kansascity
The Kansas City Royals are actively seeking bullpen upgrades, but their strategy may not involve pursuing the most expensive arms on the market. Conversations at the annual General Managers Meetings in Las Vegas have centered on a tiered relief market, with the top options—David Bednar, Adrian Morejon, and Rasiel Iglesias—likely commanding salaries beyond what the Royals are willing to spend.
Bednar and Morejon each received qualifying offers from their respective clubs, with a decision deadline of Nov. 17 at 3 p.m. Central. This year’s qualifying offer is a one-year deal worth $23.15 million. Kansas City is not expected to make a serious push for those relievers, according to industry expectations.
Instead, the club may adopt a sum-of-its-parts approach to reconstructing the bullpen. General manager J.J. Picollo said at the GM meetings that the market offers plenty of depth. “And really we are trying to approach it — how do we put a bullpen together? You clearly want to get the most talented pitching that you could possibly get, but how does it blend with what you have right now?” Picollo said. “So we’re going to try to acquire in different ways, but there’s no shortage of talent, you know, on that free-agent market.”
The need is urgent: the Royals’ bullpen recorded a 5.07 ERA last season, among the worst in Major League Baseball, and managed only 482 strikeouts, underscoring a lack of swing-and-miss stuff. The club requires a closer, multiple high-leverage arms, and key specialists.
Rebuilding a bullpen is a demanding task, Picollo acknowledged, and will require adding talent that fits alongside potential returners. Currently, Kansas City is slated to have Lucas Erceg, Steven Cruz, and Nate Pearson as high-leverage options heading into 2027. Other names in the mix include Carlos Duran, Nick Mears, and James McArthur, while Connor Thomas, Nolan Hoffman, and Beck Way could see expanded roles.
The central question is whether the Royals can secure meaningful upgrades. The relief market has been slow to develop, but Picollo expects it to accelerate. “I think we’re probably going to see it speed up here in the next couple of weeks,” he said. “I mean, you know, who knows what will happen, but I think we can anticipate that. You know, just going back and looking historically, half of the free agents sign by Jan. 1 and half signed afterward. We’re potentially working with a shorter window, so we’re hopeful that things do start moving this month.”
The Royals have spent considerable time at the meetings compiling their list of free agents and speaking with representatives. Information gathering is expected to continue throughout the offseason. However, the biggest obstacle is a potential work stoppage: the current MLB collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1, and owners are expected to pursue a lockout that could freeze offseason activity. Kansas City hopes to complete a significant portion of its offseason work before any lockout.
Beyond pitching, the club would also like to add a right-handed outfield bat. For now, the GM Meetings provided a barometer of what is available and upcoming on the open market. The next step is implementing their plan.
“We have to assume that opening day is going to be played on the scheduled opening day,” Picollo said. “And that’s because if we don’t prepare that way and there is no shortage of season or anything like that, you’re not ready to start the season. So we’re going to operate business as usual. Just a little more urgency in November.”
Key Analysis
Kansas City’s approach reflects a pragmatic read of the relief market: rather than overpay for a single headline arm, the front office appears inclined to spread resources across several additions. That strategy carries risk, as bullpen performance is notoriously volatile, but it also offers flexibility. The looming CBA deadline adds a layer of urgency, forcing the Royals to accelerate their planning. With a bullpen that ranked among the league’s worst in both run prevention and strikeout rate, the need for improvement is clear, and the club’s ability to execute its plan before Dec. 1 could shape its competitiveness in 2027.
Originally reported by kansascity.