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      Kevin O'Brien

      On Thursday evening, the Kansas City Royals added to their Spring Training roster by signing right-handed reliever Eli Morgan to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training.

      Royals fans should be familiar with Morgan, as he pitched for four seasons with the Cleveland Guardians from 2021 to 2024. His best season with Cleveland came in 2024, as he posted a 1.93 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 3.64 FIP, 3.09 K/BB ratio, and 0.3 fWAR in 32 appearances and 42 IP. He was also a key reliever for them in the postseason, as he came in and pitched in some high-leverage spots.

      The Guardians traded him to the Chicago Cubs before the 2025 season in exchange for outfield prospect Alfonsin Rosario. Unfortunately, Morgan struggled to transition that success from Cleveland to the North Side.

      In 7.1 IP, he posted a 12.27 ERA, 8.59 FIP, and 1.33 K/BB ratio. His K rate dropped from 20.4% in 2024 to 11.4% last year. However, it's likely that he wasn't healthy at the start of the year, as he was put on the 60-Day IL on April 15th for right elbow impingement, related to an inflamed ulnar nerve. While he was activated off the IL on September 21st, he didn't return to the Majors last season. He posted a 5.06 ERA and 3.96 FIP in 10.2 IP with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. The Cubs did not tender Morgan a contract this offseason.

      Morgan is a three-pitch pitcher who leans heavily on his changeup (41.7% usage last year). Even though his overall stuff wasn't impressive on a TJ Stuff+ end (98 overall), he did an excellent job of generating chase. He sported a 41.1% chase rate last year, with all three of his offerings having a chase rate of 40% or above, according to TJ Stats.

      Eli Morgan TJ-2025.png

      Morgan will need to improve his command in 2026, as he lagged in zone rate (44.7%) and generating whiffs (21.7%) last year. However, the Royals' front office has been valuing and targeting pitchers who can induce chase, and Morgan fits the bill perfectly.

      Royals pitching coach Brian Sweeney also has experience working with Morgan in Cleveland, so it's likely that Sweeney and GM JJ Picollo felt Morgan was worth taking a risk on due to their familiarity with him. The former Gonzaga product has a Minor League option remaining, which gives the Royals some roster flexibility with him should he make the team. 

      The Morgan acquisition now increases the Royals' non-roster invitee list to 26. 

      Photo Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images

      Kevin O'Brien

       

      On Tuesday afternoon, the Royals announced that they had acquired right-handed pitcher Easton McGee from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for cash considerations. To make room for McGee, the Royals transferred reliever Nick Mears to the 60-Day IL. 

      McGee pitched in 9 outings and 14.2 IP last season with the Brewers, posting a 5.52 ERA and 1.36 WHIP. However, his FIP was much better at 3.24. This year, he's spent most of it in Triple-A Nashville, as he has only appeared in two games for the Brewers. In those two outings, he has a 0.00 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. He showcased an intriguing TJ Stuff+ profile, though he didn't generate many whiffs in his brief Brewers tenure this year. 

      tjstats_season_summary (10).png

      With the Sounds in Triple-A, McGee has a 5.62 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 4.18 WHIP, and 13.6% K-BB% in 41.2 IP. In Nashville, he has done a good job of flooding the strike zone, with strong percentiles in zone rate and CSW. That is something sorely needed with this Royals bullpen, which ranks 28th in reliever BB/9 this year. 

      Easton_McGee_percentiles.png

      In a corresponding move, the Royals moved Mears from the 15-Day IL to the 60-Day IL. Mears had been on the IL since May 29th due to right shoulder impingement. The former Brewers pitcher, acquired this offseason along with Isaac Collins in the Angel Zerpa trade, had a 5.12 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 21 appearances and 19.1 IP before going on the IL. 

       

      Kevin O'Brien

      On Monday, MLB.com Royals writer Anne Rogers reported via her sources that the Royals would be filling out their hitting coaching staff by hiring Marcus Thames, who recently was the hitting coach for the Chicago White Sox.

      As Rogers pointed out on Bluesky, Thames has coaching experience with multiple MLB teams and has held the title of hitting coach with the Yankees, Marlins, Angels, and White Sox. Thames is a former MLB player who played in 640 games with the Tigers, Yankees, Rangers, and Dodgers from 2002 to 2011. He has hit 115 career home runs and has a career batting average of .246.

      Last season, Chicago struggled offensively under Thames, ranking 27th in OBP and runs scored, and 28th in OPS. However, the White Sox saw the growth of some young hitters under Thames' tutelage, including top prospect Colson Montgomery, who hit 21 home runs and posted an .840 OPS, Kyle Teel, who hit eight home runs and posted a .786 OPS, and Miguel Vargas, who hit 16 home runs and posted a .717 OPS. 

      Thames will join Connor Dawson on the staff, who comes over from the Brewers organization. Dawson is a KC native who attended Olathe North High School and coached at St. Thomas Aquinas High School before matriculating to the Mariners organization and then the Brewers in 2021. Alec Zumwalt remains the Royals' lead hitting coach for 2026. 

      Photo Credit: © Matt Marton-Imagn Images

      Kevin O'Brien

      One of the Royals' 13 arbitration-eligible cases this offseason became clearer on Thursday. The Royals announced on social media that they had reached an agreement with reliever James McArthur, and Anne Rogers followed up by confirming that the deal would be for $810,000, about $10,000 higher than his projected amount on MLB Trade Rumors. 

      As Rogers mentioned, McArthur didn't pitch all of last season due to elbow surgery and subsequent recovery, which turned out to be longer than expected. However, the fact that he began a throwing program by the end of last season suggests he will likely be ready for Spring Training this season, barring any setbacks. 

      After a brutal MLB debut in 2023 (he gave up seven runs on six hits and a walk in an inning of work against the Guardians on June 28th), he ended up posting a respectable 4.63 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in 18 appearances and 23.1 IP. He came alive at the end of the season and took on the Royals' closer role in 2023, saving four games. He also posted a 25.6% K rate, a 23.3% K-BB%, and a 2.78 FIP in 2023, indicating he was better than his ERA suggested.

      McArthur was the Royals' closer for a period of time in 2024 after Will Smith struggled out of the gate in the role. He ended up saving 18 games in 57 appearances. However, his K rate dropped to 19.8%, his K-BB% fell to 14.2%, and his HR/9 rose to 1.27 (it was 0.77 in 2023). As a result, his ERA was 4.92, and he eventually ceded the closer role to Lucas Erceg after the Trade Deadline.

      Like in 2023, the 28-year-old former Phillies draft pick posted a better FIP (4.17) than ERA. While strikeouts were inconsistent, he has a career CSW of 31.9% and his TJ Stats metrics were solid in 2024, despite the rough patches and high ERA.

      James McArthur TJ-2024.png

      McArthur posted a 104 overall TJ Stuff+ with his sinker (65) and curveball (70) rating as elite pitches. He also had a slightly above-average zone rate (50.2%), and solid chase (30.1%) and whiff (28.3%) rates. 

      Thus, there's reason to believe that if fully healthy and in a lower-leverage role, McArthur could thrive in 2026 as a middle-innings reliever for the Royals. 

      Photo Credit: © David Richard-Imagn Images

      Kevin O'Brien

       

      On Monday morning, the Royals announced they would activate Michael Massey from the IL. The 28-year-old second baseman/left fielder was on a rehab stint in Omaha after suffering a calf injury in Spring Training. Massey started the season on the 10-Day IL. 

      With the activation of Massey, Kansas City optioned utility player Nick Loftin to Omaha.

       

      Massey had a solid spring until he was sidelined with a calf injury. In 24 plate appearances, the former Illinois product slashed .364/.417/.545 with a .962 OPS. He also hit a home run, had 3 RBIs, stole a base, and posted solid Statcast percentiles in Cactus League play, as seen below via TJ Stats.

      Michael_Massey_percentiles.png

      Massey is trying to bounce back after a lackluster 2025 campaign. 

      In 277 plate appearances, he hit .244 with a .581 OPS. He had three home runs, posted a .069 ISO, and only had a 3.2% walk rate. The Royals are hoping that Massey can be more selective at the plate and show more power, much like he did in 2024 when he hit 14 home runs in 356 plate appearances.

      With Massey coming up, the Royals optioned Loftin, who was hitting .222 with a .697 OPS in 11 plate appearances. The former Baylor product showed excellent plate discipline so far in 2026. He had a .364 OBP and had solid Statcast rankings, especially in terms of whiff rate, walk rate, and chase rate. 

      Nick_Loftin_percentiles.png

      That said, Loftin struggled to launch the ball, as evidenced by an LA Sweet-Spot% that ranked in the 18th percentile. He also showed questionable defense in the field, especially in left field, where he misplayed a ball badly that resulted in the Brewers scoring.

      Thus, the Royals may want Loftin to work on his defense and power in Omaha. With his strong plate discipline, it doesn't seem like Loftin will be waiting in Omaha for long, especially if Massey can't show progress at the plate in 2026. 

      Kevin O'Brien

       

      On the Royals' social media on Tuesday evening, the club announced that it had agreed to terms on a two-year contract with catcher Salvador Perez. 

       

      The Royals held a $13.5 million club option on Perez for 2026. However, it was expected that they would bring Salvy back next season, either on that option or by offering a new contract, so that he could perhaps retire with the Royals organization he had spent his entire career with. 

      It appears that Royals GM JJ Picollo went with the latter, committing to their captain for at least a couple of more seasons.

      Here's what Picollo said about the announcement on Salvy's new deal.

      Quote

      “Salvy is a Royals legend and one of the most important players this franchise has ever had,” said Executive Vice President/General Manager J.J. Picollo. “We had the option for next year, but everyone knew we wanted to make sure his legacy with us continued longer than that. We appreciate Salvy’s commitment to the Royals, and we’re just as excited as our fans.”

      No monetary amount has been reported just yet, and it's unclear whether any options will be involved in his new deal. More details about the agreement will likely be revealed in the coming days.*

      Edit as of 7:38 CST: Joel Sherman reports that it will be a two-year, $25 million deal (thus, an AAV of $12.5 million). 

       

      Earlier today, Jon Heyman reported that pitcher Kyle Wright would be placed on outright waivers. That clears a roster spot on the 40-man roster and money on the payroll, as Wright was arbitration-eligible. 

      Salvy's extension is likely the first of a series of moves by the Royals this offseason as they look to return to the postseason after an 82-80 campaign in 2025. Kansas City has the financial flexibility to make some roster moves, and the releases of players like Michael Lorenzen, Randal Grichuk, and Wright only give them more flexibility, even with the announcement of Salvy's new deal. 

      Thankfully for Royals fans, the future Royals Hall of Famer (and possibly Cooperstown-bound catcher) situation isn't in doubt next season or in 2027. 

       

      Photo Credit: © Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

      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 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. 

       

      Kevin O'Brien

       

      The Royals were active on Thursday evening, the night before the non-tender deadline. Their significant move was signing free-agent reliever Alex Lange to a one-year deal, first reported by Royals beat writer Anne Rogers of MLB.com. The Royals made the signing official later in the evening.

       

      Lange only made one appearance for the Tigers in 2025, as he spent most of the year on the IL recovering from lat surgery in June of 2024. Due to that injury, he only pitched one inning in 2025 and 18.2 innings in 2024 with Detroit. However, in 2023, he not only appeared in 67 games and pitched 66 innings, but also posted a 3.68 ERA and 1.33 WHIP, and recorded 26 saves as the Tigers' closer. 

      Control has long been an issue for Lange at the Major League level. He has a career walk rate of 13.5%. Even during his 2023 season, he posted a walk rate of 15.6% and a K-BB% of 11.8%. In his injury-plagued 2024 campaign, he allowed a walk rate of 18.9% and a K-BB% of 4.4%.

      Despite those issues, the Lee's Summit West High School alum remains an intriguing project for the Royals and pitching coach Brian Sweeney. He sports a career K rate of 27.2% and a career CSW% of 31.7%, according to Fangraphs. Furthermore, while he pitched primarily in Triple-A in 2025, he posted some intriguing metrics, according to his TJ Stats summary.

      Alex Lange TJ AAA-2025.png

      Lange posted an overall TJ Stuff+ of 102, and all four of his offerings sported grades of 50 or over, with his sinker and knuckle curve sporting 60 and 56 grades, respectively. While his ability to find the zone was inconsistent (42.3% zone rate), he still generated a 42.2% whiff rate and a .266 xwOBACON in 23.1 IP with the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens.

      Lange's addition fills out the Royals' 40-man roster, which was at 39, after the additions of pitchers Ben Kudrna and Steven Zobac. However, some roster spots could be cleared by tomorrow's 3 p.m. non-tender deadline. 

       

      Photo Credit: © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

      Matthew Lenz

      So far this offseason, which is three days old, the Kansas City Royals have lost two pitchers for the 2026 season. Now, there's a third.

      Jon Heyman of the NY Post is reporting that former 5th overall pick and Cy Young vote getter, Kyle Wright, has been placed on outright waivers by the club. If he clears waivers, he will have the option to reject the assignment and become a free agent.

      It's been a tough road for Wright ever since his Cy Young worthy campaign in 2022. He's dealt with a variety of injuries over the three seasons, resulting in just seven big league starts and 19 starts across four different levels. Wright was acquired from the Atlanta Braves ahead of the 2024 season, but missed the entire season due to surgery repairing the anterior capsule in his right shoulder. He made eight stats in 2025 across Double-A and Triple-A sporting a 5.48 ERA and 21:14 K:BB ratio over 23 innings.

      Given his upside, he's likely to find a home in 2026, though it may come in the form of a Minor League deal. Do you think the Royals should pull the trigger? Let us know in the comments!

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The Kansas City Royals placed right-handed starter Stephen Kolek on the family medical emergency leave list on Thursday and promoted infielder Josh Rojas from Triple-A Omaha. There were no details immediately available on Kolek's situation.

      Rojas was not on the 40-man roster, so the Royals created space by transferring Jonathan India, who is out for the season with an injured left shoulder, from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL.

      Kolek has been a reliable member of the starting rotation. In his six starts, he put up a 3.32 ERA with eight walks and 27 strikeouts in 38 innings. He threw a four-hit shutout May 23 vs. the Seattle Mariners.

      The 31-year-old Rojas, a seven-year MLB veteran, was slashing .247/.309/.437 at Triple-A with six homers and 26 RBIs.

       

      Matthew Lenz

      Carlos Beltran is headed to Cooperstown! After receiving 358 votes (84.2%), the switch-hitting outfielder joins Andruw Jones as a member of the 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame class.

      Beltran, drafted in the 2nd round of the 1995 MLB Amateur Draft, played his first seven of 20 seasons with the Kansas City Royals. The 18-year-old from Puerto Rico needed just a little over three seasons in the minor leagues to debut on September 14th, 1998. He made the 1999 Opening Day roster and never looked back, slashing .293/.337/.454 with 22 home runs and 27 stolen bases on his way to winning American League Rookie of the Year. He'd make his first All-Star Game in 2004, weeks after being traded to the Houston Astros. Across 795 games with the Royals, Beltran slashed .280/.369/.500 with 149 home runs and 100 stolen bases accuring 24.8 bWAR.

      Despite establishing himself as one of the premier center fielders in baseball, donning the Royals' royal blue, it wouldn't be until he joined the New York Mets that his production and talents were truly recognized. In all, he'd go on to finish his career with three Gold Gloves, two Silver Sluggers, nine All-Star appearances, and a 2017 World Series champion.

      What hat will be featured on Beltran's bust? Let us know what you think in the comments.

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The Kansas City Royals made a pair of moves to bolster their bullpen before opening a four-game series vs. the Chicago White Sox on Thursday at Kauffman Stadium.

      Right-handers Eli Morgan and Mitch Spence were promoted from Triple-A Omaha, while right-handers Luinder Avila and Steven Cruz were optioned to Omaha. Thursday's game marks the ninth of 12 straight days the Royals are playing, including pitching 7⅓ innings Wednesday in a 10-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians, thus the need for a bullpen refresh.

      Spence will be making his Royals debut. He was acquired in February shortly after being designated for assignment by the Athletics. Spence has made 67 MLB appearances over the last two seasons with the A's, including 32 starts, so he gives the Royals' bullpen a bit of length. Spence appeared in one game at Triple-A, starting Saturday and allowing four hits and one unearned run in five shutout innings.

      This is Morgan's second time coming up already this season. He was the extra pitcher called up for Saturday's doubleheader against the Milwaukee Brewers and picked up a three-inning save, giving up one hit and no runs, in the 8-2 triumph before being sent back to Omaha. Morgan signed a minor-league contract this offseason after appearing in seven games for the Chicago Cubs in 2025.

      Avila was called up last week and made his season debut Saturday in the first game of the doubleheader, surrendering five runs on eight hits and three walks in three innings. He then appeared Wednesday in relief, tossing another three innings, giving up six hits but allowing just one run.

      Cruz has posted a 14.40 ERA in five appearances, including allowing five runs in 1⅓ innings Wednesday.

       

      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 Monday evening, MLB Insider Jon Heyman reported that the Kansas City Royals signed Hector Neris on a Minor League deal with an invitation to Spring Training.

       

      Neris pitched for three teams last year: the Braves (two outings; one IP), the Angels (21 outings; 14 IP), and the Astros (12 outings; 11.2 IP). In 26.2 overall innings, the 36-year-old righty reliever posted a 6.75 ERA, 1.69 WHIP, 5.35 FIP, and -0.1 fWAR. He was primarily hurt by a 16.7% HR/FB rate, his highest mark in that category since 2019 (when he was with the Phillies). 

      While the results weren't good, Neris did post a strikeout rate of 28.2% and a K-BB% of 15.3%, both solid marks. He also had a 26% CSW and 28.3% O-Swing%, indicating he can generate strikes and chase pitches, two qualities the Royals are seeking from their relievers in 2026.  

      Neris struggled to find the strike zone consistently and gave up too many hard hits, according to xwOBACON. That said, the stuff was pretty solid last year from a 36-year-old reliever. 

      Hector Neris TJ-2025.png

      Neris sported six pitches last year, with his splitter (43.5%) and four-seamer (40.5%) being his most utilized offerings. Of his six pitches, five had TJ Stuff+ marks of 100 or higher, and four had grades of 50 or higher. He also generated a 28.6% whiff rate, with his splitter sporting a 35.9% whiff rate, the best mark in that category of his six offerings .

      The splitter has seen an increased usage by Neris over the past two seasons. He's thrown it over 40% of the time in 2024 and 2025 after only throwing it 28.8% of the time in 2023. Consequently, his four-seamer usage over the past two years has declined while splitter usage has risen, as seen in his career pitch-tracking chart via Savant.

      chart (5).png

      Because he's on a Minor League contract, Neris will have to earn his spot on the Royals roster this spring. If he doesn't make the roster, he has the option of becoming a free agent after Cactus League play.

      As of now, the Royals' bullpen seems pretty set with Carlos Estevez as closer and Matt Strahm, John Schreiber, and Lucas Erceg serving as setup men. Nick Mears, Alex Lange, Daniel Lynch IV, Bailey Falter, Steven Cruz, and James McArthur will likely battle Neris for a spot in the Kansas City bullpen in Spring Training. 

      Photo Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

      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. 

      tjstats_season_summary - 2026-08-13T214313.912.png

      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. 

       

      Kevin O'Brien

       

      On Tuesday morning, in some unexpected news, Robert Murray of Fansided reported that the Royals signed pitcher Aaron Sanchez on a Minor League deal with an invitation to Spring Training. 

       

      Sanchez is a former highly touted arm from the Blue Jays organization who made the All-Star team as a 23-year-old in 2016. That season, he made 30 starts, pitched 192 innings, won 15 games, posted a 3.00 ERA, 3.55 FIP, and accumulated a 3.5 fWAR. After the year, it was thought that Sanchez would be the ace of the Toronto rotation for a long time.

      Unfortunately, injuries and ineffectiveness have limited Sanchez's career since that All-Star campaign. 

      Since 2017, Sanchez has accumulated a 2.0 fWAR in 79 starts and 367.2 IP. His ERA rose to 4.25 in 2017 and 4.89 in 2018 before ballooning to 5.89 with the Blue Jays and Astros in 2019. After missing all of 2020 due to injury, he had a nice bounce-back campaign with the Giants in 2021, posting a 3.06 ERA in nine appearances and 35.1 IP. However, things regressed back to awful levels in 2022, as he sported an ERA of 6.60 in 15 appearances and 60 IP with the Nationals and Twins.

      The 33-year-old righty hasn't pitched at the Major League level since that 2022 season, and he actually did not pitch at all at any level in 2025. In 2024, his last season in the Minors, Sanchez posted a 7.92 ERA and 6.49 FIP in 14 outings and 61.1 IP with the Buffalo Bisons, the Blue Jays' Triple-A team. Not only was Sanchez hit hard that season (19.4% HR/FB rate), but he also struggled with command (1.05 K/BB ratio) and didn't show great stuff either, based on TJ Stats metrics. 

      Aaron Sanchez TJ AAA-2024.png

      Sanchez's groundball rate was decent at 44.3% with the Bisons, and he also limited productive contact, posting a .336 xwOBACON. That said, he sported below-average stuff with a 93 TJ Stuff+ mark overall, and his zone rate (44.4%), chase% (24.3%), and whiff% (23%) were subpar as well. Thus, when he made mistakes, hitters made him pay dearly (illustrated by the HR/FB rate). With Buffalo, his curveball, which he threw 20.3% of the time, was his best offering, as it sported a 100 TJ Stuff+, 33.6% chase%, 35.7% whiff%, and .292 xwOBACON. 

      Below is a breakdown of Sanchez's curveball against left and right-handed hitters via TJ Stats. It's possible that pitching coaches Brian Sweeney and Mike McFerran think he could improve his repertoire this spring, with the curveball as his foundational offering (it generated a 35.1% CSW against right-handed hitters). 

      Aaron Sanchez CU TJ AAA-2024.png

      After taking a year off, Sanchez returned to baseball by pitching with Toros del Este of the Dominican Winter League (LiDOM) this winter. The former All-Star thrived in his return to the mound in LiDOM, posting a 1.55 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 3.78 K/BB ratio in eight starts and 46.1 IP. His strong performance earned him top pitching honors in Winter League play. 

       

       

      The Royals likely picked up Sanchez due to his strong Winter League performance, hoping that he can show something on the mound again, whether at the Minor or Major League level. It's unlikely that Sanchez will make the Royals rotation, as it is incredibly deep right now with Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Kris Bubic, Noah Cameron, Ryan Bergert, Luinder Avila, and Stephen Kolek all vying for spots this spring.

       

      That said, the Royals likely want pitching depth, just in case their rotation gets hit by injury again like it did a season ago. Furthermore, Sanchez could generate some trade interest for a pitching-desperate team, especially if they are hit by injury in Spring Training play. Such a situation could net the Royals a low-level prospect, cash, or a bench player who could provide needed depth in the system. 

      Photo Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

      Kevin O'Brien

       

      On Monday, the Kansas City Royals announced that they hired Mike McFerran as assistant pitching coach. McFerran replaces Zach Bove, who left earlier this month for the head pitching coach role with the Chicago White Sox.

       

      McFerran is only 32 years old but has a diverse coaching history, with much of his time spent at his alma mater, Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York, Wake Forest University, and the Sacramento Athletics. With Wake Forest, he served as an associate head coach and pitching lab coordinator, helping develop first-round draft picks such as Ryan Cusick and Rhett Lowder. After a successful tenure with the Demon Deacons, he moved on to the Athletics organization, where he primarily worked with Minor League pitchers for the past two seasons. 

      The Royals' new assistant pitching coach had a pretty interesting interview on "And That's The Game" from Pro Batter Sports last year, when he was a member of the Athletics organization. In the podcast, he discussed his unique coaching background and his overall coaching philosophy. 

      When it came to replacing Bove, the Royals were looking for someone who shared Bove's ability to work closely with pitchers, especially in game strategy and pitch design, according to MLB.com Royals beat writer Anne Rogers. With his extensive background in pitch mechanics and incorporating science, data, and technology to develop athletes, especially pitchers, it seems like Kansas City found that fit with McFerran.

      Here's a snippet from Rogers' piece that provides background on McFerran's coaching history, especially during his tenure at Wake Forest.

      Quote

      The Royals were looking for someone with a similar skillset as Bove when putting together their list of candidates. And McFerran brings an innovative mind to pitching and strategy. His time at Wake Forest is particularly interesting; as the pitching lab coordinator, he helped “interpret and define the developmental direction of throwing athletes in collaboration with the coaching staff, while using the advancement of data and technology to maximize their performance and minimize their risk of injury,” according to the Wake Forest Baseball website.

      With the McFerran hiring, the Royals' coaching staff should be complete for the upcoming season. In addition to Bove, the Royals needed to replace assistant hitting coaches Keoni DeRenne and Joe Dillon. They found those replacements in Connor Dawson of the Brewers and Marcus Thames of the White Sox. 

      Photo Credit: © William Purnell-Imagn Images

      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. 

      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

      Cory Moen

      Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. was placed on the 10-day injured list with low back tightness, which has kept him out of a few games recently. This move is retroactive to July 21, so the first day he will be eligible to come off the injured list is July 31.

      In a corresponding move, the Royals have selected the contract of shortstop Andrew Velazquez. Velazquez last appeared in a major league contest in 2023 with the Angels. He has major league experience every year from 2018-2023 and has played at Triple-A the past few years with the Braves, Yankees, and the Diamondbacks and Royals this year. 

      Across 58 Triple-A games this year, he has hit for a slash line of .270/.333/.370. He's played shortstop, second base, and all three outfield positions this year, so expect to see him at multiple positions when he is on the field.

      To make room for Velazquez on the 40-man roster, RHP Stephen Kolek was transferred from the 15-day to the 60-day injured list. 

      Cory Moen

      The Royals have placed RHP Beck Way on the injured list and recalled RHP Easton McGee.

      Way, a rookie, has pitched in 19 games with the Royals this year with a 3.86 ERA and 4.95 FIP. He has 21 strikeouts in 23 1/3 innings pitched in those 19 games.

      McGee will make his Royals debut, previously having pitched in the majors for the Rays, Mariners, and Brewers. Over 13 career games at the major league level, he has thrown 26 1/3 innings and has recorded 17 strikeouts with a 3.08 ERA and 3.61 FIP.

      McGee was acquired two weeks ago from the Milwaukee Brewers for cash considerations. Since being acquired, he has thrown six innings over three appearances at Triple-A Omaha with seven strikeouts and six runs given up, good for a 9.00 ERA. 

      Matthew Lenz

      The Kansas City Royals are shifting titles and responsibilities in their front office. Brooks Sherman, formerly the president of business operations, is now president of real estate and development. His primary responsibility will be looking for a new ballpark location.

      In his place, Anne Rogers of MLB.com is reporting that the Kansas City Royals have named Cullen Maxey the President of Business Operations. In a statement, Royals chairman/CEO John Sherman said, "...this is a day that helps change our organization and prepares us for the future." Maxey was previously the Executive Vice President, Business Operations and Chief Revenue Officer with the Arizona Diamondbacks for 16 seasons.

      In Arizona, Maxey was part of the leadership team responsible for the planning and construction of the $200 million Salt River Fields Complex. He also led the team that transitioned the Diamondbacks' broadcast from the regional sports network model to a team-managed multi-platform distribution. Most notably for fans, he was one of the key figures behind "value item pricing" at the concession stand. His efforts led the D-backs to have the lowest Fan Cost Index in MLB for many consecutive years.

      While the impact of front office roles can be hard to measure, how do you think Maxey and Sherman's new roles will impact the Royals organization? Let us know in the comments!

      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. 

      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.

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