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[Kansas City Royals]

Analyst Believes Royals Prospect Could Have Impact With Team This Season

The Kansas City Royals made the postseason for the first time since winning the World Series in 2015 after finishing with a record of 86-76 and tied for second in the American League Central in 2024.

Not only did the Royals finally get back into the playoffs, but they swept the Baltimore Orioles in the wild-card round before losing to the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series.

This offseason, the Royals made a few acquisitions, including second baseman Jonathan India, relief pitcher Carlos Estevez and outfielder Joey Wiemer.

MLB analyst Jaylon Thompson adds that Royals prospect Jac Caglianone could have an impact on the team in 2025.

“If he’s going to make an impact on the MLB roster, he might have to work on his defensive skills, and he might see some reps in the outfield,” Thompson said, via Foul Territory.

"They want him to hit, that's what they drafted him for."@jaylonthompson says this 2-way @Royals prospect is more likely to be an impact bat. pic.twitter.com/cTW04p1Lsn

— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) February 4, 2025

Caglianone is a 21-year-old who is reported to play both ways including at first base and as a starting pitcher.

After being selected in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft, Caglianone played in the fall league, where his numbers were impressive.

There, he played 21 games and batted .236 with five home runs, 21 RBIs and a .749 OPS.

Thompson mentions that the Royals drafted Caglianone to hit, and five home runs through 21 games proved he is capable of doing so.

The Royals will try to make back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time since 2014 and 2015, and Caglianone could make an impact as they try to accomplish that.

The post Analyst Believes Royals Prospect Could Have Impact With Team This Season appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/analyst...pect-could-have-impact-with-team-this-season/

 

[Kansas City Royals]

Analyst Makes A Big Statement About Bobby Witt Jr.

(Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

The Kansas City Royals were one of three teams out of the American League Central to make the postseason in 2024.

After missing the postseason for the last eight seasons after winning the World Series in 2015, the Royals broke through in 2024.

A key player in the Royals’ 86-win season and playoff berth was their star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.

MLB Network’s Analyst Tom Verducci made a big statement about Witt Jr’s 2024 season.

“This is one of the all-time great seasons by a shortstop,” Verducci said.

"This is one of the all-time great seasons by a shortstop."

Bobby Witt Jr. put up historic numbers for the @Royals in 2024 and it landed him on the AL MVP podium!

pic.twitter.com/q5Lpq7rvXv

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) November 22, 2024

Witt Jr. came into the league with the Royals in 2022 and has improved each season with the team.

In 2024, Witt Jr. played in 161 games and batted .332 with 32 home runs, 109 RBIs, 31 stolen bases, and a .977 OPS.

Verducci pointed out that Witt Jr. won the batting title while having a 30/30 season with 30 plus home runs and 30 plus stolen bases, and he was only the third player to ever do so.

The Royals lost 106 games in 2023, but they were able to turn it around in 2024 and finish with a record of 86 wins and 76 losses.

Witt Jr. had a career-high in games played, runs scored, hits, doubles, home runs, RBIs, walks, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS in 2024.

If Witt Jr. can continue to improve his game each season, he could regularly see his name in the Most Valuable Player conversation.

The Royals will look to put together another winning season in 2025 as they look to make the playoffs two years in a row for the first time since 2014 and 2015.

The post Analyst Makes A Big Statement About Bobby Witt Jr. appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/analyst-makes-a-big-statement-about-bobby-witt-jr/

 

[Kansas City Royals]

Ron Darling Names ‘Best All-Around Player In The Game’

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The Kansas City Royals made their first postseason appearance in nine years after posting a regular season record of 86-76.

After making the AL playoffs as a wild-card team, the Royals swept the series with the Baltimore Orioles.

The Royals then fell to the eventual AL champion New York Yankees in the Division Series.

After winning only 56 games in 2023, the Royals drastically improved, and star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. played a large role in that.

One MLB analyst and former World Series champion recently named Witt Jr. as the best player in baseball.

“I don’t know if he has a ceiling, he’s the best all-around player in our game,” Ron Darling said, via MLB Network.

What is Bobby Witt Jr.'s ceiling?

"I don't know if he has a ceiling… he's the best all-around player in our game." – Ron Darling@Royals | @officialBBWAA pic.twitter.com/1JerhFh5Rd

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) November 15, 2024

Witt debuted with the Royals in 2022 and has improved each season.

This season, Witt played in 161 games and batted .332 with 211 hits, 32 home runs, 109 RBIs, 125 runs scored, 31 stolen bases and a .977 OPS.

Darling points out that Witt improved his defensive game by a large amount, and that was proven by the 24-year-old receiving his first Gold Glove Award.

Although Witt likely won’t win AL MVP over Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, he had one of the best seasons by a shortstop in MLB history.

The Royals have won two World Series championships, with the last coming back in 2015.

Next season, Witt will try to help Kansas City win its first AL Central title since then with eyes on claiming a third World Series crown.

The post Ron Darling Names ‘Best All-Around Player In The Game’ appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/ron-darling-names-best-all-around-player-in-the-game/

 

[Kansas City Royals]

Royals Sign Veteran Pitcher to Three-Year Deal

( Juan DeLeon / Icon Sportswire )

The Kansas City Royals were one of three American League Central teams to make the postseason in 2024 along with the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians.

After pulling off a sweep against the Baltimore Orioles in the wild-card series, the Royals fell to the eventual American League Champion New York Yankees in the American League Division Series.

The Royals made the postseason for the first time since winning the World Series in 2015, and they will look to keep up that momentum in 2025.

With the offseason now underway, the Royals have already signed one of their Veteran pitchers for the next three seasons.

According to MLB on ‘X,’ the Royals signed right-handed pitcher Michael Wacha to a three-year deal with a club option for 2028.

Royals sign RHP Michael Wacha to a three-year deal with a club option for 2028. pic.twitter.com/QwYe24J1yU

— MLB (@MLB) November 3, 2024

Wacha had a solid first season with the Royals as he started 29 games with a record of 13 wins and eight losses and a 3.35 earned run average with 145 strikeouts in 166.2 innings pitched.

The 33-year-old starting pitcher has now played for six different teams with all of them being for only one year except the St. Louis Cardinals where he played seven seasons.

Wacha started two games against the Yankees in the ALDS where he pitched 8.2 innings allowing 10 hits, five earned runs, and four walks while striking out five.

The Royals finished in second place in the AL Central, and they will look to challenge the Guardians for their first AL Central title since 2015 as they prepare for next season.

Although the Royals only have four playoff appearances since 1985, three of them ended with appearances in the World Series.

The post Royals Sign Veteran Pitcher to Three-Year Deal appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/royals-sign-veteran-pitcher-to-three-year-deal/

 

[Kansas City Royals]

Royals Join Elite Club Early In 2024 MLB Season

(Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

The Kansas City Royals have been one of, if not the most surprising team in baseball so far this season and currently sit just 1.5 games out of first place in the AL Central with a 30-19 record.

This is beyond just a hot start, as we are now roughly a third of the way through the season, and the Royals are on pace for 99 wins and are already finding themselves in elite company league-wide.

MLB on FOX shared a post on Twitter that detailed the elite company the Royals have already found themselves in, as the Royals are now the fifth team to reach 30 wins this season, joining the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Cleveland Guardians, and Philadelphia Phillies.

With tonight's victory, the @Royals become the 5th MLB team to reach the 30 win mark this season

pic.twitter.com/VlRh0oWbCo

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 21, 2024

Prior to the season, no one would have been surprised that those other four squads were among the first five to reach 30 wins, but the Royals lost 106 games last year and had the second-worst record in the league.

Nobody could have seen this coming.

Kansas City is already over halfway to last season’s win total, and a big reason why is the resurgence of franchise favorite Salvador Perez.

Perez posted a .714 OPS last season and was starting to look like his career was on its last legs, but he has exploded out of the gate this year to the tune of a .341 average, nine homers, and 38 RBI.

He also has improved upon his biggest weakness over his career with 14 walks already, which is halfway to his career high of 28.

It has been a thrilling ride for Royals fans so far, and they have been one of the best stories to follow through the season’s first two months.

The post Royals Join Elite Club Early In 2024 MLB Season appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/royals-join-elite-club-early-in-2024-mlb-season/

 

[Kansas City Royals]

Insider Makes Strong Claim About Salvador Perez

(Photo by Kyle Rivas/Getty Images)

Kansas City Royals catcher/first baseman Salvador Perez has had an amazing career.

He won the World Series with the Royals in 2015, and was the MVP of that Fall Classic.

He has gone to eight All-Star Games, won five Gold Gloves, and four Silver Slugger awards.

Perez hit his seventh home run of the season on Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays, and is on a really good pace.

He now has 253 career long balls, and he is at a very good age still.

The whole package of achievements and the fact he is still playing at a high level prompted a famous MLB insider to make a strong claim.

“Salvador Pérez is a future Hall of Famer. He should make his 9th @MLB. All-Star team this year — and he only turns 34 next month,” Jon Morosi tweeted.

Salvador Pérez is a future Hall of Famer.

He should make his 9th @MLB All-Star team this year — and he only turns 34 next month. @MLBNetwork @Royals

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) April 25, 2024

While some people might think it’s a rather bold claim, Perez certainly looks on his way to putting together a strong case for being in Cooperstown one day.

253 home runs for a catcher is a fantastic output, and even though he now plays some first base, he is still primarily a backstop.

He might still need to accumulate some other totals for more serious consideration, though: he has 1,443 hits, so he could use some more to pad his case.

While his .763 OPS for his career is not incredibly high, it’s very solid for a catcher.

Voters will surely have a fun debate on their hands when it’s time for Perez to be eligible for the Hall.

The post Insider Makes Strong Claim About Salvador Perez appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/insider-makes-strong-claim-about-salvador-perez/

 

[Kansas City Royals]

Stat Highlights How Elite The Royals Have Been On Defense

(Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

In MLB, useful defensive stats based on range and catch probability are taking over the league and that’s excellent.

They help paint an accurate picture about how good fielders are at making certain high-difficulty plays.

However, there is also value in always making the routine play.

That should be a given for all major leaguers, but you would be surprised at how many players can’t even make routine plays at certain positions.

It’s hard to field capable defensive players on all spots of the diamond, but the Kansas City Royals have done it so far in 2024.

They have done it to such extent that no pitcher on their roster has conceded an unearned run.

“The Royals are the only team in MLB yet to allow an unearned run this season,” MLB Network tweeted.

The Royals are the only team in MLB yet to allow an unearned run this season

pic.twitter.com/I7OhNC4xsx

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) April 19, 2024

All runs that Royals pitchers allowed to this point have been of the earned variety.

It’s not a perfect defense, but it’s definitely a solid unit featuring some impressive glovesmen like Bobby Witt Jr., Maikel Garcia, Adam Frazier, and many more.

Defense and pitching have definitely been behind the Royals’ improvement in 2024.

They are, to this point, real contenders and their second-ranked pitching staff (by ERA, with a 2.79 mark) has been fueling the surge.

The team made a huge investment in the offseason to bring in quality pitchers like Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Chris Stratton, Will Smith, and Matt Sauer, not to mention hitters like Hunter Renfroe.

The expenditure has helped considerably, turning a perennial loser into the second-best team in the AL Central as of Friday with a 12-7 record.

The post Stat Highlights How Elite The Royals Have Been On Defense appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/stat-highlights-how-elite-the-royals-have-been-on-defense/

 

[Kansas City Royals]

Yost returns to Royals as senior advisor to GM


Source: https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/ned-yost-named-royals-senior-advisor-to-gm

 

[Kansas City Royals]

Stat Proves Bobby Witt Jr. Is Playing At An Elite Level

(Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. was instrumental in his team’s sweep of the Houston Astros.

On Thursday, he hit two home runs and drove in five runs to propel the team to a 13-3 win.

We don’t need to tell you Witt is one of the best young players in MLB after he hit 30 home runs and stole 49 bags last year, with a .813 OPS.

We do need to remind you, however, that he might have jumped a tier and joined the elite, at least if we judge his 2024 performance so far.

He is punishing the ball and leading an exciting category.

“Most 110+ mph batted balls, 2024: Bobby Witt Jr.: 9, Juan Soto: 7, Shohei Ohtani: 7, Yordan Alvarez: 5, Miguel Sanó: 5,” MLB stats expert Sarah Langs tweeted.

most 110+ mph batted balls, 2024:

Bobby Witt Jr.: 9
Juan Soto: 7
Shohei Ohtani: 7
Yordan Alvarez: 5
Miguel Sanó: 5

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) April 11, 2024

If you have played baseball, you know what 80, 95, or 110 mph means.

110 mph is an incredibly high exit velocity, and Witt is making these connections seem like they are routine.

He is really locked in at the plate and, as stated, is showing that he might have another gear in him.

In 13 games so far, he has led the Royals to an amazing 9-4 record and has hit a brilliant .358/.414/.755 line with four home runs, eight RBI, and a 1.169 OPS.

He also has three stolen bases already, although he has been caught three times, too.

The Royals are much improved in comparison to what they showed in 2023, and as long as Witt keeps performing like he has, they have a chance to sneak into the postseason.

The season is very, very long and we have seen teams collapse after great starts time and time again.

Witt, however, seems determined to not let that happen.

The post Stat Proves Bobby Witt Jr. Is Playing At An Elite Level appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/stat-proves-bobby-witt-jr-is-playing-at-an-elite-level/

 

[Kansas City Royals]

Royals Welcome A Legend To The Team’s Hall Of Fame

(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

The world hasn’t seen another athlete like Bo Jackson.

That’s an unquestioned fact: no one in the history of American professional sports other than Jackson has been an All-Star in at least two of the major leagues.

The Kansas City Royals, the team with which he is most commonly associated when it comes to baseball, are inducting him to their Hall of Fame.

It’s an entirely deserved recognition for someone who did what no one else had (or has) done.

“Bo is headed to the Hall! Congratulations to Bo Jackson on his election to the Royals Hall of Fame!” the Royals tweeted.

Bo is headed to the Hall!

Congratulations to Bo Jackson on his election to the Royals Hall of Fame! pic.twitter.com/Lp2Qn9G8Ek

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) March 13, 2024

Jackson became famous in the eighties and nineties for being strong, fast, and skilled enough to be an outfielder and a running back.

A former Heisman Trophy winner in 1985, Jackson played in the NFL for the Los Angeles Raiders (1987-90) and in MLB for the Royals, the Chicago White Sox, and California Angels.

The owner of impressive raw power and a cannon of an arm, Jackson made sure to showcase those tools on the field.

With the Royals, he played from 1986 to 1990 and accumulated four 20-homer seasons, peaking at 32 in 1989.

He was a member of the 20-20 club back when few players did it, and according to wRC+ (111 for his career) he was an above-average hitter in MLB.

Strikeouts were always part of his game, but he was always a productive hitter and Royals fans in the 80s remember him fondly.

He will now be enshrined with other team legends.

The post Royals Welcome A Legend To The Team’s Hall Of Fame appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/royals-welcome-a-legend-to-the-teams-hall-of-fame/

 

[Kansas City Royals]

Royals Ace Is Full Of Praise For Superstar Teammate

(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

It’s amazing how the outlook of a franchise can change in a span of just a couple of years.

That’s why it is of vital importance to excel in every aspect of front office management: scouting talent, drafting, trading, spotting international prospects, signing the right free agents, and developing your own players.

You can say that has happened to the Kansas City Royals.

They drafted star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. in 2019 and had him debut in 2022.

They traded for pitcher Cole Ragans, whose career was stagnant in the Texas Rangers, and he turned into an ace in limited time in Kansas City.

Those are just two examples of how the Royals found two legitimate stars.

One is the face of the franchise, and the other is the ace of the staff.

The latter was full of praise about Witt in a recent appearance on Ben Verlander’s podcast.

“‘He’s the perfect guy to build around.’ @Royals SP Cole Ragans had some high praise for his teammate, @BwittJr,” the Flippin’ Bats Podcast tweeted.

"He's the perfect guy to build around."

@Royals SP Cole Ragans had some high praise for his teammate, @BwittJr

Full Interview

https://t.co/zBVSPPY7Xp pic.twitter.com/6XzHm1DEvx

— Flippin' Bats Podcast (@FlippinBatsPod) February 29, 2024

“(Witt) is one of the most special players I’ve seen. He is on every aspect: on the bases, at the batter’s box, and in the field. He puts in the work every day behind the scenes. He is the perfect guy to build around for the future,” Ragans stated.

That’s exactly what the Royals intend to do, signing Witt to an 11-year, $288.7 million deal that could be a bit shorter or even longer depending on certain variables.

Witt just hit 30 home runs and stole 49 bases with a .813 OPS in 2023, while Ragans posted an incredible 2.64 ERA in 71.2 frames after coming over from Texas.

Kansas City hopes to build around those two for a long time.

The post Royals Ace Is Full Of Praise For Superstar Teammate appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/royals-ace-is-full-of-praise-for-superstar-teammate/

 

[Kansas City Royals]

Mets, Royals Discussed Starling Marte Earlier This Offseason

The Royals showed interest in Starling Marte earlier in the offseason, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Those talks obviously didn’t produce a deal, but Sherman adds that Kansas City hasn’t completely closed the door on the possibility. There’s no indication talks are active, but it’s nevertheless notable that the Royals are still interested to an extent. It shows that Kansas City is still weighing options to bring in an outfield bat and that they perhaps have some financial flexibility even with a player payroll that’s nearly $20MM north of last year’s spending levels.

Of course, the Royals wouldn’t be taking on the entirety of Marte’s salary in a trade. The 36-year-old is entering the final season of a four-year, $78MM contract and is owed $19.5MM in 2025. Coming off a pedestrian .269/.327/.388 batting line (104 wRC+), Marte is no longer productive enough for another team to have interest in taking on the full freight of his salary. The Mets have reportedly been willing to pay down a portion of that $19.5MM.

Health is another factor to consider. Marte missed the final seven weeks of the 2023 season with a groin strain and was out for nearly two months last summer due to a bone bruise in his right knee. He’s been hobbled by ongoing discomfort in that same knee this spring and has yet to appear in a game. Manager Carlos Mendoza did suggest yesterday that Marte could get into a game within the next few days (link via Newsday’s Tim Healey), but presumably any team looking into the possibility of acquiring him would want to see the veteran outfielder get into a few games to demonstrate that he’s healthy enough to be considered likely for Opening Day.

The Royals’ interest in Marte makes some sense on paper. They’ve been looking for an outfield bat for much of the offseason and have come up empty. The Royals have looked into various trade targets and reportedly made offers to free agents Anthony Santander and Jurickson Profar, who instead signed with the Blue Jays and Braves, respectively. Last year’s primary outfield of MJ Melendez, Kyle Isbel and Hunter Renfroe was among the least-productive outfield groups in all of MLB. The Royals plan to give trade acquisition Jonathan India and infielder Michael Massey some work in left field this season, but the broad outfield outlook remains bleak if they can’t get a long-awaited Melendez breakout and/or a return to form for the veteran Renfroe.

When the two sides talked earlier in the offseason, per Sherman, the Mets expressed interest in Royals relievers Hunter Harvey and Angel Zerpa. Kansas City understandably didn’t have interest in moving a quality reliever to buy low on an expensive veteran in his mid-30s.

Unless the Mets are willing to take on the second season of a two-year deal for Chris Stratton, who hasn’t panned out as hoped in K.C., it’s hard to envision them prying a member of the Royals’ bullpen away in a Marte swap. Harvey was excellent for much of the 2024 season but struggled in July before landing on the injured list with what proved to be a season-ending back issue in August. He’s being paid $3.7MM this year in his final season of club control. Zerpa isn’t even arb-eligible yet and is controllable through 2028. He posted a 3.86 ERA with a 20.5% strikeout rate, 7.9% walk rate and massive 58.4% grounder rate in 2024. Both are in line to play notable roles for manager Matt Quatraro.

Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/mets-trade-rumors-royals-starling-marte.html

 

[Kansas City Royals]

Adam Duvall Seeking $3MM+ In Free Agency

Adam Duvall remains unsigned a few weeks into Spring Training. That was also the case last offseason. It wasn’t until March 14 that the veteran outfielder inked a $3MM contract with the Braves.

Duvall is evidently seeking a similar or better deal this time around. Joel Sherman of The New York Post reports that the 36-year-old has informed teams that he intends to retire unless he’s guaranteed at least $3MM. To that end, Sherman writes that Duvall declined an offer from the Royals that would’ve come with a $1MM guarantee and another $1MM in performance bonuses.

A $3MM contract isn’t much by major league standards, but Duvall is coming off a much worse season than he was when he signed for that amount last spring. The right-handed hitter had a personal-worst .182/.245/.323 batting line over 330 plate appearances. The Braves kept him on the roster all season but dramatically curtailed his playing time as the year progressed. Duvall started 61 games before the All-Star Break but was in the opening lineup on only 13 occasions in the season’s second half. Atlanta left him off their Wild Card roster.

That’s in marked contrast to his productive 2023 campaign while a member of the Red Sox. Duvall popped 21 homers with a .247/.303/.531 slash through 353 trips to the plate two seasons back. While his strikeout and walk numbers were more or less unchanged year over year, his ground-ball rate jumped by 11 percentage points. Duvall’s average exit velocity ticked down by almost two miles per hour. That unsurprisingly impacted his power production, as he managed only 11 homers in nearly as much playing time as he’d had with Boston.

To his credit, Duvall remained productive in a platoon capacity. He hit .252/.341/.514 with eight of his home runs in 123 plate appearances against left-handers last year. His numbers against righties (.143/.188/.219 with three homers in 207 PAs) were unplayable, but he could perhaps contribute if used more selectively. Kansas City was evidently willing to give him a major league roster spot for that role, presumably as a platoon partner for lefty-swinging left fielder MJ Melendez. Their offer wasn’t to his liking, however.

Duvall has played in parts of 11 MLB seasons. He has a little less than nine years of big league service time. Baseball Reference has calculated his career earnings just north of $27MM. While it’s easy to understand teams’ reluctance to match or top last year’s salary after the season he just had, Duvall has banked a lot of money and seems not to be interested in playing for marginally more than the $760K league minimum at this stage of his career.

Brandon Belt seemingly took a similar approach last winter (when he was coming off a much better season than Duvall is). He reportedly declined an incentive-laden offer from the Mets and wound up sitting out the season. Belt hasn’t made an official retirement announcement, but there was nothing to suggest that he was seeking opportunities this offseason. Anthony Rizzo recently told The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal that while he wants to continue his career, he has rebuffed interest from teams that “want (him) to play for basically league minimum.” Rizzo, who said he’s concerned that taking what he considers to be an offer below his value could contribute to a precedent that hinders other veteran players, remains a free agent.

Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/adam-duvall-seeking-3mm-in-free-agency.html

 

[Kansas City Royals]

Mike Moustakas To Retire

The Royals announced that they will have a ceremony on May 31st to honor Mike Moustakas as he retires as a Royal. Presumably, he will sign a ceremonial one-day contract to retire with the club with whom he spent most of his career.

Moustakas, now 36, was selected second overall in the 2007 draft. Taken out of Chatsworth High School, Moustakas was one of several high-profile draft picks that the Royals made as part of an aggressive rebuild. In an era prior to the draft lottery, the Royals had nine straight losing seasons from 2004 to 2012, with at least 100 losses in the first three of those seasons. That allowed them to have an desirable draft position for a long stretch of time, getting guys like Alex Gordon, Eric Hosmer, Moustakas and others in that span.

The hope was that this aggressive rebuild would allow them to build a stockpile of young talent that could eventually slingshot them to future success. Since Moustakas was drafted as an 18-year-old, it took him a few years to get to the majors, debuting in 2011.

He didn’t hit the ground running. By the end of the 2014 campaign, Moustakas had stepped to the plate 1,993 times at the club’s regular third baseman. However, he had hit just .236/.290/.379 in that time for a wRC+ of 82. Though it was taking “Moose” some time to fully acclimate to big league pitching, the club’s fortunes had turned around as hoped. They had made it to the playoffs in 2014 and progressed all the way to the World Series, though they lost a seventh-game heartbreaker to the Giants. Moustakas clubbed five homers in 15 games during that postseason run.

From there, he did find sustained success. Moustakas hit 22 home runs in 2015 and slashed .284/.348/.470 for a wRC+ of 123, easily his best offensive performance to that point. The Royals returned to the postseason and got the job done this time. Moustakas only hit .215/.257/.277 in the 2015 playoffs but the Royals made it back to the World Series, this time defeating the Mets in five games.

Over 2016 and 2017, Moustakas continued to perform as a solid big leaguer. He hit a combined .267/.312/.517 over those two seasons, which translated to a 113 wRC+, though the Royals fell from their heights. They were exactly .500 in 2016 and then finished 80-82 the following year.

Moustakas reached free agency going into 2018 and rejected a $17.4MM qualifying offer with the expectation of finding a robust market. MLBTR predicted he could secure a five-year, $85MM deal that winter. Unfortunately, he didn’t find the interest he was hoping for and lingered on the market unsigned into March. He and the Royals eventually reunited on a one-year, $6.5MM deal, far less than the QO he turned down.

In 2018, he had another solid but not outstanding season, split with the Brewers after a midseason trade. He hit .251/.315/.459 between the two clubs for a 105 wRC+. MLBTR made a far more modest prediction of $16MM over two years going into the next offseason. He returned to the Brewers on a one-year deal but with a slightly better average annual value of $10MM. Milwaukee planned to move Moustakas from third base to second base in deference to Travis Shaw.

With the Brewers that year, his second base defense was graded as close to average, adding some nice versatility to his profile. He hit 35 home runs that year, though his batting average and on-base abilities continued to be less impressive. His .254/.329/.516 batting line translated to a 113 wRC+. MLBTR felt he still had enough juice to get a two-year, $20MM deal but the new position seemed to unlock an extra gear for his earning power. The Reds, who had Joey Votto at first base and Eugenio Suárez at the corners, gave Moustakas a four-year, $64MM deal with the plan to install him at the keystone.

In the shortened 2020 season, Moustakas had another decent campaign. He hit eight home runs and slashed .230/.331/.468 for a wRC+ of 105. That helped the Reds to make the playoffs, their only postseason appearance of the past decade, but they were quickly dispatched without scoring a run in a two-game sweep at the hands of Atlanta.

His production tailed off from there and never really recovered. He put up a line of .227/.291/.372 from 2021 onwards as various injuries limited his ability to take the field. He played less than 80 games in both 2021 and 2022, getting designated for assignment after the latter of those two seasons. He was released and signed with the Rockies. He got into 47 games with them and seemed to be bouncing back, hitting .270/.360/.435, before getting flipped to the Angels. But he then hit just .236/.256/.371 in 65 games for the Halos. Going into 2024, he signed a minor league deal with the White Sox but hit .195/.283/.317 during the spring and was released at the end of camp.

Though he didn’t start or end his career with a bang, he had a strong run for a few years as an above-average player. Overall, he got into 1,427 major league games and stepped to the plate 5,577 times. He hit .247/.307/.431 for a 96 wRC+ and generated 15.1 wins above replacement, per the calculations of FanGraphs. He hit 215 home runs, scored 595 times and drove in 683. From 2015 to 2020, he slashed .262/.326/.490 for a 113 wRC+ and tallied 12.2 fWAR. He made three All-Star clubs in there and won a World Series ring. We at MLB Trade Rumors congratulate Moustakas on his career and wish him the best in whatever comes next.

Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/mike-moustakas-to-retire.html

 

[Kansas City Royals]

10 Out Of Options Players To Watch This Spring

One of the most interesting elements of spring training every year, at least for those of us who feast on roster construction minutiae, is the collection of players who are out of minor league options. MLBTR just released a full list of such players earlier today.

In many instances, a player being out of minor league options is inconsequential. Justin Steele, Isaac Paredes and Evan Phillips are among the players who fit that description but are in no risk of losing their MLB roster spot. They're all key players on big league rosters who'd never be in danger of being sent down to the minors anyhow.

However, there are typically a handful of players every spring who are on the roster bubble with their current club but who could be a better fit on a team with less competition in their current position. Most of these players have already had big league opportunities with their current club but whether due to injury or poor performance (or both) have yet to firmly seize hold of a roster spot. As players exhaust their minor league options, they'll tend to face increased competition from younger players progressing through the minor league ranks and/or external additions made via trade or free agency. An out-of-options player who doesn't fit his current roster can still go on to find a more solid role and some success elsewhere. Joey Bart was in just this spot last year and after being squeezed out in San Francisco has emerged as Pittsburgh's starting catcher. The Yankees didn't have a spot for Ben Rortvedt, but he's the Rays' clear No. 2 catcher now.

Let's run through 10 names to keep an eye on this spring. Not all of these players will lose their roster spots, and even some who do might not wind up making an impact elsewhere. But each of the names listed here has some reason to hold a bit more intrigue than many of their out-of-options brethren (players listed alphabetically)...

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Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/02/10-out-of-options-players-mlb-spring-training.html

 

[Kansas City Royals]

Royals Notes: Erceg, Massey, Blanco

Lucas Erceg got his first legitimate run as a closer after the Royals acquired him from the A’s at last year’s deadline. The flamethrowing righty took to that role, working to a 2.88 earned run average while striking out 32% of opponents over 25 regular season innings. Erceg recorded 11 saves and six holds while only surrendering two leads. He went 3-3 on postseason save opportunities while tossing six innings of two-run ball in his first playoff action.

Despite Erceg’s excellent finish, the Royals made a significant move at the back of their bullpen this winter. They signed All-Star righty Carlos Estévez to a two-year, $22MM free agent deal. That appeared to be a fallback after the Royals missed in a couple bigger swings at an outfield acquisition. Estévez has been a closer between the Angels and Phillies over the past two seasons. His 57 saves since the start of 2023 ranks ninth in MLB.

The Royals haven’t made an official decision about who’ll take the ninth inning this year. It doesn’t seem there’ll be any animosity on Erceg’s part if the team defers to Estévez’s experience. “I don’t really care what my role is going to be,” Erceg told Anne Rogers of MLB.com. He praised GM J.J. Picollo and manager Matt Quatraro for giving him a heads-up that the organization was closing in on a deal with Estévez before the signing was announced. Erceg said his primary focus is on helping K.C. return to the postseason whether as a closer or in a leverage role in the seventh and eighth innings.

Kansas City has thrown a decent amount of resources at fixing a bullpen that was a major weakness in the first half of last season. They acquired Hunter Harvey from the Nationals last summer, but a back injury essentially tanked his second half. Harvey has battled myriad injuries over his career, but he’s currently healthy and ticketed for a setup role. Erceg could join him as a bridge to Estévez at the back end. They’re still a little light from the left side. Angel Zerpa and Sam Long are coming off productive seasons but don’t have huge bat-missing upside. It’s nevertheless a far stronger group than they carried into 2024.

Along with Estévez, Jonathan India was Kansas City’s other significant offseason acquisition. He’ll slot atop the lineup while potentially moving around the diamond defensively. Both India and incumbent second baseman Michael Massey are likely to get reps at third base and in left field in addition to their work at the keystone. They’ve each gotten starts in left field and at second base in the first week of camp, with India picking up an appearance at third base as well. Jaylon Thompson of the Kansas City Star writes that they’re likely to continue alternating positions every few games this spring.

In one injury development, depth outfielder Dairon Blanco has been sidelined by soreness in his right Achilles. An MRI this week revealed calcification in the tendon, Quatraro told reporters (via the MLB.com injury tracker). That’ll shut Blanco down for a few days but shouldn’t be a major concern. The speedster stole 31 bases in 38 attempts over 88 games last season.

Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/02/royals-notes-erceg-massey-blanco.html

 

[Kansas City Royals]

Salary Details For Several Minor League Deals

Every offseason, the primary focus for baseball fans is on trades and free agent activity. Naturally, major league free agent signings garner the majority of the attention and generate the most buzz. Minor league signees come with less fanfare, typically with good reason. They tend to be older veterans who are looking to extend their playing careers or perhaps younger names looking to rebound from an injury or a disappointing showing the prior season (sometimes the prior few seasons).

As spring training progresses, we’re seeing an uptick in minor league signings. Free agents who’ve lingered on the market and felt their leverage in negotiations dry up begin to concede and accept non-guaranteed pacts to get to camp in hopes of winning a roster spot.

Salary details for minor league signees isn’t as prominently reported on as it is for players signing guaranteed big league deals. The Associated Press just published a list of free agent signings throughout the winter, including within salary details for a handful of (mostly) recent minor league signings. Many of the salaries reported by the AP were already known and reflected here at MLBTR, but the report does include more than two dozen previously unreported base salaries for players on minor league deals. Here’s a quick rundown (player salary links point back to prior MLBTR posts detailing that minor league signing):

Blue Jays: Jacob Barnes, RHP, $1.4MM | Ryan Yarbrough, LHP, $2MM

Braves: Curt Casali, C, $1.25MM | Buck Farmer, RHP, $1MM

Brewers: Manuel Margot, OF, $1.3MM | Mark Canha, 1B/OF, $1.4MM

Cubs: Brooks Kriske, RHP, $900K | Travis Jankowski, OF, $1.25MM | Chris Flexen, RHP, $1.5MM

Diamondbacks: Garrett Hampson, INF/OF, $1.5MM | Scott McGough, RHP, $1.25MM

Dodgers: Luis Garcia, RHP, $1.5MM

Giants: Lou Trivino, RHP, $1.5MM

Mariners: Shintaro Fujinami, RHP, $1.3MM | Trevor Gott, RHP, $1.35MM

Padres: Yuli Gurriel, 1B, $1.35MM ($100K higher than initially reported)

Rangers: Nick Ahmed, SS, $1.25MM | Jesse Chavez, RHP, $1.25MM | David Buchanan, RHP, $1.375MM | Kevin Pillar, OF, $1MM

Red Sox: Matt Moore, LHP, $2MM

Royals: Luke Maile, C, $2MM | Ross Stripling, RHP, $1.75MM

White Sox: Brandon Drury, INF/OF, $2MM | Mike Clevinger, RHP, $1.5MM

A few things bear emphasizing. First, this is clearly not a comprehensive list of minor league signings throughout the league — nor is it even a comprehensive list of the listed teams’ non-roster invitees to camp. Secondly, many of these sums are of little consequence to the team. They’re not even guaranteed, after all, and even if a player makes the Opening Day roster and earns the full slate of his minor league salary, most of these salaries aren’t going to carry significant payroll ramifications.

That’s not true across the board, though. For instance, the Rangers are fully intent on remaining under the $241MM luxury tax threshold. At present, RosterResource projects them at $235.7MM of luxury obligations. Opting to select the contract of Buchanan or Chavez rather than allocating those innings to pre-arbitration players who’s being paid at league-minimum levels (or a few thousand dollars north of it) would inch the Rangers’ CBT number forward. They’re not going to hit the tax line even in if they wind up adding multiple NRIs to the actual roster, but selecting their contracts will further narrow the resources president of baseball ops Chris Young will have at his disposal for midseason dealings.

The Red Sox, meanwhile, are effectively seated right at the tax threshold. RosterResource has them with $241.4MM of luxury considerations. Team president Sam Kennedy said after signing Alex Bregman that he expects his team will be a CBT payor in 2025. As things stand, the Sox could duck back under that threshold, but selecting the contract of Moore, Adam Ottavino (also $2MM) or another prominent NRI would further signal ownership’s willingness to return to luxury tax status for the first time since 2022.

There’s probably no getting back under the tax line for the Blue Jays, who currently have a $273.3MM CBT number. However, the front office would presumably like to avoid reaching $281MM in tax obligations, as that’s the point at which Toronto’s top pick in the 2026 draft would be dropped by ten spots. In-season trades will have more of an effect on their tax number than decisions on NRIs like Barnes, Yarbrough, Eric Lauer and others, but it bears mentioning that the Blue Jays are around $8MM shy of what many clubs consider to be the most detrimental impact of straying to deep into CBT waters.

Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/02/salary-details-for-several-minor-league-deals.html

 

[Kansas City Royals]

Royals Notes: Rotation, Cameron, Bowlan, Mitchell

Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, and the re-signed Michael Wacha and Michael Lorenzen project as the Royals’ top four starters, setting up a competition for the fifth spot between such pitchers as Kris Bubic, Alec Marsh, Kyle Wright, and Daniel Lynch IV. However, MLB.com’s Anne Rogers writes that left-handed prospect Noah Cameron might also be on the radar as at least a depth arm, since Marsh (shoulder soreness) and Wright (hamstring strain) are both dealing with injuries.

Marsh’s right shoulder first began to bother him during his offseason ramp-up process, leaving the Royals taking a cautious approach to Marsh’s workload in spring camp. Marsh did throw his first bullpen session of the spring on Friday, but it remains to be seen if he’ll be fully ready to go by Opening Day, given the slowed throwing progression.

In Wright’s case, his hamstring strain is thought to be mild in nature, though he’ll be delayed around a week in recovery. It makes for a frustrating late development near what seemed to be the end of a much longer rehab process for Wright, who hasn’t pitched since September 2023 due to shoulder surgery. Those shoulder problems also limited him to 31 innings during the 2023 season, so it has more or less been a two-year odyssey for Wright to return to form as a regular starting pitcher.

Bubic is now probably in the driver’s seat for the fifth starter’s job, yet he is being built back to a starters’ workload himself after a Tommy John surgery cost him most of the last two seasons. Bubic was able to return to action last July and pitched well in a relief role, with a 2.67 ERA over 30 1/3 innings out of the K.C. bullpen.

All this uncertainty could open the door to a youngster like Cameron. Rogers writes that the Royals have “reassured Cameron that he’ll be helping out in Kansas City at some point in 2025,” which would mark the 25-year-old’s MLB debut. The club already showed some faith in Cameron by adding him to the 40-man roster last November, in advance of the Rule 5 Draft.

Cameron was a seventh-round pick for the Royals in the 2021 draft, and he made a great accounting for himself with a 2.32 ERA, 27.8% strikeout rate, and 6.7% walk rate over 54 1/3 innings with Triple-A Omaha last season. Baseball America ranks Cameron as the eighth-best prospect in the Kansas City farm system, describing him as “a finesse lefthander” with an interesting four-pitch arsenal, highlighted by a 60-grade changeup. Cameron’s fastball touched the 96mph threshold last season but he generally throws the pitch in the early 90s, still getting good results due to “the deceptive life on the pitch and its good vertical carry.”

The Royals also signed veteran swingman Ross Stripling to a minors deal last week, adding to the list of rotation candidates. One name not mentioned as part of the competition is Jonathan Bowlan, since Rogers says the Royals see the right-hander as a relief pitcher heading into 2025. Using Bowlan as a reliever could allow K.C. to take better advantage of his one remaining minor league option year, plus Rogers writes that Bowlan’s stuff “probably ticks up in short stints.”

Bowlan has worked as a starter for most of his minor league career, but he came out of the bullpen in 19 of his 35 appearances in Omaha last season. The splits were telling, as Bowlan had a 2.77 ERA in 26 relief innings and a 5.58 ERA across 80 2/3 innings as a starter, as well as a much lower walk rate as a reliever.

Since Bowlan’s walk rate had started to tick upward over his last couple of minor league seasons, this improved control is a particularly interesting sign. Working as a reliever might also help Bowlan get more of a foothold in the big leagues, as his MLB resume consists of three appearances and 5 2/3 innings over the last two seasons, with Bowlan posting a 7.94 ERA in that small sample size.

In other Royals prospect news, one of Kansas City’s top minor leaguers hit a significant setback, as Blake Mitchell will undergo surgery to fix a fractured right hamate bone. (Manager Matt Quatraro revealed the news to Jaylon Thompson of the Kansas City Star and other reporters.) Mitchell will need 4-6 weeks of recovery time, meaning Mitchell will miss the rest of spring camp, and will need to participate in extended Spring Training to make up for the lost prep time. Hamate injuries aren’t usually too serious, yet it will cut into some important development time for the 20-year-old backstop.

Mitchell was the eighth overall pick of the 2023 draft, and was a fixture within the top-100 prospect lists this spring — ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel ranked him highest as the 42nd-best prospect in the sport. Mitchell is already considered a solid defensive catcher, and he hit .232/.368/.424 with 18 home runs over 486 plate appearances last season, almost all of which came at A-level Columbia. Pundits are mixed on Mitchell’s future as a hitter, but he has solid power potential and some unusual strength on the basepaths for a catcher. Despite a lack of speed, Mitchell still stole 26 bags in 33 attempts last year.

Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/02/royals-notes-rotation-cameron-bowlan-mitchell.html

 

[Kansas City Royals]

Details On Nolan Arenado Trade Talks

For much of the offseason, a Nolan Arenado trade seemed inevitable. But spring training is now rolling along and he’s still a Cardinal. Today, Katie Woo of The Athletic takes an extensive look at the twists and turns of the winter. Many of the details came out over the past few months but the piece also provides some new tidbits and extra context.

Arenado’s no-trade clause was clearly a key part of the offseason narrative and the club’s efforts to trade him. Reports throughout the winter suggested there was a narrow group of clubs he was willing to join, which Woo confirms in her overview. Arenado told president of baseball operations John Mozeliak that he was willing to waive his no-trade for five clubs: the Yankees, Dodgers, Padres, Red Sox and Astros.

The first three clubs on that list never seemed especially interested. The Yankees were focused on Juan Soto at the start of the offseason. After missing out there, they pivoted to getting Max Fried, Devin Williams, Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger. The Dodgers have Max Muncy at third and didn’t seem keen on a switch. The Padres have Manny Machado at the hot corner. Arenado was reportedly willing to move to a new position but the Friars have budgetary concerns that made a fit tough regardless.

It’s well known by now that the Astros were interested and seemed to have a deal lined up, but Arenado blocked it. Reporting has suggested that Arenado was open to going to Houston but was a bit concerned by the club trading Kyle Tucker and seemingly moving on from Alex Bregman. Woo’s reporting aligns with that framing, with Arenado wanting some time to think about the possibility of becoming an Astro. She writes that he was aware they might move on while he was taking some time to ponder the idea, which is what happened. They quickly signed Christian Walker to cover first base, which effectively locked Isaac Paredes into the third base spot.

That left the Red Sox as the best landing spot for Arenado, with Boston genuinely interested. However, they bolstered their infield by waiting out Bregman and signing him, taking them out of the running for Arenado.

Woo reports that other clubs checked in about Arenado’s availability, including the Royals, Tigers, Mariners and Angels. Those were all sensible on-paper landing spots. The Royals were looking to add a big bat to the lineup and could bump Maikel Garcia to a utility role. The Tigers were involved in the Bregman market, making him a six-figure offer, clearly indicating a willingness to add an established third baseman ahead of prospect Jace Jung. The infield had been a target for the Mariners this winter, who eventually added Donovan Solano and re-signed Jorge Polanco. The Angels were looking to add at third base with Anthony Rendon no longer reliable, eventually signing Yoán Moncada. However, none of those clubs made progress with the Cardinals, as they were informed that Arenado wasn’t interested in waiving his no-trade protection for them.

All of that led to Mozeliak recently declaring that Arenado would stay a Cardinal, suggesting that he would have to change his team preferences in order for a deal to come together. That doesn’t seem likely to come to pass. Arenado has a two-year-old kid and is apparently only open to uprooting his family under very specific circumstances. It’s long been reported that Arenado is primarily motivated by winning but it appears that his off-field circumstances are also playing a notable role in his decision making. “I don’t see myself changing that list ever,” Arenado said. “I have a family now. … To be willing to pick up my family and move them, it has to be something that’s worth it.”

That’s his right as a player with a no-trade clause, though it leaves the Cardinals in an awkward spot. They are doing a reset, trying to turn the franchise away from upgrading the big league roster to a focus more on player development. It’s unclear how long it will take them to make a full-throated attempt at competing again. For now, Arenado is still on the team, which his contract running through 2027. He’ll be 36 years old in the final year of that pact.

It’s possible a trade could come together at the deadline or in another offseason, but it seems it would have to involve a change at one of Arenado’s preferred destinations. Muncy is in the final guaranteed year of his deal, so perhaps a move to the Dodgers for 2026 is possible, though they could keep Muncy around for ’26 via a $10MM club option. Goldschmidt is only on a one-year deal, so the Yankees might have more interest in an infield addition next winter. Bregman could opt out of his Boston deal, though they have a number of infield prospects likely to be coming up this year. Perhaps the Padres would have interest next winter after Luis Arráez, Dylan Cease and Michael King hit free agency, with Robert Suarez having the change to opt-out as well. A significant injury or two could always change the calculus somewhere.

“If something comes up and it makes sense, I’ll certainly get with him and we’ll talk about it,” Mozeliak said over the weekend. “But it’s not something where I’m getting up every morning and chasing the waiver wire or chasing injuries. I think from our fan perspective, from our team perspective, from our perspective, he is a part of the Cardinals.”

It’s an interesting end to an offseason where Mozeliak regarded an Arenado trade as a top priority. The Cards wanted to reduce payroll and open up some playing time for younger players. They could have dropped the payroll in other ways, such as by trading guys like Ryan Helsley or Erick Fedde, but haven’t shown much interest in doing that in the short term. Perhaps the Cardinals will end up being one of the most interesting clubs to watch when the July deadline rolls around, whether Arenado is likely to move or not.

Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/02/details-on-nolan-arenado-trade-talks.html