Five Free Agents Possibilities for the Royals in 2026

After a crazy World Series (unfortunately, the Blue Jays couldn't take down the Evil Blue Umpire, i.e., the Los Angeles Dodgers), the MLB offseason has officially begun. While we are still a far way away from the Winter Meetings in December, there is still plenty for baseball fans, especially Royals fans, to pay attention to this offseason.

The Royals went 82-80 in 2025, their second winning season since their World Series title in 2015. Even though Kansas City had back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2014-2015, they missed the postseason, which was disappointing after they won 86 games and reached the ALDS in 2024. 

Consistent offense was an issue for the Royals last season. Even with dynamic players like Bobby Witt Jr., Salvador Perez, Vinnie Pasquantino, and Maikel Garcia, they ranked 20th in OPS, 22nd in OBP, and 26th in runs scored and home runs. Thus, to return to the postseason in 2026, the Royals need to upgrade their lineup, whether through trade or free agency.

In this post, I will identify five free agents that could provide a boost to the Royals' lineup and could be realistic targets for the club, based on their payroll. I am not including Perez in this group, for even though he has a club option (which could be declined, making him a free agent), he will likely be back, whether on that option or another multi-year contract. 

To analyze these five free agents, I will use TJ Stats' Statcast summary profiles and projected market value data from Spotrac. 

 Alex Bregman, 3B (Market Value: $27,667, 118)

After opting out of his contract, Bregman will be one of the more high-profile free agents this winter. The 31-year-old third baseman had a solid season with the Red Sox in 2025, hitting .273 while collecting 18 home runs and posting an .818 OPS in 493 plate appearances. 

Based on his Statcast metrics, Bregman's home run power may stagnate at Kauffman Stadium. His barrel rate ranked in the 19th percentile, his Max EV ranked in the 23rd percentile, and his LA Sweet-Spot% ranked in the 29th percentile. However, he would bring a disciplined approach to the Royals lineup, especially a whiff rate that ranked in the 90th percentile and a K% that ranked in the 88th percentile.

The longtime Astro may be out of the Royals' price range, especially with Spotrac projecting his market value to be over $27 million. However, Jon Heyman reported on October 15th that the Royals could be a surprise suitor for Bregman, especially if Garcia is willing to move over to second base.

For a Bregman deal to happen, the Royals would likely need to non-tender Jonathan India to create space in the infield. Furthermore, the Royals wouldn't be able to spend heavily in other areas this offseason, putting pressure on young hitters like Jac Caglianone and Carter Jensen to step up and produce in 2026. 

 Mike Yastrzemski, OF (Market Value: $11,308,059)

The good thing about Yastrzemski is that the Royals have the advantage of him playing 50 games with the Royals after he was acquired from San Francisco after the Trade Deadline. In 186 plate appearances with the Royals last season, he slashed .237/.339/.500 with an .839 OPS, and he had nine home runs, 18 RBI, and 30 runs scored. 

Like Bregman, there could be some power concerns with Yastrzemski over a full season.

His barrel rate ranked in the 43rd percentile, and his hard-hit rate ranked in the 51st percentile. However, his max EV ranked in the 19th percentile, and the 90th percentile EV ranked in the 30th percentile. Despite those issues, he, like Bregman, was extremely disciplined at the plate, as evidenced by his 86th percentile O-Swing%, 81st percentile Whiff%, and 1.14 BB/K ratio with the Royals.

The Royals could play Yastrzemski at all three outfield positions, and he could handle leadoff duties as well, especially if manager Matt Quatraro prefers to keep Garcia lower in the batting order. The only issue with bringing back Yastrzemski is that he likely would need to platoon with a right-handed bat, which the Royals don't have readily available on their 40-man roster right now. That platoon limitation could make the Royals look elsewhere, especially if Yastrzemski is looking for a multi-year deal in that $11 million AAV range.  

 Tommy Pham, OF (Market Value: $6,728,516)

The Royals brought over Pham in 2024 after Pasquantino suffered a thumb injury that forced him to miss the last month of the regular season. The veteran outfielder didn't impress in his 23-game stint with the Royals, as he slashed .228/.250/.337 with two home runs and a .587 OPS in 101 plate appearances. Thus, it's not surprising that the Royals didn't bring him back in free agency in 2025.

Pham found a home in Pittsburgh in 2025, and for the first time since 2021, he stayed with a single team for the entire season.

The 37-year-old outfielder was productive in Pittsburgh, as he slashed .245/.325/.370, collected 10 home runs, and posted a .695 OPS in 447 plate appearances. Pham also showcased solid plate discipline with a 0.56 BB/K ratio, and his whiff rate and walk rate ranked in the 61st and 77th percentiles, respectively.  That approach would certainly be welcomed in the Royals lineup, especially in the 6-8 spots in the batting order.

Now, if the Royals do acquire Pham, it likely won't be for a long-term deal, as Pham will be 38 in 2026. Furthermore, he likely would have a platoon role in 2026, splitting with Caglianone in left field or perhaps seeing time in center or left field when the Royals are facing a left-handed starting pitcher. Would Pham be okay with that role, or is he looking for a more regular spot next season?

It will be important for the Royals to do their due diligence if they are interested in him, as a disgruntled Pham wouldn't help the clubhouse vibe (which has been a problem in previous stops, though he was fine in Kansas City two seasons ago). 

 Rob Refsnyder, OF (Market Value: $4,250,071)

If the Royals do want to bring back Yastrzemski, they may also wish to pursue Refsnyder, who would be the logical platoon pairing. 

In 138 plate appearances with the Red Sox against left-handed pitchers, the 34-year-old slashed .302/.399/.560 with a .959 OPS. He also hit seven home runs, collected 25 RBI, and posted a 0.59 BB/K ratio against lefties last season. Thus, while limited, he seems to have thrived in a limited platoon role.

The primary issue with Refsnyder is that he was pretty mediocre last year against right-handed pitchers. In 71 plate appearances against non-southpaws, he slashed .216/.268/.348 with a .616 OPS. He only hit two home runs, and his BB/K ratio was much worse at 0.23, highlighted by a 31% K% that was 7.8% higher than his K% against lefties. 

With Refsnyder, the Royals would acquire a right-handed bat with legitimate power. Last season, his barrel rate ranked in the 80th percentile, his average exit velocity ranked in the 88th percentile, and his hard-hit rate ranked in the 94th percentile. That kind of pop is much-needed in a lineup that struggled with the long ball. 

That said, he wouldn't be an everyday option but rather a platoon player with Yastrzemski or Caglianone in the corner outfield positions. 

Adam Frazier, UTL (Market Value: $4,053,887)

Speaking of vibes, Frazier has seemed to have an impact on the Royals that goes beyond statistics. 

After being acquired at the All-Star Break, the 33-year-old utility player slashed .283/.320/.402 with a .722 OPS in 197 plate appearances. He hit four home runs, scored 21 runs, and collected 23 RBI, productive for a player who rotated around the field for Kansas City. 

Frazier played the entire 2024 season with the Royals, and his numbers were more meager. In 104 games and 294 plate appearances, he slashed .202/.282/.294 with a .576 OPS. His fWAR was -0.5 that season, a big reason why the Royals initially didn't bring him back for 2025. 

And yet, the Royals are 121-106 with Frazier on the roster over the past two seasons. Without him? They are 47-50. 

Will Frazier posted a .722 OPS over a full season in 2026? Probably not. That said, if he can post a .660-.680 OPS over 300 plate appearances and provide solid defensive value at multiple positions (second and third base and the corner outfield positions)? 

Well, bringing Frazier back for 2026 may be in the cards for the Royals, especially since it's likely that he won't command more than a one-year deal.