals and also posted a .316 wOBA, 99 wRC+, and 0.3 fWAR. 

      He was primarily known for his defense with the Royals, especially in the framing department. He was two runs above average in terms of framing runs and sported a +1 FRV in 143 innings behind the plate. On the offensive side, he swung and missed a lot, but he made up for it with a strong walk rate, hard-hit rate, and sweet-spot percentage. That is evident in his TJ Stats summary below.

      Luke Maile TJ-2025.png

      The Royals will have eight catchers in Spring Training camp, which is important given that pitchers and catchers report in five days. It is likely that the Royals will begin the year with Carter Jensen as the backup to Salvador Perez, who will likely be the regular catcher in 2026 after signing a two-year extension this offseason.

      That said, Maile will provide a veteran presence in Arizona while Perez plays for Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic. Additionally, Maile could also help Jensen in his adjustment to catching at the Major League level in Perez's absence. Once the season starts, the Royals could promote Maile to the Majors if Perez or Jensen gets hurt (or if Jensen struggles out of the gate and needs time in Omaha to reset). 

      Brock Beauchamp

      The 2026 MLB season is right around the corner, and we're looking to expand our video coverage. Have you ever considered being on-camera and talking about the Royals? If yes, we'd love to talk to you about it.

      Our videos are typically in a wide variety of styles: breaking news, analysis, and historical study. We're open to any and all ideas as long as they're centered around the Kansas City Royals. We're looking for serious baseball talk, so leave the hot takes at home.

      If you'd like to learn more about this cool little side gig, please email Brock Beauchamp at brock.beauchamp@royalskeep.com.

      Here is an example of a recent Royals video from us:

      Brock Beauchamp

      We're looking for contributors to write Royals content over the offseason!

      First, feel free to reach out via email at brock.beauchamp@royalskeep.com or reply to this article.

      Writing Articles
      If you’ve ever wanted an audience for your Royals takes, this is the perfect place. While we generally lean into analytics and analysis, we also take a “come as you are” approach to baseball and give writers a lot of leeway to write about the game in a way that interests them. That could manifest in historical pieces, previews, or regular series. It’s a matter of finding your niche in the fandom and carving out a space for it. 

      Making Videos
      We're also looking for videographers! Most of our content is on the shorter side (3-7 minutes), though we have space for plenty of different formats and ideas. Like the writing side of the site, we usually lean into analytics, but it's not the only path we're open to exploring.

      It is also noteworthy that we pay our content creators. It’s certainly not enough to quit your day job. So don’t do that. However, it might be enough to show that we value your time, talent, and effort.

      If you know someone who might be interested in creating Royals content as a side job, please share this with them!

      Kevin O'Brien

       

      On Saturday morning, the Royals announced via social media that they would be optioning Ben Kudrna to Triple-A Omaha, Steven Zobac to Double-A Northwest Arkansas, and Chazz Martinez to Minor League camp. That means that all three pitchers will be primarily working out of Minor League camp for the remainder of Spring Training.

      The move is not surprising, as all three were longshots to make the Opening Day roster at the start of camp. Kudrna and Zobac had just been added to the 40-man roster this offseason. As for Martinez, he was a Minor League non-roster invitee. 

      Kudrna got the most work in Spring Training and struggled in his small Cactus League sample. In 3.1 IP, he posted a 21.60 ERA and 3.60 WHIP. His FIP was better at 3.45, but he also only generated a 19% K% and 4.8% K-BB% in his limited Spring Training stint. Below is a look at his summary from Cactus League play via TJ Stats.

      pitching_summary_season (1).png

      Kudrna did a good job of finding the strike zone, as evidenced by his 52.6% zone rate. He also had a 99 overall TJ Stuff+, and his slider had a 103 TJ Stuff+. That said, he only generated a 24.3% chase and 21.2% whiff as well as a .522 xwOBACON. Those three factors explain why his WHIP and ERA were so inflated. 

      Hopefully, the 23-year-old can work on his command and four-seamer a bit in Minor League camp. He still has some upside, and he has made some progress in the Royals system over the past couple of seasons. Kudrna likely will be the anchor of the Storm Chasers staff in 2026.

      Zobac was also optioned to Double-A Northwest Arkansas, which makes sense after Zobac missed so much of 2025 due to injury. He posted a 7.68 ERA and 5.68 FIP in 36.1 IP with the Naturals last year. However, he's long showcased solid stuff when healthy, and he had a 21.1 K% and 13.1% K-BB% in Northwest Arkansas. That control was encouraging to see and explains why the Royals added him to the 40-man roster this offseason.

      Like Kudrna, the 25-year-old had a small sample, only pitching 2.2 innings. He didn't allow a run, but he sported a 1.88 WHIP and 7.7 K-BB%. The walks were a bit high at 15.4%. A contributor to that was his inability to generate chase, as illustrated in his TJ Stats summary below.

      pitching_summary_season (2).png

      Zobac sported a chase rate of 16% and an xwOBACON of .430, both blemishes on his limited Cactus League sample. However, he had a strong zone rate (54.5%), whiff rate (26.9), and decent TJ Stuff+ (100 overall). His four-seamer and slider were his best pitches, stuff-wise, with 102 TJ Stuff+ marks. 

      Martinez was also sent to Minor League camp, but he didn't make an appearance in Cactus League play prior to his demotion. He still could pitch in Cactus League play, but he just won't be a candidate to make the roster. 

      The 26-year-old lefty primarily pitched in Omaha, posting a 5.64 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in 30.1 IP last season. Martinez's stuff isn't dominant, but he did a good job of limiting hard contact last year, as illustrated in his TJ Stats summary.

      Chazz Martinez TJ-AAA-2025.png

      Martinez likely will return to Omaha in 2026, where he will provide left-handed bullpen depth.

      The Royals' Spring Training roster is now at 63 after these moves and the optioning of reliever Eric Cerantola earlier in the week. Cerantola is currently pitching for Canada in the World Baseball Classic. 

       

      Brock Beauchamp

      How To Install On iPhone or iPad
      How To Install On Android Device

      Developing a pure, native app for either Android or iOS is a breathtakingly expensive endeavor, which is why we haven’t done it, despite so many requests over the years. Thankfully, technology has met us halfway, and PWAs (Progressive Web Applications) have reached maturity in the marketplace.

      What is a PWA? It’s effectively a pseudo-app that works much like a native application but doesn’t require tens of thousands of dollars in development to produce. It creates a single browser instance and maintains it as if it were an application. It’s basically a standalone browser tab, dedicated specifically to Royals Keep.

      From this app instance, you can receive notifications; the typical browser interface is removed, and the site is presented clearly, using as much screen real estate as possible, all without sacrificing any functionality. The site is faster, more reliable, and offers more mobile functionality than a standard web browser.

      Additionally, a newer, completely updated Royals Keep is coming later this year, and that will add even more app-like features, making PWA usage even better for all our users.

      With that said, here’s how you turn Royals Keep into an app on your mobile device.

      How To “Install” Royals Keep on iPhone or iPad Using Safari

      First, go to the home page of Royals Keep at https://royalskeep.com/.

      1. Tap on the ellipses (…) at bottom right of screen.
      2. Tap “Share” in pop-up menu.

      ios1.jpg

      3. Tap “View More”.
      4. Tap “Add To Home Screen”.
      5. Tap “Add”.

      ios2.jpg

      That takes you to your home screen on iOS, where you can move the Royals Keep app around, just as you would any other app.

      Additionally, you can turn on notifications for them. Just go to the following link while logged into the site: https://royalskeep.com/notifications/options/.

      ios3.jpg

      How To “Install” Royals Keep on an Android Device Using Chrome

      First, go to the home page of Royals Keep at https://royalskeep.com/.

      1. Tap on the vertical ellipses (…) at top right of screen.
      2. Tap “Share…” in pop-up menu.

      android1.jpg

      3. Tap “Add to Home Screen”.
      4. Tap “Install”.

      android2.jpg

      That takes you to your home screen on Android, where you can move the Royals Keep app around, just as you would any other app.

      Additionally, you can turn on notifications for the site. Just go to the following link while logged into the site: https://royalskeep.com/notifications/options/.

      android3.jpg

      Kevin O'Brien

       

      On Wednesday morning, Red Sox insider Ari Alexander reported that left-handed pitcher Helcris Olivarez agreed to a Minor League deal with the Royals that includes an invitation to Spring Training.

       

      Olivarez started his career as a pretty heralded prospect in the Rockies' system with high-velocity stuff. However, he suffered a shoulder injury in 2022 that required surgery. Recovery forced him to miss the remainder of 2022 and all of 2023. Olivarez was later released by the Rockies and was picked up by the Red Sox before the 2024 season. He spent half a season with the Red Sox before being let go in July of that season. The Giants promptly picked him up after his release and primarily pitched the remainder of the season in Double-A Richmond. He spent all of last season in the San Francisco organization, pitching in Richmond and Triple-A Sacramento.

       

       

      With the Rivercats last season, he posted a 3.65 ERA and 1.62 WHIP in 37 IP (34 appearances). He posted impressive strikeout numbers (26.3% K rate) and a solid CSW (30.2%). Unfortunately, he struggled with control, as illustrated by his 24.6% walk rate and 1.7% K-BB%. As a result, his FIP was 5.84, 2.19 points higher than his ERA. 

      The 25-year-old lefty possesses solid stuff, though he doesn't quite have the 100-MPH stuff that he once had as a Rockies prospect. According to TJ Stats, he posted strong TJ Stuff+ metrics and encouraging whiff rates, as shown below.

      Helcris Olivarez TJ-2025.png

      Olivarez's overall TJ Stuff+ was 101. He also sported two pitches with 64 grades: the sinker and changeup. His whiff rate was 37.3% and his xwOBACON was .277. That showed that Olivarez in Triple-A could not just generate swings and misses, but also unproductive contact.

      Unfortunately, his paltry 40.2% zone rate and lackluster 18.8% chase rate weigh down his overall outlook at the Major League level. It will be hard for him to succeed until he improves his control and reduces the number of free passes. 

      The Royals likely view Olivarez as a project who will likely eat a lot of innings as the primary lefty reliever in the Triple-A Storm Chasers bullpen. According to Roster Resource, the only other lefty relievers currently in the Omaha bullpen are Chazz Martinez and Christian Chamberlain, who are both older than Olivarez. That said, the Royals have had success the past couple of seasons with relievers on Minor League deals, as demonstrated by Taylor Clarke last year and Sam Long in 2024. 

      Photo Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

      Kevin O'Brien

      On Tuesday afternoon, MLB announced the order of the two Competitive Balance rounds of the 2026 MLB Draft, as highlighted by Sam Dykstra of MLB Pipeline on Bluesky.

      For those unaware, the Competitive Balance rounds in the MLB Draft can be described as follows, according to MLB.com's Joe Trezza: 

      Quote

      Since 2017, Major League Baseball has used a formula that combines revenue, winning percentage and market score to award Draft picks to teams that fall in the bottom 10 in revenue or market size. In 2025, there were 15 teams awarded picks in the two CB rounds: eight in Round A and seven in Round B.

      This year, there are 15 teams: seven in Round A and eight in Round B.

      Competitive Balance Round A takes place between the first-round compensation picks and the second round, while Round B is held after the second round is over. The order of the picks within each round is determined by order of finish in the previous year’s standings, best down to worst.

      The Royals rank 28th in MLB franchise value, ahead of only the Tampa Bay Rays and Miami Marlins, according to Forbes. Thus, Kansas City not only tends to receive draft picks in the Competitive Balance round, but it also tends to receive an excellent draft position in those rounds. 

      Here's a layout of the two rounds, according to Trezza. 

      Quote

      Round A:

      Guardians
      Royals
      D-backs
      Cardinals
      Orioles
      Pirates
      Rockies

      Round B:

      Brewers
      Mariners
      Tigers
      Reds
      Marlins
      Rays
      A's
      Twins

      The Royals draft behind only the Guardians, who rank 25th in Forbes' franchise valuations. Competitive Balance round picks are the only draft picks that are allowed to be traded by MLB teams. In 2022, the Royals utilized their CB pick in a deal with Atlanta that netted them outfielder Drew Waters, pitcher Andrew Hoffmann, and infielder CJ Alexander. In 2024, they acquired reliever Hunter Harvey from the Nationals in a trade package that included their CB pick and third-base prospect Cayden Wallace. 

      While the Competitive Balance rounds are set, the whole draft order will not be set until December 9th, when the MLB Draft Lottery takes place, during the Winter Meetings. The Royals have 0.84% odds to win the top pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, according to Trezza. The 2026 MLB Draft is set to take place July 12th-13th in Philadelphia, home of the All-Star game next season. 

      Kevin O'Brien

      The Royals' future with FanDuel Sports Network is in doubt for the 2026 season.

      On Thursday, Evan Drellich of The Athletic reported that Kansas City and eight other teams (Braves, Tigers, Reds, Angels, Marlins, Brewers, Rays, and Cardinals) terminated their agreements with Main Street Sports Group, the parent company of FanDuel Sports Network.

      Main Street Sports Group had been in a questionable financial position for a while, as many teams reported missing scheduled payments. The parent company of the Fanduel Sports Network hoped that a deal with DAZN, a London-based sports streaming network, would solve its financial issues. Unfortunately, Main Street and DAZN were reportedly unable to reach an agreement, according to Tom Friend of The Sports Business Journal.

      Here's what Friend said in his article regarding the DAZN and Main Street negotiations. 

      Quote

      Meanwhile, sources indicated Main Street’s talks with DAZN are all but extinguished, due to teams’ reluctance to meet key conditions. Those sources said Main Street/DAZN wanted teams in the NBA and NHL to extend their deals through the 2028-29 season, including digital rights, something the teams and the leagues appear whole-heartedly against.

      Friend reported that Fubo may be in negotiations to acquire Main Street, but it's hard to tell how far along and legitimate those talks are. According to the SBJ report, some sources have denied Fubo's involvement with Main Street, and Fubo spokespeople have denied comment. 

      A deal for Main Street is needed for Fanduel Sports Network to remain operational after the conclusion of the NBA and NHL seasons. However, without such a deal, it's likely that Main Street would declare bankruptcy. Thus, it makes sense that the Royals and eight other clubs would decide to terminate their deal now to figure out a broadcasting plan by Spring Training.

      Clubs can renegotiate with Main Street if the media company's situation changes. That said, if nothing comes to fruition on Main Street's end, then it's possible that the nine teams could give their broadcast rights to Major League Baseball. Currently, MLB owns and distributes the broadcast rights for the Padres, Rockies, Guardians, Twins, Diamondbacks, and Mariners.

      Local fans of those teams can watch their club via a team-specific MLB.TV subscription. Whether the Royals will do that or go with another broadcasting option is yet to be determined. 

      Photo Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

      Kevin O'Brien

       

      On Sunday, after the Royals' 3-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers, manager Matt Quatraro announced that Luinder Avila will be joining Team Venezuela for the upcoming World Baseball Classic. 

       

       

      Avila will be joining Team Venezuela along with Royals teammates Salvador Perez and Maikel Garcia, who were announced to the roster earlier in the offseason. In addition to those three, Bobby Witt Jr. and Michael Wacha will be joining Team USA; Vinnie Pasquantino and Jac Caglianone will be joining Team Italy; Seth Lugo will be starting for Team Puerto Rico; and Carlos Estevez will be pitching for Team Dominican Republic. Michael Coyle had a breakdown of all participants in the World Baseball Classic on February 5th here at Royals Keep. 

       

      Avila ranks 13th on our Top 20 preseason Royals prospects list. He had a strong MLB debut, posting a 1.29 ERA and 0.93 WHIP in 13 appearances with the Royals. He also posted a 28.6% K% and had a 2.09 xERA in his first stint against MLB competition. 

       

      In Royals camp, he's been in competition for not just a roster spot, but perhaps a spot in the Royals' rotation. Quatraro mentioned in a press conference in Spring Training that Avila had "frontline starter" potential. Prior to his call-up, the 24-year-old primarily pitched as a starter in the Minor Leagues, posting a 5.23 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in 53.1 IP with the Storm Chasers last season. However, he still posted a 28% K%, a 17.7% K-BB%, and a 4.38 FIP, indicating he was better in Omaha than his ERA suggested. 

      This spring, Avila has been off to a strong start in Cactus League play. In 4.0 IP, he has a 2.25 ERA and 1.75 WHIP. His K% and K-BB% are a little low at 21.1% and 10.5%, respectively. That said, his TJ Stuff+, chase, and whiff metrics have still been strong, as seen below via his TJ Stats summary.

      pitching_summary_season.png

      Avila has a 100 overall TJ Stuff+ but has four pitches with marks of 100 or higher and grades of 54 or higher. His curveball has been his best pitch this spring on a TJ Stuff+ end, with a 59 grade, but it has only generated a 20% whiff and chase rate. On the flip side, his sinker is his worst pitch in terms of TJ Stuff+ (93 and 45 grade), but it's been his best offering in terms of generating chases (66.7%) and whiffs (53.8%). His slider and changeup have shown promise, but he's only thrown them one time each this spring. 

       

      The Venezuelan righty will likely pitch out of the bullpen for Team Venezuela in the WBC. Carlos Hernandez was the last Royals pitcher to pitch for Team Venezuela in 2023 and had a solid showing. In 2.2 IP, he struck out five batters and allowed no runs, no walks, and only three hits.

       

       

      Hernandez's solid performance in the WBC helped him get off to a strong start in 2023, as he posted a 3.83 ERA, a 2.65 FIP, a 28.8% K%, and 22% K-BB% in 44.2 IP in the first half. His strong first half prompted the Royals to trade away established closer Scott Barlow to San Diego at the Trade Deadline. Unfortunately, Hernandez regressed sharply in the second half, posting a 7.82 ERA, 1.93 WHIP, 7.16 FIP, 21.1% K%, and 5.7% K-BB% in 25.1 IP. 

      Let's hope that Avila not only gets valuable experience competing in the WBC but also has a solid performance that can be parlayed into another step forward in pitching development in 2026. Avila has a lot more upside than Hernandez, and he will be needed, especially with Stephen Kolek straining his oblique and likely starting the season on the 15-Day IL. 

      The World Baseball Classic kicks off with pool play on Thursday, March 5th, and will conclude on March 17th. Venezuela is in Pool D with the Dominican Republic, Israel, Nicaragua, and the Netherlands. More information about the World Baseball Classic can be found on its website. 

       

       

      Kevin O'Brien

      On Wednesday, the Kansas City Royals announced that they had optioned right-handed pitcher Mitch Spence to Triple-A Omaha to begin the season. This latest move now brings their Major League Spring Training roster to 49. 

      Spence was acquired by the Royals from the Athletics this offseason in exchange for right-hander A.J. Causey. Spence was the top overall pick in the 2023 Rule 5 Draft, and he pitched two seasons with the Athletics before arriving in Kansas City. 

      In 2024, the former Yankee pitching prospect was a hybrid arm for the Athletics, making 35 appearances (24 starts) and pitching 151.1 innings. In that sample, he posted a 4.58 ERA, a 1.38 WHIP, a 4.14 FIP, and 12.6% K-BB%.

      He took a step back in his second year with the Athletics, pitching only 84.2 innings and making only eight starts (32 total appearances). In that more abbreviated campaign, Spence posted a 5.10 ERA, a 1.44 WHIP, a 5.06 FIP, and 10.7% K-BB%. His Statcast percentiles were also a bit mixed last year, as seen below via his TJ Stats Statcast summary.

      Mitch_Spence_percentiles.png

      The 27-year-old did a good job of generating whiffs, limiting walks, and generating chase and groundballs last year with Sacramento. However, he also gave up a lot of hard contact, and that hurt him in Sacramento's hitter-friendly confines. He posted a 6.93 ERA at home compared to a 3.64 ERA on the road. Thus, the move to Kauffman Stadium should help Spence in 2026.

      This spring was a rough one for Spence, albeit a limited sample. In three appearances (two starts) and 7.0 IP, he posted a 10.29 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, 7.53 FIP, and 3.0% K-BB%. Spence has been hurt by the long ball, as evidenced by his 28.6% HR/FB rate. However, his TJ Stuff+ metrics have been encouraging, as shown in his TJ Stats summary below.

      tjstats_season_summary (10).png

      Spence had a 106 overall TJ Stuff+ this spring with his cutter (108), slider (111), and curveball (101) all rating as above-average pitches. He generated a 31.6% chase rate, which was above average, but his zone rate and whiff rate were slightly below average, and his xwOBACON of .424 was well below average. Thus, it was more of a command issue for Spence in Cactus League play, and hopefully, he can work that out in Omaha.

       

      With the Spence move, Bailey Falter, Alex Lange, Hector Neris, and Eli Morgan are the main relievers remaining in camp. They are battling for two spots in the Opening Day bullpen.

      Lange and Falter are likely the favorites for those remaining spots, especially since they are out of Minor League options. Morgan has had a strong spring for the Royals, however. The former Cleveland reliever is posting a 1.17 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 1.80 FIP, and 18.8% K-BB%. He has also shown solid Statcast percentiles this spring in his Cactus League sample. 

       

      Eli_Morgan_percentiles.png

      Morgan does have a Minor League option remaining, but if he doesn't make the Major League squad out of Spring Training, he could opt to find a spot in the bullpen on another MLB team. Thus, it will be interesting to see what the Royals will do with Morgan, especially in the wake of the Spence move and Opening Day only nine days away. 

      Kevin O'Brien

      On Friday afternoon, right before the MLB Non-Tender deadline, the Royals announced that they had avoided arbitration with second baseman Jonathan India, agreeing to a one-year deal.

      On Twitter, Ken Rosenthal reported that the deal was worth $8 million, according to sources.

      India came over to the Royals last offseason from the Reds in exchange for starting pitcher Brady Singer, a 2018 first-round draft pick (both players played college baseball at the University of Florida). Last year, the 28-year-old second baseman was in the final season of a two-year, $8.8 million deal he signed with the Reds before the 2023 season.  However, he still had one more year of club control after the 2025 season.

      It was a disappointing season for India, who posted an 89 wRC+, .301 wOBA, and a -0.3 fWAR, all career lows, according to Fangraphs. He also struggled with nagging injuries, saw his power stats decline (only nine home runs, also a career low), and failed to fit in defensively. He rotated between third base, second base, and left field early in the year but struggled and eventually settled back into his natural position of second base. Unfortunately, he posted a -9 FRV and -14 OAA, both career-worst marks, according to Statcast data.

      On a positive note, he still showed strong plate discipline with a 9.5% walk rate and 0.51 BB/K ratio. The latter mark was the sixth-best ratio of Royals hitters with 50 or more plate appearances last year. His Statcast plate discipline percentiles also looked strong, as illustrated in his TJ Stats Statcast summary.  

      Jonathan India TJ Statcast-2025.png

      It is possible that the Royals could still trade India before Spring Training. They likely will return Michael Massey, who has primarily played second base the past two seasons, though he struggled with inconsistency and injuries last season. Nick Loftin is also an internal option, but he only has a career 72 wRC+ and 0.2 fWAR in 143 career games at the MLB level. 

      If he is not traded, the Royals hope India can bounce back to the 2024 version that posted a 109 wRC+ and a 2.9 fWAR in 637 plate appearances in his final season in Cincinnati. 

      Photo Credit: © Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

      Kevin O'Brien

       

      On Wednesday morning, the Kansas City Royals continued to add to their Cactus League roster by signing infielder Brandon Drury to a Minor League deal with an invitation to Spring Training.

      Drury is certainly familiar to baseball fans due to his journeyman career. The 33-year-old infielder has played in 867 career games, which include stops in Arizona, the Bronx (Yankees), Toronto, Queens (Mets), Cincinnati, San Diego, and Anaheim (Angels). In 3,159 career plate appearances, he has posted .308 wOBA, 90 wRC+, and 5.4 fWAR. 

      While the former 2010 13th-round pick has certainly seen his fair share of teams, he didn't play in the Majors at all in 2025. Drury played in the White Sox and Angels organizations, but he primarily stayed in Triple-A. In 53 games and 228 plate appearances in Triple-A, he posted a .315 wOBA and 70 wRC+. That included three home runs, 26 runs scored, and 17 RBI.

      Surprisingly, the infielder actually posted decent Statcast metrics in the Minor Leagues last season, especially in the categories of 90th EV, O-Swing%, and walk rate. That is illustrated in the TJ Stats summary below.

      Brandon Drury TJ AAA-2025.png

       

      Even though Drury ranked in the 19th percentile in wOBA, he actually had a 69th percentile xwOBA, which shows that he might have been a little unlucky in Triple-A last season. Furthermore, Drury sported a patient approach at the plate, which was illustrated not just in his chase (86th percentile), but also in his low swing rate on pitches in the zone (second percentile Z-Swing%). It seemed to pay off for him, as he sported a strong Z-Contact% (73rd percentile) and whiff% (63rd percentile).

      The Royals have been targeting patient hitters this offseason who minimize swinging outside of the strike zone. Isaac Collins from the Brewers and Lane Thomas from the Guardians fit that profile, as do Minor League signings such as Josh Rojas, Abraham Toro, and Kevin Newman. 

      While Drury had success in 2022 and 2023 (5.8 fWAR combined), he had a -2.1 fWAR in his last MLB season in 2024 and seems to be at the tail end of his career. Not only did he fail to make the White Sox Opening Day roster last year, he was designated for assignment, picked up by the Angels and languished in Salt Lake City (the Angels' Triple-A team). Thus, it's not a surprise that he didn't earn an MLB deal this offseason.

      He likely will have a hard time making the Royals' Opening Day roster, especially with so much competition in the infield this spring. It is likely that Drury will give the Royals Cactus League roster some at-bats while infielders Maikel Garcia and Bobby Witt Jr. play in the World Baseball Classic for Venezuela and the United States, respectively. 

      Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

       

       

      Kevin O'Brien

      Tuesday night was the deadline for teams to add Rule 5 Draft-eligible players to the 40-man roster. According to MLB.com Royals beat writer, the Royals added two pitchers to the 40-man roster by the deadline: Ben Kudrna and Steven Zobac. 

      Kudrna is ranked No. 5 on our Top-20 Prospects list at Royals Keep. The former 2021 second-round pick from Blue Valley Southwest High School in Overland Park, Kansas, primarily pitched in Double-A with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals last season. In 20 outings (19 starts) and 94 IP, he posted a 4.21 ERA and 1.29 WHIP. While those weren't elite, his 24% K rate, 15.7% K-BB%, and 3.53 FIP were much more encouraging marks.

      The 22-year-old righty struggled in the transition to Triple-A at the end of the season. In four outings (three starts) and 11.1 IP, he posted a 14.29 ERA and 2.74 WHIP. He also saw his K rate plummet to 15.7% and walk rate balloon to 27% (nearly 20% higher than his walk rate in Northwest Arkansas). Unfortunately, his stuff didn't profile well with the Storm Chasers either, which makes one wonder whether he was dealing with fatigue at the end of the season.

      Ben Kudrna TJ AAA-2025.png

      In addition to a meager 35.5% zone rate and 20.6% chase rate, his overall TJ Stuff+ was below average at 94. On a positive note, he still posted a 29.5% whiff rate, showing his ability to make batters swing and miss was still there in Omaha, despite the poor peripherals. A full offseason and time with the big league coaching staff could help him rebound with the Storm Chasers in 2026, making him a viable option for the rotation at the end of next season or in 2027.

      As for Zobac, our 15th-ranked prospect, he struggled with injuries last year, which led to a down season despite the preseason hype (as we discussed in his scouting report).

      The 25-year-old only made 14 starts overall between Northwest Arkansas and the Complex League, with the latter being rehab outings. In that 44.2 IP sample, he posted a 7.25 ERA, 1.79 WHIP, and 13.7% K-BB%. The control and ability to throw strikes remain a plus aspect of Zobac's profile, and he still struck out 21.3% of batters in the Minor Leagues last season.

      The hope is that Zobac is fully healthy and can recapture the buzz he once had at the conclusion of the 2024 season. He could be a candidate to make the Royals roster at some point in 2026 as a long reliever or spot starter, as long as he can accumulate innings next season and solve his longball issues (2.01 HR/9 allowed in the Minors last season).

      The Royals roster is currently at 39, and some notable players were left off the 40-man roster, exposing them to the December Rule 5 Draft, which takes place at the conclusion of the MLB Winter Meetings. Here's a list of the most intriguing Rule 5-eligible players who could get drafted in less than a month. 

      • Felix Arronde, RHP: 12th-ranked prospect who posted a 2.80 ERA in High-A Quad Cities. 
      • Daniel Vazquez, SS: 14th-ranked prospect and had a Solid AFL campaign.
      • Frank Mozzicato, LHP: 2021 First-Round Pick and 20th-ranked prospect.
      • Gavin Cross, OF: 2022 First-Round Pick.
      • Luca Tresh, C: Posted a .794 OPS in Omaha in 2025.
      • Javi Vaz, UT: Athletic utility player who posted a 1.25 BB/K ratio and stole 25 bases in Double-A in 2025. 
      • Henry Williams, RHP: Former Padres prospect acquired in the Scott Barlow trade in 2023
      • Shane Panzini, RHP: 2021 Fourth-Round Pick who posted a 3.39 ERA, 109 IP across High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A levels last season. 

      Photo Credit: © Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

      Kevin O'Brien

       

      On Friday, the Royals acquired free-agent catcher Elias Diaz, signing the 35-year-old to a Minor League deal. He is not expected until next week, according to the announcement on the Royals' social media account.

      Diaz made the All-Star team with the Rockies in 2023. That season, he hit 14 home runs and collected 72 RBI, but only posted an 82 wRC+ and -0.1 fWAR. Last year, he played 106 games with the Padres and had nine home runs, 29 RBI, a 74 wRC+, and a 0.4 fWAR in 283 plate appearances. In terms of Statcast, Diaz didn't excel in any particular areas, though he is aggressive on pitches in the strike zone, as illustrated in his Statcast summary below.

      Elias Diaz TJ-2025.png

      Since debuting with the Pirates in 2015, he has played 830 career games and had 2,800 plate appearances at the Major League level. In that time span, he has 71 home runs and 326 RBI, but a career 78 wRC+ and 0.3 fWAR. At this point in his career, he may be a Major League backup catcher, at best. 

       

      The Royals seem set at catcher with Salvador Perez and Carter Jensen on the big league roster. Perez showed he is ready for the upcoming season in Kansas City's first Spring Training game of the year, hitting a 441-foot home run on Friday against the Rangers' Nathan Eovaldi.

       

      However, the Royals may need some catching depth this spring, as they have been down a couple of catchers. Jorge Alfaro has not been able to report yet due to visa issues. Luke Maile hasn't reported due to personal reasons. Thus, Diaz likely was acquired due to the issues with those two catchers, who both were signed on Minor League deals in the offseason.

      Diaz will likely start the year in Triple-A Omaha, though he may opt out of his deal if he doesn't make the Opening Day roster. It is unlikely Diaz will have a shot at making the active roster unless an injury happens to Perez or Jensen in Spring Training. 

       

      Matthew Lenz

      The Kansas City Royals have been involved in their fair share of rumors this offseason, though the temperature on the hot stove has remained low to medium. Now, for the third time this offseason, they have come to a minor league agreement with a utility backup. Having previously signed Jorge Alfaro and Abraham Toro, they have agreed to terms with Josh Rojas.

      Mark Feinsand of MLB.com is reporting that Rojas also received a non-roster invite to spring training.

      Rojas, 32, played 69 games for the Chicago White Sox last season. Across 211 plate appearances, he had a .511 OPS with two home runs and four stolen bases. He appeared at second base, third base, and left field. In seven seasons, Rojas has been a below-average hitter (88 wRC+) and has spent time at every position except center field and catcher. He'll look to compete with Alfaro and Toro for one of the last spots off the bench.

      Do you think the Royals have done enough this offseason to improve the roster? Let us know what you're thinking in the comments!

      Kevin O'Brien

      The Royals have been busy on the transactional end since the conclusion of the MLB Winter Meetings. Over the past week, they have signed free-agent outfielder Lane Thomas, inked third-baseman Maikel Garcia to a five-year extension, and traded reliever Angel Zerpa to Milwaukee for outfielder Isaac Collins and reliever Nick Mears.

      However, a couple of deals that shouldn't get lost in the shuffle are the signings of infielder Kevin Newman and reliever (and former Royal) Jose Cuas to Minor League deals.

      Newman is the bigger signing of the two, as he played last season with the Angels. In 57 games and 116 plate appearances, the former Pirates first-round draft pick slashed .202/.292/.272 with a .481 OPS and 27 wRC+. He also hit two home runs, scored 13 runs, and posted an fWAR of -0.7.

      Not only were Newman's metrics not great, but he also put up lackluster exit velocity, hard-hit, and barrel metrics. Conversely, he still showed solid plate discipline and contact ability, as evidenced by his TJ Stats summary from a season ago with the Angels.

      Kevin Newman TJ-2025.png

      With an 87th percentile whiff rate and 85th percentile Z-Contact%, Newman is the kind of infielder who can serve as an emergency utility infielder off the bench.

      On a positive note, he had a much better season in 2024 with the Diamondbacks.

      In 111 games and 311 plate appearances with Arizona, he slashed .278/.311/.375 with a .686 OPS, 0.31 BB/K ratio, and 89 wRC+. He also hit three home runs, scored 41 runs, and accumulated a 1.4 fWAR with the Diamondbacks, the second-highest single-season mark of his career.

      If Newman can replicate something close to his 2024 mark, he could be the bench utility player they need for 2026. That also lessens Kansas City's need to bring back Adam Frazier for next season. While not expensive, Frazier would cost a lot more than Newman and may not produce much more value than the 32-year-old University of Arizona product (Frazier has combined for 0.2 fWAR over the past two seasons). 

      Another Minor League move the Royals made this week was bringing Cuas back. Unlike Newman, Cuas does not have an invite to Spring Training, though that could change depending on how things shake up pitching-wise this winter. 

      After putting up a 3.58 ERA in 37.2 IP in 2022 and a 4.54 ERA in 41.2 IP in 2023, the Royals traded Cuas to the Chicago Cubs in 2023 at the Trade Deadline for outfielder Nelson Velázquez.

      Cuas posted a 3.04 ERA in 23.1 IP with the Cubs that season, but he only posted a 1.36 K/BB ratio and had a 4.90 FIP. Unsurprisingly, regression hit him hard in 2024 with the Cubs, as he posted a 7.43 ERA, 2.33 K/BB ratio, and 6.02 FIP in 9 games and 13.1 IP with Chicago. As a result of these poor metrics, the Cubs designated him for assignment in June of that year.

      The Toronto Blue Jays claimed him on waivers, hoping to get him back to the 2023 form, but it didn't pan out as expected. Cuas posted a 9.00 ERA, 0.75 K/BB ratio, and 11.50 FIP in four outings and three IP. The Blue Jays then designated him for assignment in September and eventually released him.

      Since being released by the Blue Jays, Cuas has been in the Braves and Phillies organizations, but has not pitched at the Major League level. Last season, the 31-year-old righty posted a 3.22 ERA, 1.28 K/BB ratio, and 3.68 FIP in Double-A Columbus (Atlanta), and a 13.50 ERA, 0.80 K/BB ratio, and 10.81 FIP with Triple-A Lehigh Valley (Philadelphia). With the Iron Pigs, Cuas struggled with generating whiffs and chase, and his stuff didn't profile well either, via TJ Stats.

      Jose Cuas TJ-2025.png

      Even though his tenure in the Braves and Phillies organizations wasn't ideal, the Royals are likely hoping that Cuas can provide some depth and stability to the Triple-A Omaha bullpen in 2026. The Storm Chasers struggled with pitching last season, posting a 5.49 ERA, the second-worst mark in the International League. 

      Photo Credit: © Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

      Kevin O'Brien

      On Thursday morning, the Kansas City Royals unveiled their new City Connect jerseys to the public via social media.

      On March 31st, a picture of the possible City Connect jerseys leaked, though no confirmation was provided by the Royals, Nike, or Major League Baseball. With the City Connect jersey officially released on Thursday, it appeared the leak was indeed a preview of what the Royals' updated City Connect would look like for the next three seasons (City Connect jerseys have a three-year cycle).

      The new Royals City Connect shares a lot in common with the Royals' old City Connect jersey. The color scheme is obviously different, with blue, purple, and white instead of navy blue, light blue, and white. However, the new City Connect jerseys will still be utilizing the "Fountain" font that made the old City Connect jerseys so popular with Royals fans. However, instead of "KC", the new City Connect style will emphasize the old "R" logo. 

      Here's a picture of the old City Connect jersey worn by Vinnie Pasquantino during an April 14th, 2023, game against the Braves.

      Denny Medley-Imagn Images

      Per Kindle Biermann, manager of business and community communications, in addition to wearing them every Friday evening game, the Royals will also have multiple promotions and giveaways throughout the year that will utilize the new City Connect style and color pattern. 

      The Royals begin their four-game homestand against the Chicago White Sox tonight and will unveil their new jerseys, hats, and City Connect gear during Friday night's home game. 

      Kevin O'Brien

      According to the Royals' official transaction sheet, left-handed reliever Sam Long was removed from the 40-man roster and outrighted to Triple-A Omaha on November 6th. It is unclear whether Long will remain in the Royals' organization with this latest move. However, to pitch for the Royals again in 2026, he would need to be added to the 40-man roster again at some point.

      Signed as a Minor League free agent in the spring of 2024, Long made the Royals roster and ended up being a key piece of the Royals bullpen during their 86-76 season. In his first season in Kansas City, he posted a 3.16 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 3.89 FIP, and 2.59 K/BB ratio in 43 appearances and 42.2 IP. The Sacramento State product was a key left-handed reliever for manager Matt Quatraro, especially in high-leverage situations.

      Unfortunately, Long battled injuries and ineffectiveness in 2025. 

      Over 39 appearances and 40.1 IP, the 30-year-old lefty posted a 5.36 ERA, 1.74 WHIP, 5.54 WHIP, and 1.50 K/BB ratio. Long struck out fewer batters (7.5% decrease in K rate), walked more (1.9% increase in BB rate), gave up more hard-hits (9.1% increase in hard-hit rate), and saw his called strikes plus whiff rate (CSW) go from 28% in 2024 to 23.5% in 2025. As a result, Long lost his setup position in the bullpen to other left-hander relievers like Angel Zerpa and Daniel Lynch IV last season.

      Long went on the IL on April 13th due to left elbow inflammation and didn't return to the Royals until June 20th. He struggled in the first half of the season with a 9.82 ERA and 1.98 WHIP in 14.2 IP before the All-Star Break. However, he was more effective in the second half, as he posted a 2.81 ERA and 1.60 WHIP in 25.2 IP. 

      The Royals were in a tough dilemma with Long this offseason. Not only was he arbitration-eligible (MLBTR predicted his salary amount to be around $950K), but he was also out of Minor League options. With Lynch, Zerpa, and Bailey Falter, who was acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates at the Trade Deadline, also on the 40-man roster, Long appeared to be the odd man out.

      Kyle Wright was also listed as an outright to Omaha after clearing waivers on the transactions sheet.  On Tuesday, Jon Heyman of the NY Post reported that Wright was being put on waivers.

      Update (9:55 a.m., November 7th): The Royals announced via social media that they have outrighted Long and Wright officially, and they both have elected free agency. 

       

      Photo Credit: © Dennis Lee-Imagn Images

      Kevin O'Brien

       

      On Thursday afternoon, the Royals shared on social media that Maikel Garcia will play for Venezuela in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

       

       

      This will be Garcia's first appearance in the WBC with his home country. His inclusion on the Venezuelan team was merited, especially after a breakthrough season in 2025.

      In 666 plate appearances last year, he hit 16 home runs, scored 81 runs, collected 74 RBI, stole 23 bases, and hit .286. He also posted a 121 wRC+ and a 5.6 fWAR, the latter being the second-best mark of Royals players last season. In 449 career MLB games, Garcia has accumulated a 9.1 fWAR. 

      In addition to his gaudy metrics, he played in his first All-Star game, won a Gold Glove, and won the team's Special Achievement award (which typically goes to the second-best player on the team). The stellar campaign helped Garcia earn a five-year, $57.5 million extension this offseason. He is guaranteed to stay under contract in Kansas City until 2031. 

       

      The Royals' third baseman will be joining family member Ronald Acuna Jr. (of Atlanta) and teammate Salvador Perez in the World Baseball Classic. Perez was named the captain of Team Venezuela back in November. 

       

       

      Pool play for the WBC will begin on March 5th and go until March 11th. The WBC final will be on March 17th at loanDepot Park in Miami. For more information, check out the World Baseball Classic's official site here. 

      Photo Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

      Kevin O'Brien

      Earlier today, reports came out that Maikel Garcia would be playing for Team Venezuela in the WBC. Later in the evening, the Dominican Republic WBC selection team announced on their social media that Carlos Estevez would be playing for his home country in this upcoming tournament.

      Like Garcia, this will be Estevez's first WBC appearance. That said, the Royals closer has long expressed his desire to play for the Dominican Republic in the WBC as far back as April, as quoted in an article from Robert Rizzo of Latino Sports on April 17th. 

      Quote

      “I would love to go,” replied Estévez when asked about the importance of playing in a World Baseball Classic, an event the 32-year-old Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic native has never participated in. 

      “I would love to represent my country. Have the Dominican Republic name on the front of my jersey and then my name on the back—representing my family. That would be great. So many great players have gone through and played. I would love to be on that big stage.”

      It was a stellar first season in Kansas City for the 32-year-old reliever. In 67 appearances and 66 IP, he posted a 2.45 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 3.67 FIP, and 1.1 fWAR. Furthermore, his 42 saves were not just a career-high, but also led all of Major League Baseball. He is the first Kansas City closer since Dan Quisenberry to lead the majors in saves. 

      Estevez's 20.1% K rate was 3.5% down from the previous season, and his 11.9% K-BB% was six percent lower than his 2024 mark. However, the Dominican-born closer found success by pounding the strike zone and keeping the ball in the yard (5.2% HR/FB rate, a career-low).

      Estevez has the stuff to succeed in the WBC and in 2026 as the Dominican Republic and Royals' closer, respectively. While he struggled to generate chase and whiff with the Royals in 2025, his strong TJ Stuff+ numbers (103 TJ Stuff+ overall) illustrated that he still overwhelmed batters in high-leverage situations.

      Carlos Estevez TJ-2025.png

      In addition to Garcia and Estevez, Salvador Perez (Venezuela), Vinnie Pasquantino (Italy), and Bobby Witt Jr. (USA) have all been confirmed to play in this year's World Baseball Classic. Jac Caglianone (Italy) and Seth Lugo (Puerto Rico) have committed to play if selected, but they have not officially been named to their respective rosters just yet. MLB Network will unveil all the official WBC rosters on February 5th. 

      Photo Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

      Kevin O'Brien

      On Friday morning, Robert Murray of Fansided noted that left-handed reliever Matt Strahm would be heading to the Kansas City Royals, according to sources.

      Later, Mark Feinsand confirmed the move, also noting that right-handed reliever Jonathan Bowlan would be going back to the Phillies in the deal. 

      The Royals this offseason have noted that they wanted to acquire a lefty reliever who could get left-handed batters out. After trading away Angel Zerpa for Isaac Collins and Nick Mears, it seemed like the Royals' need for such a reliever was even more urgent.

      Strahm is a former 21st-round draft pick by the Royals, selected in the 2012 MLB Draft. Strahm pitched two seasons in Kansas City (2016 and 2017) and put up ERA marks of 1.23 and 5.49, respectively. Since then, he's pitched for the Padres, Red Sox, and Phillies and posted a 2.74 ERA, 2.99 FIP, and 1.5 fWAR in 66 outings and 62.1 IP.

      When looking at his metrics via TJ Stats, Strahm illustrated above-average stuff metrics, a strong ability to flood the strike zone, and a capability to generate a lot of chase as well as weak contact. 

      Matt Strahm TJ-2025.png

      Strahm will be a free agent after the 2026 season. It will be interesting to see if Strahm will be a one-year project or if the Royals are planning to extend him at some point next year. He just turned 34 years old this November.

      As for Bowlan, he had a solid year last season, posting a 3.86 ERA in 44.1 IP. He also sported strong TJ Stuff+ metrics as well as chase and whiff rates, according to TJ Stats.

      Jonathan Bowlan TJ-2025.png

      Bowlan's FIP was a bit higher at 3.97, and he didn't see a whole lot of high-leverage situations last year. He is also out of Minor League options, and he was one of the most optioned relievers in the Royals' bullpen last season. With the arrival of Mears and James McArthur returning from injury, it seems like the Royals were willing to make Bowlan expendable, despite his intriguing pitch metrics.

      The Royals have made the deal official, per their team's social media accounts.

      With it being a one-for-one trade, the Royals roster remains full at 40 players. 

      Photo Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

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