The Top 25 Kansas City Royals Player Assets of 2026: Part 1 (25-21)

In the mold of our friends over at Twins Daily, I wanted to figure out who the 25 most valuable player assets were in the Kansas City Royals organization going into 2026. This is especially important amid rumors of possible Royals trades. If Kansas City does want to acquire a player, who are the candidates with enough asset value to help put a deal over the top?

There are various tools to do this.

Baseball Trade Values is an incredible resource, as is their Trade Simulator.  However, player value can go beyond their "trade value" on the market. Yes, a player's age, contract, controllability, and upside all matter. Additionally, other factors matter, especially those related to the Royals' context and their current standing as a franchise. 

And where are they now? They are on the rise, looking to return to the postseason after an 82-80 season in 2025. Under GM JJ Picollo and owner John Sherman, the Royals are looking to be a perennial small-market winner, like the Brewers, Rays, and Guardians. That said, they also seem willing to make the right trades to get the right players and assets to compete for not just a Central Division crown and postseason berth, but an AL Pennant and World Series title as well.

Thus, there is a balance of young and veteran players on this Top 25 list, reflecting the Royals' current situation. This list will definitely change over time, but as we finish 2025 and head into 2026, this group of 25 Royals players is the most important in the organization, based on all the factors I have mentioned above.

Let's begin by looking at this group of Kansas City assets, starting with the 25th through 21st players in this post.

25. Michael Massey, 2B/LF

Age: 27

Controlled Through: 2028

Massey is coming off a rough season, posting a 57 wRC+ while only accumulating 277 plate appearances due to various injuries. That said, he posted a 104 wRC+ and 1.5 fWAR in 2024 and was a leadoff hitter for the Royals in the postseason that year. He has a bit of a free-swinging approach (career 0.23 BB/K ratio), but there is some power there (.190 ISO in 2024) for a second baseman, which gives him value.

Another positive aspect of Massey's profile is that he's solid defensively and can play second base and left field seamlessly. He's accumulated an OAA of +3 and FRV of +6 at second base over his career and a FRV of +1 in the outfield. That versatility is a big reason the Royals tendered him a contract this offseason and why he could be attractive to other teams in a possible trade, especially if he were moved to a more hitter-friendly park. 

24. James McArthur, RHP

Age: 29

Controlled Through: 2029

McArthur didn't throw a pitch for the Royals last year due to recovery from elbow surgery. However, he has sneaky value as a pitching asset, especially given his low salary ($800,000 in 2026) and years of team control (he will not be a free agent until 2030). Though he is nearly 30, his arm should be fresh after sitting out all of 2025. 

In 2024, his ERA was high at 4.92, and even though he saved 18 games in 57 appearances, he blew seven games. That inconsistency in the ninth led to him losing the closer's job to Lucas Erceg, who was acquired at the 2024 Trade Deadline. 

A deeper look into McArthur's metrics shows a rosier picture for 2026, especially if he's healthy. Two seasons ago, he posted a 30.7% and 31.4% CSW, as well as a groundball rate of 53.3%. As a result, his FIP was a lot better at 4.17, as was his 3.62 xFIP. He could thrive in a middle-innings or seventh-inning setup man role in 2026 and beyond. He also could benefit from another year of tutelage from not just Brian Sweeney, but new assistant pitching coach Mike McFerran, who replaced Zach Bove, who left for the pitching coach job with the White Sox. 

23. Ben Kudrna, RHP

Age: 22

Controlled Through: 2031+

The Royals added Kudrna to the 40-man roster this year, despite an uneven season in the Minors last season. In 24 appearances (22 starts) and 102.1 IP between Double-A and Triple-A, he posted a 5.30 ERA, 4.22 FIP, 1.44 WHIP, and 2.12 K/BB ratio. However, he was particularly disastrous in 11.1 IP with the Storm Chasers. In Triple-A, Kudrna posted a 14.29 ERA, 9.94 FIP, 2.74 WHIP, and 0.59 K/BB ratio.

Kansas City still added Kudrna to the 40-man roster despite the rough Omaha debut because the Overland Park native has shown the ability to adjust at each Minor League level. After putting up a sub-20% K rate in High-A in 2023, he improved his K rate to 24.2% overall between High-A and Double-A in 2024 and 22.9% overall last year. He is also only 22 years old and should benefit from some coaching changes (there will be a new manager) that could help Kudrna in a full season in Omaha. 

Kudrna may not be an "ace" at the Major League level, but he has No. 4-to-5 starter potential with No. 3 upside, which gives him pretty good value as a player asset in this Royals organization (though his stuff is more good than "elite").  

22. Ryan Bergert, RHP

Age: 25

Controlled Through: 2031

Bergert came over in the Freddy Fermin trade with San Diego and initially got off to a great start in Royals blue. In August, he posted a 2.54 ERA and 3.13 K/BB ratio in 28.1 IP with the Royals. In September? He posted an 8.76 ERA and 1.56 K/BB ratio in 12.1 IP before being shut down for the remainder of the injury due to shoulder impingement. 

In 40.2 IP with the Royals overall last year, he put up a 4.43 ERA, 3.75 FIP, 1.33 WHIP, and 2.29 K/BB ratio. He definitely has strikeout ability (22.4% K rate with the Royals), and he limited his hard-hit rate from 37.5% earlier in the year with San Diego to 35.6% with Kansas City after the Trade Deadline. He does allow a lot of fly balls, however, with a 47.6% flyball rate overall last season.

Bergert has a chance to climb this list if he returns healthy and can iron out his command a bit in an end-of-the-rotation or hybrid role in 2026. If he can regain the form he had in that first month in Kansas City, he could be a Top-15 player asset by the conclusion of next season. 

21. Stephen Kolek, RHP

Age: 28

Controlled Through: 2031+

Kolek, who also came to the Royals in the Fermin trade, is a tad older than Bergert, but he was more successful overall in 2025. In 19 starts and 112.2 IP with the Padres and Royals last year, he posted a 3.51 ERA, 3.82 FIP, and 1.7 fWAR. Kolek was especially successful with the Royals, as he posted a 1.91 ERA, 2.71 FIP, and 0.9 fWAR in five starts and 33 IP. 

Kolek's profile is very different from Bergert's. Bergert generated more strikeouts, as Kolek only sported a 16.8% K rate and 24.8% CSW last year. However, the former Texas A&M pitcher was much better at generating groundballs (51.4%) and commanding the strike zone (2.48 K/BB ratio). The lack of swing-and-miss for Kolek could make him susceptible to some regression in 2026, but it seems like the Royals have succeeded with pitchers of his profile, with Seth Lugo and Noah Cameron being prime examples.

His ability to limit walks and eat innings makes Kolek a valuable asset, especially since he's still in the pre-arbitration process. That said, his age (28) deflates his value a bit, especially since he'll be 30 in 2028 and 2025 was his first real exposure as a starter at the Major League level (he pitched 42 innings in 2024 but only as a reliever). 

Look out soon for part 2 by Philip Ruo, which looks at the 20th through 16th player assets in the Royals system!