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  • Kansas City Royals Trade & Free Agent Rumors

    Follow the latest Kansas City Royals trade and free agent rumors, along with quick notes on the big league club, the minor leagues and the draft.
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    Steve Drumwright
    The Kansas City Royals kicked off their offseason by making two pretty obvious moves.
    Right-handed starter Tony Gonsolin will be back in 2027 after the Royals exercised their option on his $2.5 million contract, while right-handed reliever Carlos Estevez had his option declined. Estevez was due $13 million in 2027 with a $2 million buyout.
    Gonsolin came back from having internal brace surgery on his right elbow to make one start the final weekend of the season. The $2.5 million option was a very affordable price to bring back the 32-year-old starter. He will have a pretty normal offseason after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023, missing the rest of that season and all of 2024.
    When healthy, the longtime former Los Angeles Dodger has a 4.19 FIP (3.43 ERA) for his career with a 9% walk rate and 23.3% strikeout rate. His workload is likely to be ramped up considering his last full workload was during the 2023 season and is coming off two major elbow surgeries.
    Estevez, who had 42 saves for the Royals in 2025 and turns 34 in December, only got one out in 2026 due to a variety of injuries. He was hit by a comebacker in that lone appearance that resulted in a bruised left foot. During his rehab process, he sustained a right rotator cuff injury that required surgery in September, putting his return for 2027 up in the air.
     
    Eli Nitz
    Here are game notes from the Saguaros versus the Solar Sox on October 28.
    Zion Rose
    In his first plate appearance, Rose drew a walk, stole second base against a left-handed pitcher, and stole third base cleanly. 
    In his second at-bat, Rose advanced the count to 3-1 and laced a solid line-drive single up the middle. There was a runner on second, so no opportunity to steal.
    In his third plate appearance, Rose hit a long fly ball down the left-field line, and the left fielder made a nice play to catch it in the corner.
    In his fourth plate appearance, Rose hit a hard grounder to second base and was thrown out at first for the third out.
    In his fifth plate appearance, Rose worked a walk on 5 pitches. There is a runner on second base, so no chance to steal. Rose scored from second on a single to center.
    In his final plate appearance, he struck out swinging.
    Brooks Bryan
    Bryan popped out to left field in his first at-bat.
    In his second at-bat, Bryan popped up to the catcher.
    In his third at-bat, Bryan swung at the first pitch and drilled a single to right field.
    Defensively, Bryan made a nice play on a ground ball to get the lead runner at second base.
    In his fourth at-bat, Bryan hit a rocket to right-center for a two-run home run, traveling 416 feet with a 101.4 mph exit velocity.
    In his final at-bat, Bryan struck out swinging.
    Justin Lamkin
    Lamkin opened the first inning by cleanly fielding a first-pitch bunt back to the mound, and he worked a clean, quick inning.
    In the second inning, Lamkin issued a one-out walk. He challenged a called ball, and the call was confirmed. He then struck out the next batter swinging.
    In the third inning, Lamkin gave up his first hit, a slow roller past the mound that deflected off his outstretched foot and trickled away for a base hit. He recorded the first out of the inning on a swinging strikeout and the second on a called strikeout.
    In the fourth inning, Lamkin gave up a leadoff home run. He struck out the next batter swinging, allowed a line-drive single to center field, and then ended the inning with another swinging strikeout.
    Lamkin worked quickly and was never threatened. His fastball sat around 93 mph throughout the outing, and the home run was his only blemish.
    Hiro Wyatt
    Wyatt walked the leadoff batter in the fifth inning. He then got a groundout to first base and a flyout to left field before issuing another walk. The next hitter sent a ground ball up the middle that bounced over the shortstop’s glove, and a run scored. Wyatt ended the inning with a strikeout.
    In the sixth inning, Wyatt got a flyout to right field and a flyout to center field, gave up a ground-ball single between first and second base, and then got another flyout to center to end the inning.
    In the seventh inning, Wyatt got the leadoff batter to fly out to left field, then struck out the next batter swinging to end his outing.
    Eli Nitz
    I attended my first AFL game on October 27 at Peoria Stadium to watch the Saguaros versus the Javelinas. Here is what I noticed:
    General Notes
    Tickets are $14, and seating is general admission. Announced attendance was 271. I sat in the front row at the Saguaros on-deck circle. By my count, there were 13 scouts on the stands evaluating the game. The Saguaros bench got warned after razzing the umpire for a 3-2 strikeout call that was overturned to a BB. Three Royals played. Felix Arronde, Austin Charles, and Angeibel Gomez. Felix Arronde
    Started the game and pitched one inning.
     Lead-off walk, pitch clock violation, K swinging, walk, stole 2B, K swinging. Single misplayed by LF runner to 2B, run scored, single between 1B and 2B, run scored. Foul tip caught by catcher K. All three outs by strikeout were impressive. After the game, I asked the catcher Kehden Hettiger, a Philadelphia Phillies prospect, what he saw from Arronde. His thoughts: Arronde hid the ball well, but was a bit unlucky. Had good, deceptive stuff. Maybe a little nervous being his first appearance.  Austin Charles
    Line out to short, one hopper to SS got down the line to avoid the double play, strikeout on check swing, bases loaded strikeout swinging. Very aggressive all game, lots of early count swings. Made every defensive play. Angeibel Gomez
    Worked a full count and stroked a single to left field for an RBI, stole second, and a wild pitch advanced him to third, then grounded out to shortstop. First pitch swinging, fly ball to left LF, lost in the sun, fell 15 feet to his left. It is a double in the books but should have been an easy out. Called strike 3. Didn't like the call but didn't challenge. Defensively
    Shallow pop between 2B, CF, and RF. Looked like 2B called it and Gomez backed off. Ball fell. Gomez had a ball to dead center, realized it was over his head, and played it off the wall in a textbook play. Gomez made a nice catch at the warning track.
    Kevin O'Brien
    On Saturday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported that the New York Yankees could be interested in acquiring Kansas City second baseman Michael Massey. MLB Trade Rumors highlighted his report in their Yankees Note roundup. 
     
    Jazz Chisholm Jr., the Yankees' regular second baseman in 2026, will be a free agent this offseason, and New York likely won't bring him back. They have internal options like Anthony Volpe and Jose Caballero, but it seems they want to upgrade beyond those two. The Yankees could pursue a trade for Xavier Edwards or Ketel Marte, both of whom have been rumored as Yankees targets in the past.
    That said, Massey could be a better option because of his cost, stellar defense, and lefty swing, which fits Yankee Stadium's lefty-friendly right-field porch. 
    Here's what Anthony Franco of MLBTR said about the Massey rumor:
    Massey had a career year for the Royals in 2026 after being plagued by injuries in 2025. 
    In 131 games (a career-high) and 452 plate appearances, Massey hit .274 with a .735 OPS. He also hit 13 home runs, scored 49 runs, drove in 50 RBI, and stole 3 bases. The former Illinois product also earned his first Gold Glove nomination for his second base defense.
     
    Massey doesn't walk much (4.7% BB%), but he doesn't strike out and puts the ball in play. His barrel and hard-hit rates are slightly below average, but his profile could fit in New York, especially considering the home ballpark and lineup around him. 

    If the Royals trade Massey to the Yankees, they'll likely ask for pitching help in return. Under GM Brian Cashman, the Yankees have been a pitching factory, so they can afford to part with some arms this offseason.
    Two options that could make sense for Kansas City are Will Warren and Clarke Schmidt.
    Warren accumulated a 2.2 fWAR last year and sported a 3.92 ERA with 158 strikeouts in 156 IP. However, he's projected to be the Yankees' No. 5 starter next year, and the Yankees have talented arms on the 40-man roster, Elmer Rodriguez and Brendan Beck, who could replace him. 
    As for Schmidt, he missed most of 2026 due to injury. However, he posted a 2.85 ERA in 85.1 IP in 2024 and a 3.32 ERA in 78.2 IP in 2025. Although he made only one appearance in 2026, Schmidt's stuff profiled very similarly to Warren's, based on TJ Stuff+ metrics. 

    More players would likely be involved in a trade involving Massey and Warren or Schmidt. However, this kind of trade could be a win-win for both organizations, especially if Maikel Garcia or Nick Loftin could slide over to the keystone to replace Massey in 2027.  
     
    Kevin O'Brien
    On Friday afternoon, MLB Trade Rumors reported that the team outrighted pitchers Mason Black, Alec Marsh, Alex Lange, Connor Seabold, and Easton McGee from the 40-man roster.
    As expected, no one claimed any of the five players. According to Trade Rumors, McGee and Seabold have elected free agency. Marsh and Lange are eligible, but haven't officially done so yet. Black isn't eligible for free agency yet due to service-time requirements. The Royals could keep him in the Minor Leagues for the upcoming season, even though he will not be on the 40-man roster.
    Seabold and McGee didn't get much time in Kansas City in 2026 after the Royals acquired them midseason from Toronto and Milwaukee, respectively. Seabold posted a 9.00 ERA in five outings and five innings, and McGee posted an 8.68 ERA in seven outings and 9.1 innings. 
    Marsh had a promising 2024 season, posting a 4.53 ERA in 26 games (25 starts) and 129 IP. He also posted a 15.3% K-BB% and a 4.34 FIP in 2024. However, he's dealt with shoulder issues (including surgery) over the past two seasons and hasn't thrown a pitch in the Majors or Minors since the end of the 2024 season. Little has been shared about his rehab, which explains why the Royals were willing to outright him off the 40-man roster. 
    Lange is a local product from Lee's Summit who struggled in his first season with the Royals after spending time in the Tigers and Cubs organizations previously. In 59 games and 60 IP, he posted a 6.75 ERA and 5.87 FIP. He did save 10 games, tying for the second-most among Royals relievers last season. That said, he also had three blown saves and a -1.1 fWAR, the second-lowest fWAR among Royals pitchers (only Matt Strahm was worse).
    Lange was out of Minor League options, and he likely won't be guaranteed a bullpen spot in Spring Training.
    The last pitcher outrighted was Black, who came over to the Royals from San Francisco in a trade last offseason (Kansas City traded pitcher Logan Martin to the Giants). In 17 outings and 31.1 IP, the 26-year-old posted a 4.31 ERA, but his FIP was much worse at 6.48. This was mainly due to a paltry 13.4% K% and -0.7% K-BB%. Many of his Statcast percentiles weren't impressive last year either, as TJ Stats shows below. 

    Black will likely return to the Royals organization because of his lack of service time, but it wouldn't surprise me to see Kansas City use him in a trade for cash assets. While Black has a diverse pitch repertoire (seven pitches), he has struggled to produce an effective mix at the Major League level, both with the Royals and the Giants.
    The Royals' 40-man roster is now at 37 players. 
    Steve Drumwright
    A disappointing season is resulting in at least one change on the MLB coach staff for the Kansas City Royals.
    Alec Zumwalt will not return as the Royals' hitting coach, although he remains in the system as the senior director of hitting performance, according to a report Tuesday by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
    The Royals finished last in the AL Central at 69-93, the third-worst in the AL and fifth-worst in MLB. Hitters had a mixed bag in their performance this year. The team had the eighth-best batting average in MLB at .247, ranked 17th in on-base percentage (.316) and 16th in OPS (.718).
    Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. may get some down-ballot AL MVP votes after a .281/.359/.441 slash line with 15 homers, 54 RBIs and 45 stolen bases. Right fielder Jac Caglianone also thrived in his first full MLB season, putting up a .289/.340/.494 slash line with 23 homers and 77 RBIs. But first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino (.249/.333/.428), who dealt with hamate bone surgery that hindered his performance, and key offseason acquisition Isaac Collins (.213/.320/.321), especially, were among the key underperformers.
    Steve Drumwright
    What is the purpose of a player returning for the final six games of the regular season? To prove he is healthy.
    That is the case with right-handed starter Tony Gonsolin, who was activated Tuesday off the 15-day injured list by the Kansas City Royals. Right-handed reliever Spencer Bivens was optioned to the Arizona Complex League. The minor-league season is complete at all levels, although there are young players and rehabbing players at the various team complexes.
    The 32-year-old Gonsolin is a unique case in that the Royals signed him Aug. 13 and placed the right-hander on the 15-day injured list. He underwent the internal brace procedure on his right elbow in August 2025 and made four starts, pitching 16⅓ innings at Triple-A Omaha. Gonsolin will most likely make a start Friday against the Cleveland Guardians at home in his lone appearance this year. The Royals currently do not have a starter announced for that game.
    Gonsolin, who spent his entire career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, signed a prorated $1 million contract for this year with a club option for 2027.
    Bivens was claimed off waivers from the San Francisco Giants on Sept. 12 after four MLB appearances in two stints, allowing eight runs over five innings with four walks and eight strikeouts. Bivens was optioned to Triple-A Omaha after being claimed. He was called up Saturday but did not appear in either of the two games vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    With the Kansas City Royals on the verge of officially being eliminated from postseason contention, you have to give credit to Maikel Garcia for coming back for the final 13 days of the regular season.
    The Royals activated their third baseman from the 10-day injured list Tuesday and sent outfielder Matthew Lugo down to Triple-A Omaha.
    Garcia has been on the IL since Aug. 21 with a strained left hamstring. That was just a few days after returning from another IL stint for a muscle strain in his left hand that kept him out nearly two months. Garcia is slashing .269/.324/.385 with three homers and 32 RBIs in 73 games.
    Lugo, who was claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels on June 2 and optioned to the minors, was called up when Garcia went on the IL. He appeared in just nine games and went 2-for-14 (.143/.200/.143).
    The Royals entered play Tuesday at 66-84, last in the AL Central, with a tragic number of three.
     
    Cory Moen
    The Royals have recalled RHP Lucas Erceg to the major leagues. The corresponding move to make room on the 26-man roster was to option RHP Easton McGee to Triple-A Omaha.
    Erceg pitched in 47 games in the majors prior to being optioned to Triple-A in mid-August. In those 47 games, he threw 43 1/3 innings while striking out 31 and had a 4-4 record with a 6.23 ERA. His peripheral numbers were slightly better, with a 5.60 FIP.
    McGee was recently called up on September 1 and has bounced back and forth between the major league squad and Triple-A. He was acquired by the Royals in mid-July after being designated for assignment by the Milwaukee Brewers.
    In nine appearances (seven with the Royals), he has a 7.15 ERA with nine strikeouts over 11 1/3 innings pitched. Between Milwaukee's Triple-A team and the Royals Triple-A team, he has thrown 55 2/3 innings at Triple-A with 60 strikeouts and a 6.95 ERA, while walking 21.
    Erceg has looked much better with Triple-A Omaha, throwing 10 1/3 innings in nine appearances. In that time, he has 13 strikeouts with three walks. He has a 1.74 ERA in that time and a 1.258 WHIP, which shows there have been some improvements made. He will hope to continue that improvement out of the Royals bullpen for the remainder of the season. 
    Kevin O'Brien
    On Saturday, the Royals claimed former San Francisco Giants reliever Spencer Bivens off waivers. Kansas City promptly optioned him to Omaha, according to the team's social media. 
     
     
    Bivens was a productive reliever for the Giants in 2024 and 2025 before being designated for assignment on September 9th. 
    In 2024, his rookie year, he posted a 3.14 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 27 appearances and 48.2 IP. Last year, he posted a 4.00 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in 54 appearances and 81.2 IP. While his ERA was higher, his 3.72 FIP last year was better than his 4.72 FIP in 2024. 
    When looking at his Statcast percentiles, Bivens showed a strong ability to generate weak contact and chase as a reliever. 

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

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

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

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

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

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