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Kris Bubic Kris Bubic Throwing off mound
Mon, Feb 12, 2024, 8:34 AM
Bubic (elbow) will throw a bullpen session this week, Jaylon T. Thompson of the Kansas City Star reports.
Analysis: It will be Bubic's first time throwing off a mound since he underwent Tommy John surgery last April. The hope is that the left-hander will be ready to join the Royals' rotation sometime around the All-Star break. |
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Will Smith Will Smith Seen as leading closing candidate
Sun, Feb 11, 2024, 12:16 PM
Smith, who signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Royals in December, is viewed as the leading candidate to serve as the team's closer to begin the season, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Though he sacrificed more save chances to Aroldis Chapman, Jose Leclerc and Josh Sborz toward the end of the 2023 campaign, Smith still converted 22 of his 27 save opportunities over 60 appearances with Texas during the regular season and turned in solid peripherals (3.28 xERA, 1.06 WHIP, 16.8 K-BB%) over his 57.1 innings. Smith's left-handedness has occasionally worked against him at various points in his career of capturing a full-time closing role, but he should have a clearer path to the ninth-inning gig while he's part of a Kansas City bullpen that's lacking in much established talent. James McArthur and Nick Anderson probably represent the top threats to challenge him for the closing gig, but Smith's strong track record as well as his bigger contract than the other two helps his case for holding down the fort at the back end of the bullpen. Royals manager Matt Quatraro will likely shed more light on his plans at closer as spring training unfolds, but for now, fantasy players should draft Smith as the presumptive favorite to see the bulk of the save chances. |
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Bobby Witt Jr. Bobby Witt Jr. Inks $288.7M contract extension
Mon, Feb 5, 2024, 12:14 PM
Witt signed an 11-year, $288.78 million contract extension with the Royals on Monday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Witt will have the ability to opt out after the seventh, eighth, ninth and 10th years of the deal. The contract also contains a three-year, $89 million club option after the 11th season, potentially bringing the total value up to $377.78 million over the life of the deal, which would run through the 2037 campaign. The 23-year-old shortstop is coming off a breakthrough sophomore season in which he slashed .276/.319/.495 with 30 home runs and 49 stolen bases en route to a seventh-place finish in the American League MVP voting. |
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Adam Frazier Adam Frazier Signs with Royals
Sat, Jan 27, 2024, 8:59 AM
Frazier signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Royals on Saturday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Frazier slashed .240/.300/.396 with 60 RBI across 454 plate appearances with the Orioles last season. He elected free agency earlier in the offseason to avoid being completely phased out by Baltimore's young talent, and he will presumably replace Michael Massey as the Royals' primary second baseman while occasionally getting a look in the corner outfield spots. His new contract includes an $8.5 million mutual option for 2025 with a $2.5 million buyout. |
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Sandy Leon Sandy Leon Camp invite from Royals
Wed, Jan 17, 2024, 12:05 PM
Leon signed a minor-league contract with the Royals on Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training.
Analysis: Leon has Salvador Perez and Freddy Fermin ahead of him on the depth chart, so he'll begin the 2024 season at Triple-A Omaha unless the Royals opt to carry three catchers. Slated to turn 35 in March, Leon got into 21 games with the Rangers in 2023, going just 6-for-41 at the plate. |
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Brady Singer Brady Singer Avoids arbitration
Thu, Jan 11, 2024, 1:51 PM
Singer (back) agreed to a one-year contract with the Royals on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.
Analysis: He finished last season on the shelf with a back strain after logging a 5.52 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 133 strikeouts in 159.2 innings. Singer's 2022 season looks like an outlier at this point, but he should be locked into a rotation role for Kansas City again in 2024. |
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Carlos Hernandez Carlos Hernandez Avoids arbitration
Thu, Jan 11, 2024, 1:49 PM
Hernandez agreed to a one-year contract with the Royals on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.
Analysis: The 26-year-old righty has a career 4.90 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 126 strikeouts in 123 innings as a reliever after not panning out as a starter. Hernandez notched four saves and averaged 99 mph on his fastball last season, but he probably won't be the go-to option in that role, barring several injuries ahead of him on the depth chart. |
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Kyle Wright Kyle Wright Agrees to terms
Thu, Jan 11, 2024, 1:45 PM
Wright (shoulder) agreed to a one-year contract with the Royals on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.
Analysis: Wright, who will miss the entire 2024 season after undergoing shoulder surgery, was traded from Atlanta to Kansas City earlier this offseason for Jackson Kowar. If he can make a full recovery, he could pitch near the top of the Royals' rotation in 2025. |
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Nick Anderson Nick Anderson Avoids arbitration with Royals
Thu, Jan 11, 2024, 1:20 PM
The Royals and Anderson avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.575 million contract Thursday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
Analysis: Anderson was in his second year of arbitration eligibility. Acquired from Atlanta via trade in November, Anderson posted a 3.06 ERA and 36:9 K:BB over 35.1 frames in 2023. He's a good bet to be effective for as long as he can remain healthy in 2024. |
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MJ Melendez MJ Melendez Set to play in outfield
Sun, Jan 7, 2024, 11:20 PM
Melendez is slated to play primarily in the outfield in 2024, Jaylon Thompson of the Kansas City Star reports.
Analysis: Melendez played primarily behind the dish in 2022 but started just 10 games at catcher last season. His production remained relatively steady, as he slashed .235/.316/.398 with 16 homers, 65 runs and 56 RBI over 148 games. The 25-year-old isn't expected to spend time at catcher in 2024, although it's unclear whether his more consistent role on defense will translate to better results at the plate. |
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Kris Bubic Kris Bubic Avoids arbitration with KC
Tue, Dec 19, 2023, 3:47 PM
Bubic (elbow) signed a one-year, $2.35 million contract with the Royals on Tuesday, avoiding arbitration.
Analysis: Bubic made only three starts for Kansas City last season before undergoing Tommy John surgery in late April, but he'll get a $150,000 raise entering the 2024 campaign, his second year of arbitration eligibility. The left-hander should be able to return to a major-league mound sometime near the All-Star break. |
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Max Castillo Max Castillo Dropped from 40-man roster
Tue, Dec 19, 2023, 2:06 PM
Castillo was designated for assignment by the Royals on Tuesday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Kansas City had to free up a 40-man roster spot for Hunter Renfroe, whose two-year, $13 million contract is now official. Castillo, 24, holds a 5.43 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 47:24 K:BB in 59.2 career major-league innings. |
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Michael Wacha Michael Wacha Nets $32 million from Royals
Fri, Dec 15, 2023, 10:44 AM
Wacha signed a two-year, $32 million contract with the Royals on Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: The deal includes an opt out after the first year. Kansas City has been busy lately, adding Seth Lugo and now Wacha to its rotation in addition to Hunter Renfroe to its outfield and Will Smith to its bullpen. Wacha hasn't made 30 starts in a season since 2017, but he's been very effective when healthy over the last two seasons, collecting a 3.27 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 228:74 K:BB over 261.2 innings. |
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Hunter Renfroe Hunter Renfroe Added to Royals' outfield
Fri, Dec 15, 2023, 9:33 AM
Renfroe is finalizing a two-year, $13 million contract with the Royals, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The deal includes an opt out after the first year, effectively making it a one-year contract with a player option. Renfroe battled through a disappointing 2023 campaign, slashing .233/.297/.416 with 20 home runs over 140 games between the Angels and Reds. The 31-year-old has been a consistent power source throughout his career, though, and should provide Kansas City's lineup with a little more thump. |
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Chris Stratton Chris Stratton Heading to Royals
Tue, Dec 12, 2023, 2:23 PM
Stratton signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Royals on Tuesday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The deal also includes a $4.5 million player option for 2025, per Rogers. Stratton operated as a multi-inning reliever for the Cardinals and Rangers in 2023 and posted a combined 3.92 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 81:25 K:BB across 82.2 regular-season innings. He'll likely reprise that sort of bullpen workhorse role with Kansas City. |
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Seth Lugo Seth Lugo Gets three years, $45M from KC
Tue, Dec 12, 2023, 2:04 PM
Lugo finalized an agreement with Kansas City on Tuesday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: It's a three-year, $45 million contract, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post, with the third year of the deal coming in the form of a $15 million player option. Lugo was connected to a wide range of teams this winter -- including the Mets, Red Sox, Diamondbacks, Reds, Tigers and Atlanta -- but he has opted to join the Royals and should immediately jump to the top of their rotation depth chart. The 34-year-old right-hander worked as a full-time starter with the Padres in 2023 and registered a sharp 3.57 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 140:36 K:BB across 146.1 innings. He had a 3.56 ERA and 124:37 K:BB in 111.1 innings of relief with the Mets between 2021-22. |
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Collin Snider Collin Snider Loses 40-man spot
Mon, Dec 11, 2023, 1:51 PM
Snider was designated for assignment by the Royals on Monday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The move was made in order to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for free-agent signee Will Smith. Snider, 28, holds a 5.93 ERA and ugly 33:28 K:BB over 54.2 innings for Kansas City across the last two seasons. He seems likely to clear waivers. |
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Will Smith Will Smith Returning to Kansas City
Sun, Dec 10, 2023, 11:47 AM
Smith agreed to a one-year, $5 million contract with the Royals on Sunday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: The veteran left-hander made his MLB debut with the Royals back in 2012 and will make a return to the organization more than a decade later. Smith recorded 22 saves with the Rangers last season but struggled down the stretch and fell out of the closer role ahead of the playoffs. He finished the year with a 4.40 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 55:17 K:BB across 57.1 innings, and he could be in the mix for saves with Kansas City in 2024. |
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Sam Long Sam Long Inks minors pact with Royals
Thu, Dec 7, 2023, 11:57 AM
Kansas City signed Long to a minor-league contract Thursday.
Analysis: Long was outrighted off the 40-man roster in Oakland at the end of the 2023 regular season after struggling to a 5.60 ERA and 32:21 K:BB across 45 innings. The 28-year-old left-hander joins the Royals as organizational bullpen depth for the 2024 campaign. |
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Tyler Duffey Tyler Duffey Heads to Royals on MiLB deal
Thu, Dec 7, 2023, 11:54 AM
Duffey signed a minor-league contract Thursday with the Royals.
Analysis: Duffey made only one MLB appearance with the Cubs in 2023 and held a 3.77 ERA and 53:23 K:BB in 45.1 innings with their Triple-A affiliate in Iowa. The 32-year-old right-hander owns a career 4.57 ERA in the big leagues. |
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