Kevin O'Brien

Image courtesy of © Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images Priority number one for Royals GM JJ Picollo has been acquiring a couple of outfielders to boost the lineup in 2026. He made that clear in many interviews during the Winter Meetings in Orlando this week, pointing out that they would hit the free-agent and trade markets this winter to accomplish those goals. However, that isn't the lone need roster-wise this offseason. According to Anne Rogers of MLB.com, Kansas City is also interested in acquiring a left-handed reliever who can specialize in getting left-handed hitters out. The Royals currently have three lefties projected to be in the bullpen on Opening Day in 2026, according to Roster Resource: Angel Zerpa, Daniel Lynch IV, and Bailey Falter. That said, based on Rogers' report, it seems like the Royals are looking for a boost in left-handed relief, or they could be on the verge of trading one of those three this offseason to acquire a much-needed bat. There aren't a ton of left-handed relief options on the free-agent market, according to Spotrac. The highest-profile lefty relievers in terms of market value are Caleb Thielbar ($5.4 million), Brent Suter ($4.4 million), Danny Coulombe ($4.3 million), and Andrew Chafin ($4.2 million). The youngest in the group is Chafin, who is 35. Hence, many of the lefties they could acquire on the free-agent market will not just be expensive but may not be worth more than a one-year deal, given their ages. One out-of-the-box option could be Foster Griffin, a former Royals draft pick who has spent the last three years in NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball) with the Tokyo Giants. After posting a 1.62 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 1.78 FIP in 78 IP with the Giants last season, Griffin announced his intention to return to Major League Baseball in 2026. Given his time in Japan, it isn't easy to gauge his value or the interest of other teams this offseason. However, Griffin could be the lefty that the Royals desire this offseason, and he could also hold some long-term value as well, as he is just 30 years old. Let's dive into Griffin's background, both in the States and Japan, and what he could bring to the Royals' pitching staff next season. Former Royals First Round Pick Struggled With Injury and Generating Strikeouts Griffin has a long history with the Royals, as he was drafted 28th overall in the 2014 MLB Draft. The tall, projectable lefty, drafted out of The First Academy in Florida, had a rocky start in the Royals' system. Initially, Griffin struggled to strike batters out at each level in the Royals' farm system. From 2014 to 2017, across Rookie to Double-A ball, he posted a K rate over 20% just once (26.1% in High-A in 2017). As a result, his ERA numbers fluctuated over those four years. In 2014, he posted a 3.21 ERA in 28 IP in Rookie ball. In 2015, he had a 5.44 ERA in 102.2 IP in Low-A ball. In 2016, he had a 5.43 ERA in 132.2 IP across Low-A and High-A ball. And in 2017, his best season in the Minor Leagues at that point in his career, he put up a 3.35 ERA in 161.1 IP across the High-A and Double-A levels. His strong performance earned him a spot in the Futures game that season in Miami. When the strikeouts have been up, better results have tended to follow for Griffin in the Minor Leagues. In 2020, during the COVID pandemic, Griffin made his MLB debut. However, he suffered an elbow injury in his first career appearance (1.2 IP), and he underwent Tommy John surgery shortly after. The lefty was able to return in 2021, posting a 3.81 ERA, 23.1% K rate, and 1.29 WHIP in 52 IP in the Minor Leagues that season (which spanned from the Low-A to Triple-A levels). Griffin was able to make his way back to the Royals in 2022 after posting a 1.93 ERA and 29.4% K rate in Triple-A Omaha. However, his return to the big leagues was difficult, as he posted a 12.46 ERA, 5.65 FIP, and -8.3 K-BB%. As a result, the Royals designated him for assignment, and he was traded to the Blue Jays for right-handed pitcher Jonatan Bernal. Griffin primarily pitched in Triple-A Buffalo for the Blue Jays organization, posting a 2.31 ERA, 24.8% K rate, and 3.21 FIP in 23 IP. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough for him to earn much of a chance in Toronto, as he only made one appearance with the Blue Jays. When looking at his metrics via TJ Stats, Griffin leaned heavily on his cutter at the Major League level with mixed results. Between 6.1 IP with the Royals and Blue Jays, Griffin posted a 97 TJ Stuff+ overall. His cutter rated as his best pitch overall with a 102 TJ Stuff+, 56 grade, and 71.4% zone rate. While he did flood the zone well (54.1% overall zone rate), he struggled to generate chase (15.7%), whiff (25%), and gave up a lot of hard contact (.453 xwOBACON). As a result of these mediocre metrics, the Blue Jays released him at the conclusion of the 2022 season, and he signed with the Yomiuri Giants of the NPB (based in Tokyo). Turning Things Around in Tokyo With the Yomiuri Giants The move to Japan was a revelation for Griffin, who became a bona fide ace in his three seasons with the Giants. In 54 appearances and 315.2 IP with the Giants, he posted a 2.50 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and a 4.55 K/BB ratio. He showcased excellent command with Yomiuri and limited the long ball in his tenure in the NPB. He posted HR/FB rates of 8.6% and 9.3% in 2023 and 2024 before posting a NPB career-low rate of 1.6%. Griffin also did an excellent job of not just limiting home runs but also inducing strong groundball rates with the Giants. That is evidenced by his 53.3%, 47.8%, and 48.9% groundball rates in 2023, 2024, and 2025, respectively. The strikeouts also improved and remained stable in his three-year tenure in Japan. From 2023 to 2025, he posted strikeout rates of 23.3%, 26.9%, and 25.1%, respectively. Considering the troubles some USA-born pitchers have had in their transition to the NPB (cough...Trevor Bauer...cough), Griffin's excellent performance in his three seasons with the Giants should be lauded. Griffin looked easy and dominant at times on the mound, as illustrated in this nine-strikeout performance he had last season against the Seibu Lions. In three seasons with the Yomiuri Giants, Griffin looked every bit like the ace the Royals were hoping he would develop into when they drafted him in the first round in the 2014 MLB Draft. What Could He Bring to the Pitching Staff in Kansas City? Obviously, the results were much better for Griffin in Tokyo than in the Minor Leagues here in the States. However, what was the difference for Griffin over the past three seasons? A lot could be credited to his change in pitch mix. That included the addition of a splitter and slider to his arsenal, as well as heavier usage of the four-seamer and less usage of the cutter. Below is a look at his pitch arsenal last year with the Giants, along with metrics for each pitch, including usage, velocity, strike rate, whiff rate, and batting average against. As Royals fans can see above, Griffin's most-thrown pitches were his four-seamer (39.2% usage), slider (18.2%), cutter (16.2%), and changeup (10.6%). He threw the knuckle curve (5.8%), splitter (5.7%), and two-seamer (4.3%) more sparingly. However, his seven-pitch mix last year was much more robust than his four-pitch repertoire back in 2022. His changeup, splitter, and slider were his best offerings in terms of whiff rate, as they generated rates of 50%, 42.9%, and 37.8%, respectively. While the four-seamer didn't create a ton of whiff (13.8%), he threw strikes with it (48.1% strike rate) and limited productive contact (.232 batting average against). Even though Griffin averaged only 90.2 MPH on the four-seamer, he was able to attack hitters with the offering on the edges, especially left-handed ones, as illustrated in the clip below. The four-seamer was not a great swing-and-miss offering. Still, it set up his other offerings well, especially his changeup and slider, his primary offspeed and breaking offerings, respectively. His changeup was his best swing-and-miss pitch, as it sported a 50% whiff rate. The pitch had similar movement to his four-seamer but considerable vertical drop and a sizable velocity difference (8.6 MPH, specifically). Those factors helped produce nasty whiffs like this one below. When it came to his slider, the breaking offering averaged 80.3 MPH, an even greater velocity drop from the four-seamer (9.9 MPH difference). That helped him induce a whiff rate of 37.8% on the pitch. Griffin's slider was not a loopy one but a late-breaking one, which contributed heavily to his success with it during his tenure with the Giants. The pitch was a nasty offering, especially for left-handed hitters, as seen in the clip below against the Lions. Griffin presents a unique weapon for Kansas City, should JJ Picollo opt to sign him this offseason. As seen in the clips below and in his overall numbers, the 30-year-old lefty can be an effective middle-innings reliever who can shut down left-handed batters in key spots, at the very least. His seven-pitch arsenal is diverse enough to be effective over 1-3 innings stretches, which is what the Royals need over the course of a full 162-game season. Furthermore, there could be some spot starter upside with Griffin as well, should they decide to commit to him with a multi-year deal. Griffin could bring that flexibility to the Royals' pitching staff, as Michael Lorenzen did a year ago, seamlessly jumping between the bullpen and rotation. The Giants rode him heavily as a starter over the past three years in the NPB, but his mix and stuff are good enough to handle shorter stints (and may play up more in those spots as well). That said, should injury hit the Royals' rotation, Griffin could handle a starting stint better than other lefties like Lynch or Falter, who have been starters in the past. Griffin may not have the MLB pedigree of other free-agent relievers currently available. That said, Griffin's combination of intriguing pitch arsenal, relative youth, and versatility should make him a target for Picollo and the Royals. He could stabilize the bullpen not just for next year, but beyond as well. View full article

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. 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 View full rumor

Yeah, I thought the Avila quote was the most interesting of the bunch. He looked really good as a reliever and I figured he would stay in the role considering how packed the rotation was. When he said that they were looking to have him start the year as a starter, it did make me think that they would be looking to trade another starter as well.

Image courtesy of John Bonnes/DiamondCentric The Winter Meetings are in full swing, and that has included managers holding press conferences this week. These press conferences allow managers to reflect on the past season, while also looking forward to the 2026 campaign, with pitchers and catchers reporting in a few months. John Bonnes of Diamondcentric was able to attend the press conference of Royals manager Matt Quatraro on Monday. In Quatraro's press conference, the fourth-year Kansas City skipper touched on key players' performances from last season and elaborated on their outlooks for the upcoming season. While the Royals are still constructing their roster this offseason, Quatraro discussed four players who are likely to be key members of a 2026 Kansas City squad looking to return to the postseason. Thus, let's look at those four players, what Quatraro said about them, and what it could mean as the Royals iron out their roster this winter in preparation for Spring Training. Carter Jensen Will Be Key Part of 2026 Team Quatraro gushed about Jensen and his performance in September last season. In 69 plate appearances, Jensen hit .300 with a .941 OPS and collected three home runs, scored 12 runs, and had 13 RBI. The rookie catcher and local Kansas City-grown product didn't get a whole lot of time behind the plate in his MLB debut, as Quatraro opted to use Salvador Perez and Luke Maile as the Royals' primary catchers down the stretch (which Quatraro admitted in his press conference). However, the Royals manager pointed out that Jensen adapted quickly at the Major League level, especially defensively. Thus, it sounds like the Park Hill High School product will be a crucial part of this Royals roster next spring, as illustrated in the quote below. With Maile becoming a free agent and Luca Tresh not being added to the 40-man roster (he is eligible for Wednesday's Rule 5 Draft), it seems like Jensen is slotted to be the Royals' primary backup catcher for 2026. It will be interesting to see if Quatraro utilizes him similarly to Freddy Fermin, whose strong play the past couple of seasons allowed Perez to get more time at first base and DH, which saved his legs and energy, and preserved his power at the plate. Royals Take Blame for Jonathan India and His 2025 Struggles It seems like the Royals believe that India can bounce back in 2026 after a rough debut season in Kansas City. In 567 plate appearances with the Royals last year, India hit .233 with a .669 OPS. He hit just nine home runs and scored 63 runs, the latter his lowest mark in that category since 2022, his second MLB season. Despite the heavy regression, the Royals opted to bring India back for 2026, agreeing to an $8 million deal this offseason. In Quatraro's press conference, the Royals manager mentioned that moving him around between third base, left field, and second base contributed heavily to his offensive struggles a season ago. If India is not traded away this offseason (I mentioned it as a possibility in my Luis Robert Jr. trade piece), Quatraro will likely keep him solely at second and lower in the batting order to ease the pressure and help him get off to a better start at the plate in 2026. A strong start offensively could help him recapture the productive player that he was in Cincinnati. Jac Caglianone Is Seen As Another Bounce-Back Candidate "Cags-Mania" was all the rage when Caglianone was called up on June 2nd. Unfortunately, the 2024 first-round pick and former Royals top prospect struggled in his Royals rookie debut last season. In 232 plate appearances, Caglianone slashed .157/.237/.295 with a .532 OPS. He hit seven home runs and posted a 12% barrel rate, but he struggled immensely with pitch recognition. That was evidenced by his 38.5% chase rate, 26.8% whiff rate, and 22.4% strikeout rate. He also had lackluster Statcast batted-ball metrics, especially when it came to launching the ball. Despite the rookie's struggles, Quatraro was optimistic about the growth he made at the plate after returning from his Triple-A rehab assignment last season and his outlook for the upcoming season. He also mentioned that a slow start to his MLB career didn't help things, either. Considering he's only 22 years old, Caglianone will likely get more of a leash to prove himself in 2026 than India, who will be a free agent after next season. Nonetheless, much like the Royals' second baseman, it seems Quatraro is planning for Caglianone to be part of the outfield picture in 2026, even if Kansas City acquires a couple of outfielders this offseason (which is their offseason priority, according to reports). Luinder Avila May Be Part of Rotation Mix in 2026 Avila ranked No. 13 in our latest prospect rankings, and he is coming off a solid MLB debut in 2025. In 13 outings and 14 IP, the 24-year-old righty posted a 1.29 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 2.05 xERA. He showed excellent command, with a 28.7% K rate, a 10.7% walk rate, and 17.9% K-BB%. He only had a 25.2% CSW (called-strike plus whiff), but he limited productive contact, as illustrated by a 29.2% hard-hit rate allowed and 50% groundball rate. The Venezuelan pitcher was primarily utilized out of the bullpen in Kansas City, but he made 12 starts in Omaha, albeit to mixed results. With the Storm Chasers, he posted a 5.01 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in 59.2 IP in Triple-A. However, his FIP looked a lot better at 4.09. Though Avila looked stellar in the Royals bullpen in 2025, it seems like Quatraro and the Royals brass aren't shutting the door on Avila starting next season, even at the Major League level, as demonstrated in Quatraro's quote below. The Royals have been floating a lot of starting pitchers in trade talks, with Ryan Bergert, Stephen Kolek, and Noah Cameron mentioned today as possible candidates, according to MLB.com Royals beat writer Anne Rogers. Avila may be on the outside looking in when it comes to making the Royals' Opening Day rotation. However, if Royals starters are traded away or perhaps get hurt in Spring Training, it wouldn't be surprising to see Avila slide into the No. 4 or No. 5 spot in the Kansas City rotation to begin the season. The ability to seamlessly flip-flop between the rotation and the bullpen could help him make the Opening Day roster. View full article

Image courtesy of © Tim Heitman-Imagn Images On Tuesday evening, Major League Baseball conducted the MLB Draft lottery. After an 82-80 season, the Royals entered the lottery with the third-lowest odds to get the No. 1 pick (0.84%). Only the Mets (0.67%) and the Astros (0.34%) had lower odds than the Royals. However, after some years of tough lottery luck (they fell out of the top six despite having the second-best lottery odds in 2023), they jumped their projected draft position, which was No. 16, and landed the No. 6 pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. The No. 6 pick gives the Royals increased slot money and more flexibility in the 2026 Draft. After being awarded a competitive balance round pick this offseason, they will hold the sixth, 31st, and 56th picks in the upcoming draft. Having three picks in the Top-60 will give JJ Picollo and scouting director Brian Bridges millions more in bonus money to play with, which could help them net some much-needed top-end talent. It's still early, but Kansas City could be in play to select a top college outfielder, such as Georgia Tech's Drew Burress and LSU's Derek Curiel, or prep left-handed pitcher Carson Bolemon, according to MLB Pipeline's Top-100 2026 MLB Draft prospects. The No. 6 selection could also allow the Royals to trade their competitive balance round pick at No. 31 to net a high-profile player or larger prospect package. The Royals have traded their competitive balance round pick twice: in 2022 (with Atlanta in the Drew Waters trade) and 2024 (with Washington in the Hunter Harvey trade). The 2026 MLB Draft will be at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia during All-Star Week, with the first round taking place on Saturday, July 11th. The remaining rounds will take place on Sunday, July 12th, and Monday, July 13th. View full article

Yep. Plus Robert has a club option for 2027 so the Royals have flexibility there to part ways with him if it goes badly or perhaps flip him to someone if he bounces back. You wouldn't get that kind of flexibility with a three-year deal with Bader, which seems to be most likely option right now.

Yeah, I agree. The market isn't there and guys like Bader are going to be more expensive than they're worth. We also saw the boost Andrew Vaughn had when he moved from CHI to MKE. The fact that we have a guy in Dawson who came from that coaching staff makes me think Robert could experience a similar kind of bounceback, especially since he's in winning environment.

I agree with both of your points. I don't think Robert should be the highlight of the offseason by any means. And I don't think he needs to be, because if you can offload India and Falter's salaries, it's essentially paying $8-10 million for a free agent. As Picollo said, they need two outfielders, so this would be the trade option, which would then perhaps allow for a bigger splash in free agency (or a bigger trade, since they're not giving up any prospect capital). It would be an interesting one for White Sox for sure. However, I get the feeling that they're selling much lower than before. I think you can probably substitute Tolbert for maybe a higher-rated prospect in the 20-30 range, maybe 15. However, I think they realized that the ship on getting a top prospect for Robert has sailed and they want to get something while they still can (while also getting his salary off books).

As Royals fans can see from above, Robert tops the other three Royals outfielders in not just wOBA, but xwOBA as well. He also compares well with Jac Caglianone in terms of batted-ball and barrel skills, which is encouraging, especially considering Caglianone was so well-known for those two skills as a prospect. While Robert still needs work, the upside of bringing Robert in is that the Royals have a new hitting coach staff who not only could help him, but are also familiar with him. Obviously, Alec Zumwalt knows Robert quite well after playing against him for so many seasons. That said, the new assistant hitting coach, Marcus Thames, also worked closely with Robert in Chicago. That familiarity could help, especially since Thames will be able to do more work individually with Robert in Kansas City than he could in Chicago, when he had to run the entire team hitting program. That kind of attention could be the boost Robert needs to help him turn his career around after two subpar seasons by his standards (1.9 fWAR combined over the past two seasons). Robert Brings a Solid Defensive and Baserunning Profile While the Royals had a Gold Glove-caliber outfielder in Isbel, the rest of the outfield was pretty mediocre in 2025, based on Fielding Run Value. The Royals ranked 16th in the league in FRV with a -1 mark, a six-run drop from their 2024 mark, when they ranked 8th in outfield FRV. Thus, it's important for the Royals not just to find a solid-hitting outfielder but one that can hold his own defensively in Kauffman's spacious dimensions. Robert fits that mold perfectly. Last season, the 28-year-old produced a +7 FRV and +7 OAA. Based on Statcast OAA box plot data chart, Robert showed an ability to cover all kinds of ground in center field. Robert could easily play one of the corner outfield spots against right-handed starting pitchers (most likely left field) and play center field when the Royals face left-handed starting pitchers. That's the kind of defensive versatility and value Kansas City has been missing the past couple of seasons, especially from outfielders who hit in the middle of the lineup (which Robert would). Another positive of Robert's profile is that he is a solid baserunner, which fits in manager Matt Quatraro's aggressive philosophy. In 2024, the Royals ranked fifth in baserunning runs above average with a +9 mark, according to Statcast. Last season, they ranked 24th in baseball with a -4 mark. That's a 13-run difference and honestly, a key contributor to why they won four fewer games in 2025. As for Robert, he produced +2 runs on the basepaths last year, with three of those runs coming on stolen bases. That led all White Sox players with 10 or more opportunities, according to Statcast. Furthermore, Robert's 33 stolen bases would've ranked second among Royals players last season. Thus, the White Sox centerfielder would boost the Royals not just at the plate, but in the field and on the basepaths in 2026. A Trade That Could Work for the White Sox and Royals There's no question that Robert presents a financial challenge for the Royals with his $20 million salary for 2026. However, the Royals could trade a couple of bad contracts to the White Sox in exchange for taking Robert off their books. The Royals tendered deals to pitcher Bailey Falter and second baseman Jonathan India this offseason, with India agreeing to an $8 million contract on November 22nd. Falter is still in the negotiation process. The White Sox already have a second baseman of the future in Chase Meidroth. However, they may be open to having India around as insurance and to provide some veteran leadership on the club. India could be a good mentor for Meidroth, and India could take on designated hitter duties for a White Sox lineup that ranked 28th in OPS and 27th in runs scored. As for Falter, he is out of Minor League options and may be a better fit for the White Sox rotation, who have bigger question marks in the No. 4 and 5 spots. New White Sox pitching coach Zach Bove has familiarity with Falter, and thus, could get the most out of the lefty. Furthermore, Falter could end up being a nice trade piece at the Trade Deadline if he bounces back. To balance out the trade, based on Baseball Trade Value surplus value, reliever Brandon Eisert would be thrown into the deal along with Robert. Eisert posted a 4.54 FIP last year in 69.2 IP and could be a nice middle-innings arm for the Royals, who could thrive under the Royals' pitching coach team. Here's the trade in its entirety, via BTV. Their model validated this deal as a fair trade for both sides. This deal could be a win-win for both Kansas City and Chicago. The White Sox get a couple of possible Trade Deadline flip pieces, and the Royals get a lineup-changing outfielder and a reliever who could add some depth to the bullpen (who also has Minor League options). Of course, Robert has to stay healthy to make this deal a valuable one for the Royals in 2026. However, if he does, then Kansas City may get an All-Star-caliber player for next season, which will help them in their quest to return to the postseason. View full article

On Monday evening, Brian McTaggart, a Houston Astros beat writer for MLB.com, wrote that the Kansas City Royals and Cincinnati Reds are two teams that have been talking with the Astros during the Winter Meetings about acquiring outfielder Jake Meyers. Meyers is coming off one of the best seasons of his career in 2025, making him a candidate for a more extended role with another team next season. In 104 games and 381 plate appearances, the University of Nebraska product hit .292 with a 107 wRC+. He also hit three home runs, stole 16 bases, and accumulated a fWAR of 2.3, a career-high. Meyers doesn't offer a whole lot of power, and his batted-ball metrics are a bit questionable. However, he shows strong plate discipline (0.46 BB/K ratio) and strong contact ability, as seen below in his TJ Stats summary from last season. Though he hits right-handed, Meyers actually had reverse splits last season. Against lefties, he posted a 0.27 BB/K ratio and 93 wRC+ in 71 plate appearances. Against righties, he posted a 0.50 BB/K ratio and 111 wRC+. Over his career, however, he has a 110 wRC+ against lefties and an 85 wRC+ against righties, so 2025 may have been an aberration. If acquired, the 29-year-old outfielder would likely split time in centerfield with Kyle Isbel, who has a career 64 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers. However, Isbel has cemented his place as the Royals' primary center fielder over the past three seasons due to his excellent defense. He posted a +12 OAA and +10 FRV last season, which earned him a nod as a Gold Glove finalist. Meyers offers the same defensive upside. Last year, he posted a +9 OAA and +8 FRV. He also posted OAA and FRV of +13 and +11, respectively, in 2024. Thus, the defense in centerfield wouldn't miss a beat with Meyers. McTaggart mentioned that the Astros are looking to acquire young starting pitching this offseason. Kris Bubic appears to be an early target for Houston, and could be part of a deal involving Meyers. While Bubic is coming off an injury and is a free agent after 2026, the Astros may need to throw something else in a trade package with Meyers to solidify a deal with Kansas City. Bubic made his first All-Star team last year and posted a 2.55 ERA, 2.89 FIP, and 3.3 fWAR in 116.1 IP before his season ended due to a shoulder injury. A straight-up trade of Meyers for Bubic may be light on the Royals' end, so it will be interesting to see what talks develop between Houston and Kansas City over the coming days in Orlando. Photo Credit: © Ken Blaze-Imagn Images View full rumor

Image courtesy of © Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images One of the highlights of the MLB Winter Meetings is the Rule 5 Draft, which typically concludes the annual event. The Rule 5 Draft is a way for teams not only to get better inexpensively, but also for prospects blocked or overlooked in their system to get an opportunity with another organization. Here is a full definition of the Rule 5 Draft, according to the MLB.com website: Some famous Rule 5 selections include pitcher Johan Santana, infielder Dan Uggla, and outfielders Josh Hamilton and Shane Victorino. Brad Keller is an example of a selection who recently found success with the Royals, as the Royals selected him in the 2017 Rule 5 Draft. The Royals have two spots open on the 40-man roster. Thus, it's possible that they could add someone in the Rule 5 Draft on Wednesday. However, in this post, we are going to look at players in the Royals system who are eligible and could get selected by other teams in the Rule 5 Draft. Typically, rebuilding teams use the Rule 5 Draft to add talent. Let's look at five Royals candidates who may be selected, including three pitchers and two position players. Felix Arronde, RHP (Highest Level Played: High-A) Arronde may be the Royals' most high-profile prospect available in the Rule 5 Draft. He's rated as our No. 12 prospect in the Royals system and is ranked No. 13 by MLB Pipeline. Arronde pitched primarily in High-A Quad Cities last year, posting a 2.80 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 26 appearances (24 starts) and 128.2 IP. The 22-year-old righty has moved slowly in the Royals' system, but provides an intriguing profile that could have some upside as an end-of-the-rotation arm or middle-innings reliever. Arronde didn't strike out a ton of batters in 2025, as he only sported a 19.5% K rate. However, he demonstrates solid control and command. Last season, he posted a 2.40 BB/K ratio, an 11.4 K-BB%, and a 26.5% CSW (highlighted by a 12.1% swinging-strike rate), according to Fangraphs. Furthermore, the Dominican native has an intriguing three-pitch mix with a changeup that rates as a plus pitch, according to MLB Pipeline. When the changeup is clicking, he can pile up strikeouts in bunches, as illustrated at times last season with the River Bandits. Arronde has the size (6'3) and the pitching ability to be a fringe MLB reliever right now, which a rebuilding club may need. The only question with Arronde is that he hasn't faced much high-level competition, which could dampen his outlook in Wednesday's draft. Still, for a team willing to be patient, Arronde is an arm who could offer significant long-term upside, as long as that club is willing to allow some growing pains throughout the 2026 season. Javi Vaz, 2B/OF (Highest Level Played: Double-A) A former Vanderbilt product and 15th-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, Vaz was getting some dark-horse prospect buzz going into 2025, especially after getting an invite to Spring Training last March. In 2024, in 523 plate appearances with Double-A Northwest Arkansas, he slashed .263/.375/.379 with a .754 OPS and 117 wRC+. He also hit eight home runs, scored 80 runs, and stole 16 bases with the Naturals. Vaz started the year again with Northwest Arkansas, and the expectation was that he would eventually matriculate to Triple-A Omaha at some point. However, that promotion never happened, as Vaz stagnated at the plate with the Naturals last season. As a 24-year-old, the utility player slashed .256/.360/.326 with a .685 OPS and 99 wRC+. The power, which wasn't plentiful to begin with, dropped dramatically last season. He hit only three home runs, and his ISO fell from .115 in 2024 to .070 in 2025. Hence, the Royals opted not to add him to the 40-man roster this offseason, making him eligible to be selected in the Rule 5 Draft. Even though he hasn't played Triple-A ball, Vaz is more than capable of playing in the Majors as a utility guy off the bench. Despite a lack of power, his plate discipline has long been his best tool. He's sported a BB/K ratio over one the past three seasons, including a 1.26 mark in 2025. He also has a high-contact approach, which could be valued by a team that is looking for someone to put the ball in play. When looking at his AA metrics from TJ Stats, he had a Z-Contact% of 91.4% and an O-Swing% of 22.9%, both stellar marks. He also saw his wOBA increase dramatically at the end of the season after a slow start, as shown in his rolling wOBA chart in the TJ Stats profile below. There isn't a ton of long-term upside with selecting Vaz, but he could be a nice bench piece for a club that can provide immediate value in multiple areas in 2026. Chandler Champlain, RHP (Highest Level Played: Triple-A) Drafted by the Yankees initially, Champlain is a prime example of why Triple-A pitching metrics should be taken with a grain of salt. In 29 appearances (25 starts) and 119.1 IP, the former USC product posted a 7.84 ERA, 1.77 WHIP, and 5.46 FIP with the Storm Chasers. When looking at those numbers, it wouldn't make sense for a team to spend a Rule 5 pick on the 26-year-old righty. However, when delving deeper into his profile, one can see why a team might take a flier on Champlain, despite his awful stat line a year ago. First off, Champlain probably isn't a starter, and the Storm Chasers began transitioning him to the bullpen at the end of last season. In his last four appearances of the year, all in relief, he posted a 19.4% K rate, 13.9% K-BB%, and a 1.50 WHIP. His ERA was high at 5.63, but his FIP was a lot more palatable at 2.50. Hence, in a more limited role, the 2021 ninth-round selection could thrive, even at the Major League level. He doesn't walk batters, and he also does a good job of inducing groundballs, as illustrated by his 41.5% groundball rate. In terms of stuff, Champlain's fastball pitches, particularly his four-seamer and sinker, are not great. However, his breaking pitches rate much better, so it's not like Champlain is working with a completely bare cupboard, arsenal-wise. His slider had a 101 TJ Stuff+ rating, and his sweeper had a 100 rating. His curveball and changeup also sported TJ Stuff+ marks of 99 and 98, respectively. Thus, he has four pitches that rate either slightly above or slightly below average, which gives him potential, especially in a move to the bullpen, where his stuff may play out better. He also has demonstrated solid strike-throwing ability with those pitches, as illustrated by his overall 50.8% zone rate. A team may select Champlain in the Rule 5 and tweak his mix (maybe throw the four-seamer less) and some of the grips on his pitches to help them increase velocity and movement, which in turn could help improve the TJ Stuff+ marks on those offerings overall. He's been seen as a Top-20 prospect in the Royals system before, so that former pedigree could convince a club to take a flier on him on Wednesday, with the hope that their pitching development team can mold him quickly in Spring Training. Luca Tresh, C (Highest Level Played: Triple-A) Tresh may be the victim of a Royals system that is incredibly deep at the catching position. Not only is Salvador Perez firmly entrenched in Kansas City (and for at least two more seasons after signing an extension this offseason), but top prospect Carter Jensen had a sensational rookie debut last September, and Blake Mitchell and Ramon Ramirez remain Top-10 prospects in the Royals system as well. That said, the 2021 17th-round pick had a great year in Triple-A Omaha and could be seen as a potential backup for a rebuilding team in 2026. Last season with the Storm Chasers, Tresh slashed .259/.321/.473 with a .794 OPS and 103 wRC+ in 271 plate appearances. He also hit 10 home runs and collected 37 RBI. This was despite spending time splitting catching duties with Jensen, who primarily played in Omaha in 2025. When looking at his Statcast profile via TJ Stats, the former NC State product demonstrated an ability to barrel and pull balls in the air, as well as to swing aggressively at pitches in the strike zone. The primary concerns with his Statcast profile are that he didn't hit the ball consistently hard (37th percentile hard-hit rate) despite barrels, and that he chases (21st percentile O-Swing%) while walking little (16th percentile BB%). However, for a backup catcher, where most of the value comes from behind the plate, this kind of profile is more than welcome. Tresh isn't as athletic as Jensen or even Mitchell, and while he calls a solid game, he doesn't possess the arm strength of other catching prospects in the Royals system. He threw out 12 runners on 96 attempts last year, a 13% rate. That's okay, but it's nothing special, which probably explains why the Royals opted not to protect Tresh in the Rule 5 Draft, especially with Jensen likely going to be the backup in 2026. Nonetheless, a team willing to select Tresh could get an immediate backup catcher who could grow into a starting role, much like former Royals-produced catcher Freddy Fermin, who is the primary catcher now in San Diego. Beck Way, RHP (Highest Level Played: Triple-A) Like Champlain, the stats were rough for Way in Omaha last year, his first go-around in Triple-A. In 23 appearances and 38 IP with the Storm Chasers, Way posted a 6.87 ERA, 1.79 WHIP, and 7.23 FIP. The former fourth-round pick struggled with control and command in Triple-A, as illustrated by his 0.92 K/BB ratio, -1.1% K-BB%, and 25.4% CSW. However, he was much better earlier in the year in Double-A Northwest Arkansas. In 23 appearances and 36.1 IP with the Naturals, he posted a 4.95 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, and 4.55 FIP. He also produced a 1.94 BB/K ratio, 9.2% K-BB%, and a 28.8% CSW. While those aren't great metrics, they are certainly better than what he produced in Omaha. What makes Way an enticing Rule 5 option for teams is that while the control was erratic, the stuff certainly wasn't. That is illustrated in his TJ Stats metrics from his time in Omaha, shown below. Way sported three pitches with TJ Stuff+ marks over 100 (cutter, sweeper, and changeup), and all four of his offerings sported grades of 55 or higher. His best offering was his sweeper, which not only had a 118 TJ Stuff+ and 69 grade, but also generated a 41.4% whiff rate. Thus, the strikeout ability is there, and he has some prospect buzz after pitching in the Arizona Fall League a couple of years ago. While Way doesn't have the prospect pedigree of Arronde or even Champlain, I believe Way may be the most likely pitcher selected on Wednesday, due to the encouraging stuff numbers. The Royals acquired him because his high-velocity arm certainly can be a weapon in the bullpen at the MLB level. However, he just hasn't shown the control to be a viable option in the big leagues yet, especially on a team with playoff aspirations. However, on a rebuilding team? Way may receive more patience, which could help him thrive not just in 2026, but perhaps long-term as a late-innings, high-leverage reliever (he had 12 saves in Double-A Northwest Arkansas in 2024). View full article

On Sunday morning, Jaylon Thompson, Royals beat writer for the Kansas City Star, mentioned that the Royals are reportedly interested in reuniting with outfielder Mike Yastrzemski and utility player Adam Frazier. Both players were acquired in trades last season, with Frazier being acquired at the All-Star Break and Yastrzemski at the Trade Deadline. Here's what Thompson said about Yastrzemski and Frazier coming back in his piece, essentially a Royals Winter Meetings Preview on the KC Star. Frazier played with the Royals in 2024 and was a key member of a squad that made it to the ALDS. While he only posted a 65 wRC+ and -0.5 fWAR in 294 plate appearances, he seemed to be a leader in the clubhouse and helped mentor many of the young hitters on the Royals roster. He was much better in his return to Kansas City in 2025, as evidenced by a 98 wRC+ and 0.6 fWAR in 197 plate appearances. Yastrzemski would be the more impactful acquisition of the pair. As mentioned in Thompson's piece, he hit nine home runs in 50 games, and he also posted a 127 wRC+ and 1.3 fWAR in 186 plate appearances. The former San Francisco Giant can also play all three outfield positions and brings a disciplined approach to the plate. He posted a 1.14 BB/K ratio in his tenure with the Royals last season. Yastrzemski will likely be looking for a multi-year deal, which may be tough for Kansas City to offer, considering Yastrzemski will be 36 years old in August. He is also limited in terms of splits, as he has a career .211 average and a 79 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers. In addition to Frazier and Yastrzemski, Thompson mentioned outfielders Austin Hays and Harrison Bader as free-agent options, and Luis Robert Jr. as a trade option the Royals could pursue this week in Orlando during the meetings. It was not reported whether the Royals have spoken with those players or if they are just seen as possible fits given Kansas City's offensive needs for 2026. Photo Credit: © David Richard-Imagn Images View full rumor

Great piece, Kerry, I would be curious about this fit, for as you said, his ability to limit barrels and hard contact cannot be ignored. I know the Royals have valued control and command guys over the past couple of years when it comes to relief acquisitions and they have had some hits (Schreiber, Clarke 2.0, Long 1.0) and some misses (Long 2.0, Smith, Stratton). I am open to Rogers joining the bullpen as long as we get some high velocity arms as well, since K/9 was such an issue for this bullpen a season ago.

I love seeing the positive buzz from Jensen after the Royals system has been dumped on the past few years. The Royals have not made some great decisions in the draft (especially pre-Bridges). Still, I think the system does a good job of scouting and developing players to matriculate to the MLB level better than a lot of orgs that get more prospect love from publications.

Agreed. Read through that and that shows the work that pitching development and the R&D staff are doing in Milwaukee to maximize the pitching talent they have in their org. The Royals have definitely utilized Milwaukee as a blue print for this since JJ took over. Nice for them to get someone in Dawson who has direct experience with the org and bring that to KC.

They need more help in this area next season, as not a single right-handed-hitting Royals outfielder posted a wRC+ in the triple digits. Thankfully, Refsnyder is the ideal solution to that problem, especially with his history against left-handed pitching. Last season, against lefties, the 34-year-old former Arizona Wildcat slashed .302/.399/.560 with a .959 OPS against lefties. He also posted a 0.59 BB/K ratio, a .259 ISO, and 159 wRC+, according to Fangraphs metrics. Over his career, he has a slash line of .281/.383/.443 with an .826 OPS, a 0.64 BB/K ratio, a .162 ISO, and a 129 wRC+. Refsnyder has a proven track record against left-handed starting pitching, sustained over 375 games and 764 plate appearances. Unfortunately, the history against right-handed starting pitching is porous. In 349 games and 759 plate appearances against righties, he has a slash of .229/.301/.332 with a .633 OPS, 0.32 BB/K ratio, .103 ISO, and 76 wRC+. Hence, if the Royals acquire Refsnyder, he would specifically have a role as a platoon specialist against lefties and little else. While that sounds limiting, that kind of weapon can be beneficial, especially over the course of a 162-game season. Refsnyder Could Be a Nice Complement to Caglianone in Right Field It is easy to be pessimistic about Jac Caglianone and his outlook after a rough rookie campaign. In 62 games and 232 plate appearances, he slashed .157/.237/.295 with a .532 OPS and 46 wRC+. He also hit seven home runs, scored 19 runs, collected 18 RBI, and accumulated an fWAR of -1.6. However, while the overall numbers weren't impressive, his batted-ball ability, especially in his exit velocity and barrel metrics, was much more encouraging, as illustrated in his TJ Stats summary profile. Caglianone ranked in the 96th percentile in 90th EV, 81st percentile in Max EV, and 67th percentile in barrel rate. He also ranked in the 78th percentile in pull rate, indicating he can get around the ball on time. Unfortunately, a lackluster LA Sweet-Spot percentage (2nd percentile) led to a less-than-stellar Pull Air% (25th percentile). When things clicked, however, Caglianone could produce bombs like this one in September of last season in Philadelphia against Phillies ace Aaron Nola. Steamer projections have just released their 2026 version, and they are optimistic about Caglianone's outlook for the upcoming season. They project Cagalianone to sport the third-best wRC+ of Royals hitters next season with a 109 mark. Steamer also projects Caglianone to hit 18 home runs, collect 56 RBI, and post a .195 ISO in 419 plate appearances. Hence, Caglianone could take the next step as a hitter and overall star in 2026. Acquiring someone like Refsnyder to give him an occasional break against lefties could be the solution they need. They hold onto Caglianone's long-term value, while acquiring a bat in Refsnyder who could boost their lineup in specific situations next season. That is the kind of decision that good small-market teams make. It is also a solution that could help the Royals return to the postseason in an AL Central division that remains wide open, especially with Cleveland and Detroit having hazy offseasons thus far. View full article