Kansas City Royals News

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Michael Massey • 2B • Royals

Michael Massey has "Low-Grade" Calf Strain, Could be Out a Week

Kansas City Royals second baseman Michael Massey (calf) has a "low-grade" calf strain, manager Matt Quatraro told MLB.com's Anne Rogers on Tuesday morning. Massey tweaked it on a play in Cactus League action against the Los Angeles Dodgers last Friday, and it didn't improve, so the team had it checked out. He'll be out of game action for "hopefully just about a week." As long as the 27-year-old isn't out beyond a week, he'll still have a chance to be ready for Opening Day in late March. Massey isn't on the fantasy map in mixed leagues going into the 2026 campaign as more of a utility player for the Royals. The former fourth-rounder in 2019 played in only 77 games last year due to ankle, back, and wrist injuries for KC and slashed .244/.268/.313 with a career-worst .581 OPS, three home runs, 20 RBI, and 20 runs scored in 277 plate appearances.

13 hours ago

Jac Caglianone • RF • Royals

Jac Caglianone Looking Good at the Plate So Far This Spring

Kansas City Royals first baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone struggled in his first taste of the big leagues last year, but he came into Monday hitting .400 (6-for-15) with a home run, four RBI, six runs scored, five walks, and three strikeouts in his first six Cactus League games in spring training. His homer last Tuesday was a 460-foot blast that had an exit velocity of 115.2 mph. We all know that Cags has elite power upside from the left side of the plate, although he slashed just .157/.237/.295 with a .532 OPS, seven home runs, 18 RBI, and a 52:18 K: BB in 232 plate appearances over 62 games with the Royals in 2025. Caglianone hit well under .200 against left-handed pitchers. The 23-year-old former first-rounder out of the University of Florida still has tons of projectable upside, but he'll need to improve against lefties and make more contact going into his first full MLB campaign in 2026.

Mar 2

Noah Cameron • SP • Royals

Can Noah Cameron Repeat His Breakout 2025 Season?

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Noah Cameron burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2025, recording a 9-7 record with a 2.99 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 114 strikeouts across 138 1/3 innings pitched (24 starts). Cameron's ability to rack up whiffs left something to be desired for fantasy managers, as he posted just a 20.5% strikeout rate. The 26-year-old's underlying metrics also suggest that he could be in line for some regression in 2026, as he significantly outperformed his xERA (4.08) and FIP (4.18) in 2025. At the same time, Cameron logged significantly better strikeout numbers during his time in the minor leagues, recording a 27.8% strikeout rate across 128 2/3 innings split between Double-A and Triple-A in 2024. If Cameron can add some swing-and-miss to his repertoire in 2026, it could help mitigate the regression that may be coming for his ERA and WHIP. As an innings-eater at the back end of a fantasy pitching staff, Cameron has a chance to provide solid value in 2026.

Mar 1

Starling Marte • LF • Royals

Royals Agree With Starling Marte

The Kansas City Royals agreed to an undisclosed deal with free-agent outfielder Starling Marte on Saturday, a source told Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. The deal is pending a physical. Marte is heading into his 15th season in the big leagues and shouldn't be expected to see regular playing time in Kansas City. At best, he'll serve as an outfield/designated-hitter option off the bench against left-handed pitchers. The 37-year-old two-time All-Star hit a solid .270/.335/.410 with a .745 OPS in 98 games with the New York Mets last year, but it came with only nine home runs, 34 RBI, 37 runs scored, and seven stolen bases in 329 plate appearances. Volume definitely isn't going to be there for Marte, even if he stays healthy. Marte hasn't played in over 100 games since 2022, when he was an All-Star for the second time in his career. Speed has always been Marte's biggest tool for fantasy managers, but he hasn't stolen over 30 bags since 2021.

Feb 28

Starling Marte • LF • Royals

Royals Discussing Deal With Starling Marte

The Kansas City Royals are talking to free-agent outfielder/designated hitter Starling Marte about a possible deal, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. If Marte were to land in Kansas City, he'd be a right-handed option in the outfield to face left-handers and give either Jac Caglianone or Kyle Isbel a day off. The 37-year-old Dominican veteran is better suited to be a full-time designated hitter at this point in his career, though. Injuries have been an issue for Marte, who is nearing the end of what has been a very successful 14-year career in the big leagues. Marte hasn't played over 98 games in each of the last three seasons with the Mets, although he was an All-Star for the second time in his career in 2022. He has always made a lot of contact and has six seasons of 30-plus steals, but he can't be counted on for much power or speed at this point in his career with limited playing time.

Feb 28

Stephen Kolek • SP • Royals

Stephen Kolek Being Shut Down With Grade 1 Oblique Strain

Kansas City Royals right-handed pitcher Stephen Kolek (oblique) has been diagnosed with a Grade 1-plus left oblique strain and will be shut down for the next week or so, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Kolek's timeline for a recovery will depend on how he responds to rest and recovery, putting his availability for Opening Day in late March very much up in the air. The 28-year-old's injury definitely hurts his chances of winning a spot in the starting rotation to begin the 2026 regular season. Kolek ended up making 19 starts with the Royals and San Diego Padres last year while going 5-7 with a 3.51 ERA (3.82 FIP), 1.14 WHIP, and 77:31 K:BB in 112 2/3 innings pitched. He started the year off with an impressive 14 1/3 straight scoreless innings and even threw a shutout at Coors Field before posting a 5.10 ERA in 12 starts. Kolek is a ground-ball artist with limited strikeout upside, limiting his fantasy appeal to AL-only leagues.

Feb 27

Jac Caglianone • RF • Royals

Jac Caglianone Launches First Spring Home Run on Tuesday

Kansas City Royals outfielder Jac Caglianone launched his first home run of spring training during Tuesday's contest against the Cincinnati Reds. The former top prospect hit a 460-foot long shot off Reds left-handed pitcher Brandon Williamson. Per Statcast, Caglianone hit the ball 115.2 mph. Caglianone made his MLB debut last summer but was unable to find much consistency during his first taste of the major leagues. Through 62 games, Caglianone held a .157/.237/.295 line with six doubles, seven home runs, and a modest 52:18 K:BB. However, in the minor leagues, the former Florida standout flashed immense upside, holding a .337/.408/.617 line with 20 home runs in a 66-game stint. Given his elite raw power, Caglianone is a prime post-hype breakout candidate heading into the 2026 season, as he should see an everyday role in the Kansas City lineup.

Feb 25

Carlos Estévez • RP • Royals

Carlos Estevez's Velocity Down in Spring Debut

Kansas City Royals closer Carlos Estevez's velocity was "way down" during his Cactus League debut on Tuesday at 86-89 mph, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Rogers says it's "eyebrow-raising" and "something to monitor," but it's also "exactly what came up last year." Estevez typically starts slow in the spring, and the Royals "really rely on how he says he feels." The 33-year-old was an All-Star for the second time in his career in 2025 in his first season with the Royals, posting a 2.45 ERA (3.67 FIP), 1.06 WHIP, a league- and career-high 42 saves, 54 strikeouts, and 22 walks in 66 innings pitched out of the bullpen. His 89.4% team save share was the highest among all relievers in MLB last year. Regression could be coming -- he had a career-low 20.1% strikeout rate in 2025 -- but he'll be KC's primary closer again, making him at least a low-end No. 1 fantasy closer in his second year with the Royals.

Feb 24

Dairon Blanco • CF • Royals

Dairon Blanco Avoids Full Concussion

Kansas City Royals manager Matt Quatraro said on Monday that outfielder Dairon Blanco (head) avoided a full concussion, but he will be taking it easy over the next few days with light activity inside, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Blanco will continue to be evaluated by the medical staff after getting hit square in the helmet by a 90 mph pitch in the seventh inning of Sunday's Cactus League game against the Milwaukee Brewers. The 32-year-old Cuban outfielder should be fine for Opening Day in late March, but he won't be on the fantasy baseball radar in the vast majority of leagues. Blanco has a career .257/.312/.416 slash line with a .728 OPS, seven home runs, 34 RBI, 59 runs scored, and 59 stolen bases in 171 games over his four seasons with the Royals. He played in only nine big-league games in 2025 and went 1-for-6 at the plate with an RBI and three steals.

Feb 23

Isaac Collins • LF • Royals

Isaac Collins Healthy After Receiving Knee Injections

Kansas City Royals outfielder Isaac Collins (knees) received platelet-rich plasma injections in his knees this offseason, according to MLB.com's Anne Rogers. Collins didn't play in a Cactus League game over the weekend, but he's scheduled to play in Tuesday's road game against the Cincinnati Reds, and then again on Friday at home against the Athletics. He has been taking live at-bats against Royals pitchers and participating in all working, but the Royals are intentionally taking it slow with Collins. The 28-year-old has otherwise felt great. After Friday's game, he'll be a full-go and will be on a normal build-up schedule. At the time the Royals traded for Collins in December, manager Matt Quatraro said the team knew about his knee injections. Barring an injury before Opening Day, Collins projects as the Royals' fourth outfielder, limiting his fantasy appeal to deep-mixed and AL-only leagues.

Feb 23

Dairon Blanco • CF • Royals

Dairon Blanco Being Evaluated for Head Injury

Kansas City Royals outfielder Dairon Blanco (head) was removed early during Sunday's Spring Training contest versus the Milwaukee Brewers. Blanco is being evaluated for a head injury after being hit in the head by a 90 mph pitch in the seventh inning. Manager Matt Quatraro said Blanco was dizzy getting up, but was able to walk and knew where he was. There is no word on whether or not Blanco has suffered a concussion. The expectation is that the Royals will take the cautious approach and hold out Blanco for the next few days.

Feb 22

Elias Díaz • C • Royals

Royals Agree to Minor-League Contract With Elias Diaz

The Kansas City Royals announced on Friday that they agreed to a minor-league contract with free-agent catcher Elias Diaz. The Royals expect him to join their major-league camp next week. Diaz, a former All-Star game MVP, will provide the Royals with extra catching depth going into the 2026 season behind Salvador Perez and Carter Jensen. The 35-year-old Venezuelan veteran backstop will most likely begin the year at Triple-A Omaha if he's still with the team. Diaz slashed .204/.270/.337 with a .607 OPS, nine home runs, 29 RBI, and 34 runs scored in 106 games with the San Diego Padres in 2025 while splitting time behind the plate with Martin Maldonado for most of the year. His batting average and strikeout rate (26.1%) were the worst marks of his career, although he has an above-average glove on defense. Diaz is going to need some injuries to find playing time in KC.

Feb 20

Lucas Erceg • RP • Royals

Lucas Erceg Throwing Off the Mound in Camp

Kansas City Royals right-handed reliever Lucas Erceg (shoulder) has been throwing off the mound in camp, according to Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star. Erceg should be fully healthy for Opening Day in late March after he was shut down in mid-September last year due to a right-shoulder impingement. The Royals' setup man finished his first full year in KC in 2025 with an 8-4 record, career-best 2.64 ERA (3.49 FIP), 1.17 WHIP, two saves, 22 holds, 48 strikeouts, and 18 walks in 61 1/3 innings out of the bullpen. The 30-year-old had a career-high 14 saves with the Athletics and Royals in 2024, and he saw a huge dip in strikeout rate from 28.5% to a career-low 19.3% last year. Injuries -- he also dealt with back and foot issues -- may have been the reason for his drop in K rate and velocity. With better health in 2026, Erceg could bounce back in the strikeout department while being a valuable contributor in holds leagues.

Feb 19

Lane Thomas • CF • Royals

Lane Thomas Says he's Fully Healthy

Kansas City Royals outfielder Lane Thomas (foot) said on Thursday that he's fully healthy this spring after he had surgery to fix plantar fasciitis in his right foot last September, according to Sports Radio 810. Thomas was a total bust for the Cleveland Guardians last year due to injuries. He was limited to only 39 regular-season games and hit .160/.246/.272 with a .518 OPS, four home runs, 11 RBI, 10 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 142 plate appearances in his seventh year in the majors. Despite the lost season, the 30-year-old veteran could see most of the playing time in left field for the Royals in 2026 after signing a one-year, $5.25 million deal in December. The previous two seasons with the Washington Nationals and Guardians, Thomas hit .255/.312/.439 with a .751 OPS, 43 homers, 149 RBI, and 52 steals in 286 games, so there is bounce-back potential if he's fully healthy. At the very least, he could be a sneaky waiver-wire pickup for his speed.

Feb 19

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.

Feb 16

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.

Feb 14

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.

Feb 14

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.

Feb 14

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.

Feb 13

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.

Feb 13

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