Kansas City Royals News

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Salvador Perez • C • Royals

Salvador Perez Takes Live Batting Practice on Monday

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (thumb) took live batting practice on Monday during the team's full-squad workout in camp, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Perez appears to be fully healthy at spring training after injuring his thumb in the offseason while playing in the Venezuelan Winter League. Despite being long in the tooth, Perez managed to reach the 30-homer mark for just the second time in his career in 2025 in his 14th season in the big leagues. He reached the 100-RBI mark for just the third time in his career and for the second straight season. The 35-year-old nine-time All-Star hit a career-low .236, though. The Royals split Perez's playing time between catcher, first base, and designated hitter to try to keep him fresh, and the expectation is that this will continue in 2026, with Carter Jensen ready to take on a bigger catching role. Perez can still be productive in fantasy, but he's more of a low-end starting catcher now than a high-end one.

2 days ago

Kris Bubic • SP • Royals

Kris Bubic Throws Batting Practice Session on Saturday

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Kris Bubic (shoulder) faced hitters during a live batting practice session on Saturday. According to Jaylon Thompson, Bubic looked strong and had good movement on his pitches. Those are encouraging words as Bubic looks to bounce back after missing the second half of last season due to a rotator cuff strain. During his breakout campaign last season, Bubic posted a 2.55 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and a 116/39 K/BB ratio across 20 starts. It was the first time that Bubic had started more than three games in a single season since the 2022 campaign. There are some durability and workload concerns, but the upside is too high to ignore. If healthy, Bubic should have no problem being in the top 40-50 range for starting pitchers in upcoming fantasy drafts.

4 days ago

Jac Caglianone • RF • Royals

Jac Caglianone to Have "Plenty of Opportunities to Play" in 2026

Kansas City Royals first baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone had a frustrating debut season in the major leagues last year, slashing .157/.237/.295 with seven home runs, 18 RBI, 19 runs scored, 18 walks, and 52 strikeouts in 62 games over 232 plate appearances. The 23-year-old former sixth overall pick in 2024 out of Florida had impressive exit velocities, barrel rate, and bat speed, but he also struck too much and chased bad pitches. It was a small big-league sample size for Caglianone in 2025, and the Royals are giving him some "runway to establish himself as an everyday player" in 2026, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. KC sees him playing a lot in right field to begin the season. Mechanically, Caglianone focused on keeping his weight balanced in the offseason rather than being so front-foot heavy. There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about Cags long term, especially with his elite power, but fantasy managers in redraft leagues will be a bit more hesitant to buy in as he heads into his sophomore season.

4 days ago

Maikel Garcia • 3B • Royals

Maikel Garcia Poised to Build on 2025 Breakout?

Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia put together a breakout season in 2025, hitting .286/.351/.449 with 16 home runs, 74 RBI, 81 runs scored, and 23 stolen bases across 666 plate appearances. The 25-year-old posted career-best walk (9.3%) and strikeout (12.6%) rates, while still posting a stellar 45.1% hard-hit rate. Garcia also spent time at shortstop, second base, and in the outfield in 2025, so he may offer multi-position eligibility to fantasy managers in certain league formats. Although it was the best of his career, Garcia's 5.6% barrel rate in 2025 remains below average and may indicate a limited power ceiling. However, there's reason to believe that he could offer more in terms of stolen bases, as Garcia swiped 37 bags despite a brutal .281 on-base percentage as recently as 2024. Garcia should be locked into an everyday role at the top of the Kansas City lineup, so he offers a stable floor in terms of RBI and runs scored. If he can get back to his previously demonstrated levels of aggression on the base paths while holding his gains with the bat, Garcia's current average draft position of pick 80 could prove to be a bargain for fantasy managers.

4 days ago

John Means • SP • Royals

Royals Agree to Two-Year Minor-League Deal With John Means

The Kansas City Royals announced on Friday that they agreed to a two-year minor-league deal with left-hander John Means (Achilles). It feels like ages ago when Means was an All-Star with the Baltimore Orioles in 2019 in his second major-league season. The 32-year-old veteran southpaw didn't see the mound in the big leagues at all in 2025 and has made just 10 starts since the beginning of the 2022 season due to various injuries. Means was recovering from his second Tommy John surgery last year and will miss all of the 2026 campaign as well due to a torn Achilles that he suffered in the offseason. The Royals will keep Means around going into next season in hopes that he can put his injury woes behind him for good. Fantasy managers in all formats should take a wait-and-see approach with Means in 2027.

5 days ago

Carter Jensen • C • Royals

Carter Jensen a Prime Breakout Candidate in 2026

Kansas City Royals catching prospect Carter Jensen is a top breakout candidate heading into the 2026 regular season. Jensen made his MLB debut later in the second half last summer and immediately flashed upside. Through his first 20 MLB games, the former third-round selection posted a .300/.391/.550 slash line with three long balls. Under the hood, Jensen's production was even more impressive as he generated an elite .447 xwOBA, .336 xBA, and a .633 xSLG. Earlier in the campaign, the 22-year-old looked just as dominant in the upper minor leagues, across 111 games shared between Double-A and Triple-A. In this stint, Jensen posted a .290/.377/.501 line with 20 home runs and 10 stolen bases. With Jensen ticked for a near every-day role, sharing time at DH and behind the dish, he possesses immense five-category upside at the catcher position in his first full season in the big leagues.

5 days ago

Mitch Spence • SP • Royals

Royals Acquire Mitch Spence From A's

The Kansas City Royals announced on Thursday that they acquired right-hander Mitch Spence from the Athletics in exchange for right-hander AJ Causey. In a corresponding move, the Royals moved right-hander Alec Marsh (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list. Spence, 27, will be battling for a spot in KC's bullpen in spring training after posting a bloated 5.10 ERA (5.10 FIP) and 1.44 WHIP with one save, 66 strikeouts, and 26 walks in 84 2/3 innings over 32 appearances (eight starts) in 2025 in Sacramento. He wasn't much better the year before for the A's in his major-league debut, going 8-10 with a 4.58 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, and 126:44 K:BB in 151 1/3 frames covering 35 appearances (24 starts). With minor-league options remaining, Spence will most likely open the 2026 season at Triple-A Omaha as pitching depth for the Royals.

6 days ago

Seth Lugo • SP • Royals

Seth Lugo Throws a Bullpen on Thursday

Kansas City Royals right-hander Seth Lugo (back) was seen throwing a bullpen session at camp on Thursday, according to Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star. It's good to see the veteran hurler throwing again after he was shut down for the final month of last season due to a nagging back injury. Lugo doesn't have any restrictions this spring and mentioned that he wants to use his fastball more in early counts in 2026. The 36-year-old started the year off strong last season but really struggled down the stretch (likely due to his back) to finish with a 4.15 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 125 strikeouts in 145 1/3 innings pitched over 26 starts in his second year in KC. Lugo could bounce back in 2026 with better health, but nobody should be expecting another career year from him at this stage of his career, especially with a 21.1% strikeout rate since the start of 2024. The heavy workload may be catching up to him after he transitioned to a full-time starting role three years ago.

6 days ago

Kris Bubic • SP • Royals

Kris Bubic Wins Arbitration Case Against Royals

Left-hander Kris Bubic won his salary arbitration hearing against the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday, a source told Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Bubic will earn $6.15 million in 2026 after the team filed at $5.15 million. Bubic broke out in 2025 in his sixth year in the big leagues to earn his first All-Star nod, but his season was cut short due to a rotator-cuff strain. In his 20 starts, the 28-year-old southpaw went 8-7 with a career-low 2.55 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with a career-high 116 strikeouts and 39 walks in 116 1/3 innings pitched. The good news is that Bubic is already throwing bullpens in spring training, so he should be ready for the start of the 2026 season. The former first-rounder has looked pretty darn good the last two years with ERAs under 3.00, but his arm just couldn't hold up to the increase in workload in 2025. He has kept hitters off balance with a diverse arsenal. Don't forget about him as rotation depth late in fantasy drafts.

7 days ago

Bailey Falter • SP • Royals

Bailey Falter Throws a Bullpen on Wednesday

Kansas City Royals left-hander Bailey Falter (biceps) was able to throw a bullpen session at spring training on Wednesday, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Falter missed the final five weeks of last season due to a left-biceps contusion, but he made a couple of minor-league rehab starts in late September and appears to be fully healthy as he heads into his first full season with the Royals. The 28-year-old southpaw opened the 2025 campaign with the Pittsburgh Pirates and had a 3.73 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with a 70:39 K:BB in 113 1/3 innings over 22 starts before joining the Royals in the second half. Falter only appeared in four games (two starts) with KC to close out the year, allowing 15 earned runs in just 12 innings. Depending on the health of the rest of the Royals' starting options, Falter appears ticketed for a long-relief role to open the 2026 campaign. Fantasy managers can ignore him in mixed formats.

7 days ago

Salvador Perez • C • Royals

Salvador Perez Continue to Show Off His Power

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez continues to display impressive power heading into his age-35 season. The veteran backstop slugged 30 home runs across 155 games last year; that home run total was higher than his total from each of the three previous seasons. Power is Perez's primary calling card at this point in his career, as he also posted a suboptimal 4.4% walk rate, 19.5% strikeout rate, and 95 wRC+ along with -8.2 fWAR at the plate and -8.7 fWAR in the field. He made 38 appearances as the Royals' designated hitter, 30 at first base, and 92 behind the dish. He played replacement-level defense at first, but he offered a worrisome -7.6 FRM at catcher. FanGraphs still projects Perez as the Royals' Opening Day catcher, but we wouldn't be surprised to see him spend more time at first base and designated hitter while a depth option -- presumably, rookie Carter Jensen -- straps on the gear. Regardless of where Perez plays defensively, we expect his power to carry over from last year, keeping him on the fantasy radar in most leagues. He currently ranks as the #9 catcher in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings.

Feb 9

Luinder Avila • SP • Royals

Luinder Avila Seen as Potential Starting Pitcher

Kansas City Royals right-hander Luinder Avila made his major-league debut last year for 13 relief appearances and thrived, posting a 1.29 ERA and 0.93 WHIP with 16 strikeouts in 14 innings. The Royals see Avila as a potential starter down the road, but the team's rotation is too crowded going into the 2026 season. The 24-year-old could force the Royals' hand for another bullpen spot on Opening Day, though, if he continues to impress during spring training. The Venezuelan hurler primarily features an 82-85 mph curveball that generated whiffs on 50% of swings last year. He also has mid-90s fastballs (four-seamer and sinker), and an occasional 86-88 mph changeup. Before getting his first big-league call-up last year, Avila had a 5.01 ERA and 1.31 WHIP with 71 strikeouts and 26 walks in 59 1/3 innings over 17 outings (12 starts) for High-A Quad Cities and Triple-A Omaha. He's an intriguing pitching prospect to watch in dynasty/keeper leagues.

Feb 6

Carlos Estévez • RP • Royals

Carlos Estevez Poised for Regression After Career Season

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Carlos Estevez surpassed all expectations during the 2025 campaign. In his debut season in Kansas City, Estevez would tally 42 saves, which were the most in the major leagues. Through 66 innings, the right-hander would post a strong 2.45 ERA with a 106 WHIP. Even though he would strike out only 54 batters (at a low 20.1% rate), he would be a must-start option given his effectiveness in the closer role. However, managers should expect Estevez to see some significant regression in 2026. The 33-year-old generated a 3.69 xERA with a .228 xBA, suggesting his ratios could take a step back. Additionally, he generated a 10.6% barrel rate (14th percentile) and a low 25.4% ground-ball rate (first percentile), suggesting his 2025 production is not sustainable. While he remains a safe bet for 20+ saves, managers should draft him expecting his ratios to return to his career averages of a 3.97 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP.

Feb 6

Brandon Drury • 2B • Royals

Royals Sign Brandon Drury to Minor-League Deal

The Kansas City Royals announced on Wednesday that they have signed free-agent veteran infielder Brandon Drury to a minor-league deal with an invitation to major-league spring training. Drury will compete for a roster spot this spring with the Royals after hitting a miserable .169/.242/.228 with a .469 OPS, four home runs, 15 RBI, 28 runs scored, 27 walks, and 81 strikeouts in 97 games (360 plate appearances) with the Los Angeles Angels in 2024. He didn't appear at all in the big leagues in 2025. In 53 games in the minors with the Angels and Chicago White Sox last year, he hit .214/.338/.323. The 10-year veteran has a career .245/.297/.421 slash line with a .717 OPS, and 109 home runs with seven different teams. Even if Drury sticks around in KC in 2026, he'll be a long shot for any kind of fantasy value.

Feb 4

Bobby Witt Jr. • SS • Royals

Bobby Witt Jr. a Candidate to Return to the 30-30 Club?

Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. finished with 23 homers last season, knocking him out of the 30-30 club for the first time since his rookie campaign in 2022. The 30-30 club comprises players who hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases. Witt was a member of the prestigious group in 2023 and 2024, totaling 62 homers and 80 steals across those two years. He had enough steals (38) to qualify last season, too, but his power output fell short. Still, he slashed an impressive .295/.351/.501 with 130 wRC+. He kept his walk rate at a solid 7.1%, but his strikeout rate soared to 18.2%, the worst mark since his rookie season. Hitting fewer homers and striking out more is not an ideal combination, so managers will hope that Witt can fix one or both issues in 2026. As it stands, he ranks as the #1 shortstop in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings.

Feb 1

Vinnie Pasquantino • 1B • Royals

Vinnie Pasquantino, Royals Agree on Two-Year Contract

First baseman Vinnie Pasquantino and the Kansas City Royals agreed to a two-year contract on Friday to avoid salary arbitration, sources told Anne Rogers of MLB.com. The deal is worth more than $11 million guaranteed and can max out at close to $16 million with incentives. The 28-year-old left-handed slugger played in all but two games in 2025 in his fourth year in the big leagues and slashed .264/.323/.475 with a .798 OPS, career-high 32 home runs, career-high 113 RBI, and career-high 72 runs scored in 682 plate appearances. Pasquantino managed to have a career year because he stayed off the injured list for the first time since 2022. He's one of the best sources of left-handed power at the first base position, but Pasquantino will need to improve against lefties if he wants to continue his upward trajectory. The former 11th-rounder in 2019 has top-five upside at his position.

Jan 30

Eli Morgan • RP • Royals

Eli Morgan Signs Minor-League Deal With Royals

The Kansas City Royals are signing free-agent reliever Eli Morgan to a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training. Morgan is looking for a bounce-back season after missing most of the year due to elbow issues. He posted an ugly stat line in 12 appearances with the Chicago Cubs. In 2024, Morgan registered a 1.93 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and a 34/11 K/BB ratio in 32 appearances with the Cleveland Guardians. The 29-year-old has posted multiple successful seasons during his time in Cleveland. This is a low-risk move by the Royals, who could end up getting a steal if Morgan can get back to form.

Jan 30

Jordan Groshans • 3B • Royals

Jordan Groshans Agrees to Minor-League Deal With Braves

Free-agent infielder Jordan Groshans joined the Atlanta Braves organization on a minor-league deal, and the former top prospect will look to get back on track with a new team. After being the No. 12 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays, Groshans eventually made his big-league debut with the Marlins in 2022, going 16-for-61 (.262) with a homer, two RBI, and nine runs scored in just 17 games played. He hasn't been back to the majors since then, though, spending 2025 in Double-A and Triple-A for the Royals. In 67 games, he hit .284 with three homers, a .340 wOBA, and no stolen bases. He spent 2024 with the A's and Yankees in the minors and seems to be a minor-league journeyman at this point. He does provide organizational depth and positional versatility for the Braves, though, since he played every spot in the infield for the Royals last season.

Jan 29

Kris Bubic • SP • Royals

Kris Bubic has Upside Despite Injury Risks

Because he missed almost the entire second half of the 2025 season due to a left rotator-cuff strain, Kansas City Royals left-hander Kris Bubic (shoulder) is the No. 62-ranked starting fantasy pitcher at RotoBaller going into 2026. It's unclear if Bubic will be ready for the start of the regular season, but he was cleared to start throwing in November. Before his shoulder injury last year, the 28-year-old southpaw was in the midst of a breakout campaign, going 8-7 with a 2.55 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 116:39 K:BB in 20 starts over 116 innings pitched. Bubic only threw 30 1/3 innings in relief for KC in 2024, and his arm simply couldn't handle the volume increase. He doesn't have high-end velocity, but Bubic makes up for it with a diverse arsenal and excellent location that he uses to keep hitters off balance. If he's ready for the start of the 2026 season, Bubic could be a nice late-round value pick in fantasy drafts.

Jan 28

Blake Mitchell • C • Royals

Blake Mitchell Earns Invite to Spring Training

The Kansas City Royals have invited catching prospect Blake Mitchell to spring training. Mitchell missed most of the first half of the 2025 season after suffering a broken wrist in February. However, once he returned to action, the top prospect struggled to find his footing. The team's No. 2-ranked prospect spent most of the campaign with High-A Quad Cities and posted an underwhelming .207/.372/.296 slash line with seventeen doubles, two home runs, and nine stolen bases. During this stretch, he carried a 71:45 K:BB. In 2024, Mitchell spent most of the season with Low-A Columbia, where he hit .238/.376/.439 line across a 106-game stint. The No. 56-ranked prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline, is not expected to compete for his MLB debut this season but is a name to watch in dynasty formats.

Jan 28

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