kansascity
The Kansas City Royals are bracing for a transformative offseason as they aim to rebound from a disappointing 2026 campaign. With the roster under scrutiny, the front office has identified pitching as the foremost priority, particularly a bullpen that recorded a 5.07 ERA—the second-worst mark in Major League Baseball.
General Manager J.J. Picollo has made no secret of his intentions to aggressively pursue relief pitching. The club is expected to target multiple high-leverage arms, possibly including a closer. Incumbents such as Lucas Erceg, Steven Cruz, and Nate Pearson are likely to be retained as key bullpen pieces, but external additions are clearly on the radar.
“The bullpen, I think, is clearly the one we have the most work to do,” Picollo stated. “(It’s) followed by starting pitchers, getting the depth we need to get through a season.”
Beyond the bullpen, Kansas City will also seek to bolster a rotation that was decimated by injuries. The plan is to add depth behind 2026 All-Star Michael Wacha, Seth Lugo, and Noah Cameron, who are penciled into the rotation. Competition for the remaining spots will include Daniel Lynch IV, Randy Dobnak, and Tony Gonsolin (who holds a $2.5 million club option). The Royals also hope for the return of Cole Ragans, Luinder Avila, Stephen Kolek, Ryan Bergert, and Ben Kudrna from various injuries at some point in 2027.
“I was as confident as I’ve ever been with starting pitching depth,” Picollo remarked. “We had nine guys we felt that we could start. At the end of the year, we had two guys that were not in the nine that were now starting. So, (we’re) never going to take starting pitching for granted. We need depth with our starters.”
On the offensive side, the Royals are looking to improve a lineup that skews left-handed. The priority is to acquire a right-handed bat to balance the order, with left and center field identified as areas of need. Picollo emphasized the importance of adding versatility and depth to give manager Matt Quatraro more options for in-game strategy.
“Finding ways to make our roster deeper, get better,” Picollo said. “As I said, probably going to be more so in the outfield and have the versatility we need to score more runs and give (Quatraro) and staff the weapons they need to make counter moves to the other team.”
Key Decisions Loom
The Royals have several roster decisions to make, starting with Carlos Estévez’s $13 million club option. Estévez, 33, appeared in just one game in 2026 due to multiple injuries and underwent right shoulder surgery in September. The Royals can exercise a $2 million buyout, saving $11 million, which appears to be the likely course of action.
“I think what Carlos did in 2025 was tremendous,” Picollo said. “Got hurt this year, but that’s $10-11 million dollars off our payroll. So we have to look into ways of being more efficient.”
Qualifying offers are another consideration. With the qualifying offer set at $23.15 million for 2027 (up 5.1% from last year), the Royals are unlikely to extend one. Players such as Jonathan India, Craig Kimbrel, Josh Rojas, and Luke Maile are set to hit free agency, and the club may also decline options on Estévez and Gonsolin.
The 40-man roster will require shuffling, as the Royals currently have 39 active players and eight injured players reverting to the list. Some non-tenders are expected to create space.
Free Agent Targets
In the bullpen market, the Royals could pursue top-tier relievers like David Bednar and Adrián Morejón if they opt for long-term solutions, but more likely they will target high-leverage arms on shorter deals. Raisel Iglesias, who saved 34 games with a 2.55 ERA for the Braves in 2026, is a name to watch. The 36-year-old made $16 million last season and could be available on a short-term contract. Gregory Soto, with his electric fastball and 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings, is another affordable option. Left-hander Alex Vesia, John Schreiber, and Taylor Clarke could also provide veteran presence.
For the rotation, the Royals are expected to add a reliable starter via free agency or trade. While unlikely to pursue Tarik Skubal, they could show interest in arms like Tyler Mahle or Foster Griffin.
Offensively, the Royals aim to add a right-handed bat to complement core players Bobby Witt Jr., Jac Caglianone, and Carter Jensen, along with Vinnie Pasquantino, Maikel Garcia, Michael Massey, and Salvador Perez. Ian Happ, a switch-hitter who hit .218 with 24 homers and 68 RBIs for the Cubs, is an intriguing free agent. Happ is a four-time Gold Glover and would address both offensive and defensive needs in the outfield.
“The other thing that regressed this year is our outfield defense wasn’t as good as it’s been in past years,” Picollo admitted. “And I think there’s some reason for that. But nevertheless, we got to be good defensively in the outfield.”
Prospects on the Rise
The Royals have a couple of prospects close to the majors: Lucas Braun and Carson Roccaforte. Braun, acquired in the Lane Thomas trade, made eight starts in Triple-A and could compete for a rotation spot in spring training. Roccaforte, who posted a 30-30 season in the minors, is viewed as a future center fielder and will compete with Kyle Isbel for the job.
“Carson Roccaforte is a very good center fielder,” Picollo said. “He will be in the mix to help our club, whether that’s opening day or sometime during the season. I don’t know when that’s going to be, but he certainly played himself into gaining that opportunity. And we look forward to seeing him in spring training.”
With a potential lockout looming on December 1, the Royals plan to be active early in the offseason. It’s shaping up to be a busy November in Kansas City.
Originally reported by kansascity.