Hunter Renfroe, Chris Stratton Returning To Kansas City
Kansas City Royals outfielder Hunter Renfroe and relief pitcher Chris Stratton both had their 2025 club options exercised according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Renfroe had a down year in 2024 as he hit just 15 home runs, his lowest total in a full season throughout his career. He held a .229/.297/.392 slash line. Stratton served as a high-leverage reliever this past summer and posted a 5.55 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP with four saves and five holds. Fantasy managers should expect Renfroe to be deployed as a platoon option early on in right field with the opportunity to grow into a full-time role if he can get back on track. He could be worth a look as a late-option for power in deeper formats. Stratton should be in the mix to see a handful of save opportunities in 2025.
Hunter Harvey, James McArthur, Chris Stratton Expected To Be Ready Next Year
Kansas City Royals relief pitchers Hunter Harvey (back), James McArthur (elbow) and Chris Stratton (forearm) are all expected to be healthy entering spring training next February after ending 2024 on the injured list. Stratton holds a $4.5 million player option for next season. Harvey began the year with the Nationals and had a rough 6.35 ERA and 2.12 WHIP with one save in only 5 2/3 innings for the Royals before being shut down in late September. McArthur began the year as KC's primary closer but eventually lost the job and was diagnosed with a Grade 1 UCL sprain in his right elbow in mid-September. He had a career-high 18 saves but also an ERA just under 5.00. Stratton, who has a right flexor strain, also underwhelmed in 2024 with a 5.55 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and four saves in 58 1/3 innings in his first year with the Royals.
Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Chris Stratton (forearm) was placed on the 15-day injured list on Saturday afternoon with a right forearm flexor strain. The Royals promoted southpaw Angel Zerpa from Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move. Stratton appeared in Friday's game but struggled as he served up two runs across one inning of work. The 34-year-old will be sidelined for the next 15 days, which puts him in danger of missing the rest of the regular season. Stratton was typically deployed in the seventh and eighth innings this summer and held a 5.55 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP across 58 innings of work. Fantasy managers should now expect Kris Bubic, James McArthur, John Schreiber, and Lucas Erceg to handle the high-leverage work down the stretch as the Royals compete for a playoff spot.
Chris Stratton Placed On 15-Day Injured List With Right Forearm Strain
Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Chris Stratton was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right forearm flexor strain on Saturday, and left-handed pitcher Angel Zerpa was recalled from Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move. Stratton pitched the ninth inning in Friday night's 8-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates and gave up two runs and three hits in the outing. With just over two weeks left in the regular season, Stratton won't pitch again until October if his forearm cooperates. The 34-year-old started the season solid but has been a disaster in the second half, posting a 7.08 ERA since the All-Star break. Fantasy managers have likely already moved on given his second-half struggles, but if they haven't, then now is the time to do so. Those needing bullpen help to finish out the season may want to consider Lucas Erceg, who leads the Royals with six saves over the last 30 days. His 5.40 ERA in that same timespan is worrisome, but the saves help balance that out from a fantasy perspective.
Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Chris Stratton came in for the last two outs of a 3-2 win over the Oakland Athletics, picking up his fourth save in the process. Stratton came in with runners at first and second with one out in the ninth and retired both A's hitters to escape the jam. Usual closer James McArthur was used to escape a jam in the seventh, so he was unavailable. Based on McArthur's recent usage, it looks like the Royals could be moving to a committee approach in their bullpen. McArthur would likely still be the most likely to get saves if that were to happen, but they would certainly be spread out more evenly and would make for a frustrating situation for fantasy managers.
Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Chris Stratton picked up his second save of the season in Monday's 3-2 win over the Brewers. Stratton came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning up by one. He allowed a leadoff walk, induced a ground-ball double-play, allowed another walk, and ended the game with a groundout. Closer James McArthur pitched two innings in Sunday's game, so he was likely unavailable. Stratton has struggled this season with a 5.40 ERA and a 7.20 BB/9 rate in 15 innings of work. His fantasy value will remain limited if he cannot improve those metrics.
Kansas City Royals right-hander Chris Stratton struck out one over a perfect inning to earn the save in Saturday's 3-0 win over the Chicago White Sox. Stratton needed 12 pitches to make quick work of the White Sox top of the order to collect his first save of the season. Royals manager Matt Quatraro used James McArthur on Friday during a save situation and decided to go with Stratton for Saturday's game. Kansas City continues using a committee to save situations between McArthur, Stratton, and William Smith. The way the Royals use their bullpen can frustrate fantasy managers. Still, McArthur, Stratton, and Smith should be rostered in 12-team plus leagues despite Kansas City rotating their relievers during save chances early on.
David Bednar Blows Save, Hunter Stratton Locks It Down In Extras
Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar wasn't able to hold back the Miami Marlins on Sunday, blowing the save in what turned out to be a 9-7 victory. Bednar was tasked with holding onto a one-run lead, but gave up a one-out solo homer to Nick Gordon. That was the only baserunner he allowed in his inning of work, and he also struck out a pair, so it wasn't all bad for the 29-year-old. Hunter Stratton picked up the save an inning later, but the job should still belong to Bednar, who was stellar in the role last year.
Free-agent right-hander Chris Stratton has agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday, according to a source. The deal includes a $4.5 million player option for 2025. The Royals are stocking up on pitching this offseason and also added veteran starter Seth Lugo on Tuesday on a three-year, $45 million contract. The 33-year-old Stratton is less of a fantasy asset as mainly a long reliever out of the bullpen. In 64 relief appearances in 2023 for the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers, he had a 3.92 ERA (3.53 FIP) and 1.14 WHIP with 25 walks and 81 strikeouts in 82 2/3 total innings. In eight years in the big leagues with five different teams, Stratton has only made 42 starts in 302 total appearances.
The St. Louis Cardinals agreed to a one-year contract with free-agent right-hander Chris Stratton on Thursday. The deal is reportedly for $2.8 million. Stratton began the 2022 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates but was eventually acquired by the Cardinals in a trade. In his 20 relief appearances with St. Louis, he had a nice 2.78 ERA (2.80 FIP), a 1.50 WHIP, 23 strikeouts and 12 walks in 22 2/3 innings. In total, the 32-year-old posted a 4.26 ERA (3.32 FIP), a 1.53 WHIP, two saves and a 60:25 K:BB in 63 1/3 innings pitched over 60 appearances (one start). Stratton will only become attractive in fantasy if he makes any spot starts for the Red Birds.
Chris Stratton
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Royals
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