Kansas City Royals News

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Jorge Alfaro • C • Royals

Royals Sign Jorge Alfaro to Minor-League Deal

The Kansas City Royals have signed catcher Jorge Alfaro to a minor-league contract, according to Aram Leighton of Just Baseball Media. Alfaro spent the 2025 season with the Nationals. Through 14 games, Alfaro held a .256/.256/.308 line with just two extra-base hits and one stolen base. He spent the majority of the season in the minor leagues with the Nashville Sounds. The veteran backstop spent most of his MLB career with the Marlins. Through three seasons in Miami (2019 through 2021), Alfaro held a .252/.298/.386 line through 253 games with the Marlins. Fantasy managers should expect Alfaro to continue to remain in the minor leagues to open the 2026 season, as the Royals have longtime backstop Salvador Perez with budding star Carter Jensen sitting in the No. 2 role.

3 days ago

Kris Bubic • SP • Royals

Royals Looking To Trade Kris Bubic?

The Kansas City Royals are willing to move left-hander Kris Bubic (shoulder) to shed some payroll, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Bubic is projected to earn $6 million in arbitration, and the Royals are looking to add a bat. Royals have been linked to Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran and Cardinals second baseman/outfielder Brendan Donovan. Bubic is coming off a strong year in which he posted a career-low 2.55 ERA (3.15 xERA) with a 24.4% strikeout rate and a 1.18 WHIP across 116 1/3 innings. He missed most of the second half of the season with a left rotator cuff strain, but is expected to be ready by the time pitchers and catchers report. The 28-year-old southpaw has a 211.85 ADP and could move up draft boards if he is traded to a winning team.

Dec 21

Matt Strahm • RP • Royals

Royals Acquire Matt Strahm From Phillies

The Kansas City Royals traded right-hander Jonathan Bowlan to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for left-hander Matt Strahm. Strahm returns to Kansas City, the organization that originally drafted him in 2012. The 34-year-old has spent the last three seasons in Philly, posting a 2.71 ERA with 257 strikeouts across 212 2/3 innings. In Kansas City, Strahm projects as a high-leverage lefty and should be most valuable in leagues that count holds as a statistic. Bowlan, 29, is coming off his first full season in the majors. Last year, the 29-year-old pitched to a 3.86 ERA and a 25.6% strikeout rate across 44 1/3 innings. At this point, it's unclear whether Bowlan will make the major league roster out of spring training. Overall, the move is widely viewed as a salary dump by the Phillies, as Strahm is set to earn $7.5 million next season while Bowlan remains pre-arbitration eligible.

Dec 19

Nick Mears • RP • Royals

Royals Add Bullpen Arm in Nick Mears

The Kansas City Royals acquired right-handed reliever Nick Mears and outfielder Isaac Collins from the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday in exchange for left-hander Angel Zerpa, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. Mears was a useful arm in Milwaukee's bullpen this past season, sporting a career-best 3.49 ERA and 0.97 WHIP with his first career save, 46 strikeouts, and 13 walks in 56 2/3 regular-season innings. The 29-year-old will give the Royals some extra bullpen depth in front of setup man Lucas Erceg and closer Carlos Estevez. Mears won't hold much fantasy value in 2026, outside of deeper holds leagues, but he could become an intriguing pickup if injuries strike Estevez and Erceg. He has a career 4.61 ERA (4.06 FIP) and 1.33 WHIP with 174 punchouts and 72 walks in 164 relief innings with the Brewers, Pirates, and Rockies.

Dec 15

Isaac Collins • LF • Royals

Royals Acquire Isaac Collins From the Brewers

The Kansas City Royals acquired outfielder Isaac Collins and right-handed reliever Nick Mears from the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday in exchange for left-hander Angel Zerpa, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN.com. Collins surprisingly finished fourth in the National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2025 after slashing .263/.368/.411 with a .779 OPS, nine home runs, 54 RBI, 56 runs scored, and 16 stolen bases in 130 regular-season games for the Brew Crew. The 28-year-old former ninth-rounder by the Rockies in 2019 out of Creighton struggled down the stretch, though. In Kansas City, the switch-hitting outfielder will likely compete for a platoon spot in the outfield for the Royals in spring training. The move to the American League Central with a clearer path to regular playing time should make him more attractive as a late-round flier in AL-only fantasy leagues in 2026.

Dec 15

Maikel Garcia • 3B • Royals

Maikel Garcia, Royals Agree on Five-Year Extension

Third baseman Maikel Garcia and the Kansas City Royals are finalizing a five-year contract extension on Friday that includes a club option for a sixth year, sources tell Jeff Passan of ESPN. The 25-year-old won a Gold Glove in 2025 at the hot corner and will stay on the left side of KC's infield with All-Star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. for years to come. According to MLB.com's Anne Rogers, the deal is worth a guaranteed $57.5 million and can reach $85 million if he hits his escalators and his option is exercised. Garcia was eligible for salary arbitration for the first time this year as a Super 2 qualifier, but this deal will cover all of his arbitration years and one year of free agency. After swiping 37 bases in 2024, Garcia broke out with the bat in 2025, slashing .286/.351/.449 with 16 homers, 23 steals, 74 RBI, and 81 runs in 160 games. Garcia improved his strikeout and walk rates, launched the ball more, and hit the ball harder. His power/speed combo makes him an attractive target in fantasy once the high-end names come off the board.

Dec 12

Lane Thomas • CF • Royals

Lane Thomas Agrees to One-Year Deal With Royals

Free-agent outfielder Lane Thomas has agreed to a one-year, $5.25 million deal with the Kansas City Royals, with an additional $1 million available through incentives, according to Will Sammon of The Athletic. Thomas battled injuries last season and struggled at the plate, slashing .166/.245/.290 with five home runs and five stolen bases over 177 plate appearances with the Cleveland Guardians. The 30-year-old has yet to recapture his 2023 breakout form, when he hit 28 home runs, stole 20 bases, and posted a .268/.315/.468 slash line with a 109 wRC+. For the Royals, Thomas is expected to open the season as the starting left fielder and will likely slot into the lower part of the batting order. Fantasy managers can safely take a wait-and-see approach for now, but he's a name to monitor early in the season in case he rediscovers his previous level of production.

Dec 12

Noah Cameron • SP • Royals |

Stephen Kolek • SP • Royals

Royals' Noah Cameron, Ryan Bergert, and Stephen Kolek Drawing Interest

The Kansas City Royals' starting pitchers Noah Cameron, Ryan Bergert, and Stephen Kolek are drawing interest from several teams, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. The St. Louis Cardinals have specifically checked in on Cameron, who posted a 2.99 ERA (4.33 SIERA) with a 12.8 K-BB% across 138 1/3 innings last season. While Rogers did not specify which clubs are eyeing Bergert and Kolek, it's reasonable to assume that neither pitcher would fetch a significant return. In 2025, Bergert recorded a 3.66 ERA (4.62 SIERA) with an 11.8 K-BB% over 76 1/3 innings, while Kolek logged a 3.51 ERA (4.39 SIERA) with a 10.0 K-BB% across 112 2/3 innings.

Dec 10

Kris Bubic • SP • Royals

Kris Bubic a Trade Candidate for Royals?

The Kansas City Royals are looking to upgrade their outfield this offseason, and they are willing to trade a starting pitcher in order to get one, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. The most logical trade candidate could be left-hander Kris Bubic, who is projected to earn $6 million in his final year of salary arbitration before free agency. The Royals aren't pursuing the most expensive outfield options in Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger, and they might also be out on Harrison Bader, who is believed to be seeking a three-year deal. According to people briefed on their talks, KC's preference is to add two outfielders. They may re-sign Mike Yastrzemski. Adolis Garcia, Max Kepler, Mike Tauchman, Lane Thomas, and JJ Bleday are other free-agent options. Bubic missed most of the second half with a left rotator-cuff strain, but he was cleared to begin throwing in early November and should have a normal season in 2026 after avoiding shoulder surgery.

Dec 8

Cole Ragans • SP • Royals

Red Sox Targeting Cole Ragans in a Trade?

The Boston Red Sox are keeping a close eye on Kansas City Royals left-hander Cole Ragans this offseason and are interested in acquiring him in a trade, according to Alex Speier of The Boston Globe. Boston already acquired veteran right-hander Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals this offseason to pair at the top of their starting rotation with left-hander Garrett Crochet, but it appears they might not be done. To land Ragans, it's going to take a "big return," but the Royals and Red Sox could be a match, as Boston is looking to unload an outfielder, potentially Jarren Duran. Connelly Early or Payton Tolle might be involved in a potential deal, which is nothing more than a rumor for now. Ragans was a first-time All-Star in 2024, but the 27-year-old southpaw was limited to only 13 starts due to injury and finished with a 4.67 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 61 2/3 innings. However, he finished the year strong after returning from injury, and his high-strikeout upside makes him a nice fantasy target for a rebound in 2026.

Dec 2

Kris Bubic • SP • Royals

Kris Bubic Attracting Trade Interest

Kansas City Royals All-Star left-hander Kris Bubic is attracting trade interest from multiple teams, league sources told The Athletic's Will Sammon. People familiar with the Royals' thinking are saying that the team is "open to the possibility of dealing Bubic" as they look to bolster their offense. The 28-year-old southpaw is a year away from reaching free agency and is projected to make $6 million in 2026 in his final year of salary arbitration. He missed most of the second half of the season with a left rotator-cuff strain, but he was strong before that, posting a 2.55 ERA (2.89 FIP) with 116 strikeouts and 39 walks in 20 starts over 116 1/3 innings. Despite not featuring a ton of velocity, Sammon writes that some rival evaluators are "bullish on his outlook" after he overhauled his repertoire to add a sweeper while improving his fastball and changeup. It's not a lock that KC trades Bubic this offseason, but he's more likely to be moved than Cole Ragans, Michael Wacha, or Seth Lugo.

Nov 13

Kameron Misner • CF • Royals

Royals Acquire Kameron Misner From Rays

The Kansas City Royals announced on Monday that they acquired outfielder Kameron Misner from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. The move was made after the Rays designated Misner for assignment last week. The 27-year-old former first-rounder by the Miami Marlins in 2019 out of Missouri played in eight games for the Rays in 2024 before appearing in 71 games this past season, recording a .213 average (42-for-197) with five homers, 22 RBI, 27 runs, eight steals, and a 69:16 K:BB in his 217 plate appearances. Misner will now give the Royals extra outfield depth, and he'll be competing for an Opening Day roster spot during spring training. The athletic outfielder showed an intriguing power/speed combination in the minors, but he'll need to cut down on the strikeouts at the big-league level to get an extended shot with the Royals.

Nov 12

Mason Black • SP • Royals

Royals Acquire Mason Black From Giants

The Kansas City Royals acquired right-hander Mason Black from the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday in exchange for right-hander Logan Martin, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports. Black will head to KC after the Giants designated him for assignment last week. The 25-year-old former third-round pick by SF in 2021 out of Lehigh University only threw four innings out of the bullpen for the Giants in 2025, allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits (two homers) while walking none and striking out five. He wasn't much better in the minors, collecting a 5.81 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in 119 1/3 innings. Martin, 24, was a former 12th-rounder by KC in 2023 out of Kentucky. He has yet to make his major-league debut after three seasons in the minors, going 12-7 wth a 3.49 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 187:71 K:BB in 51 appearances (41 starts).

Nov 11

Salvador Perez • C • Royals

Salvador Perez Agrees to Two-Year Extension With Royals

The Kansas City Royals announced on Tuesday that they agreed to a two-year contract extension with veteran catcher Salvador Perez through the 2027 season. The deal is worth $25 million. Before the extension, Perez had a $13.5 million team option for the 2026 campaign. The 35-year-old nine-time All-Star showed his age by hitting .236 (141-for-597) in 2025, but he still managed to reach the 30-homer mark for just the second time in his career while driving in 100 runs for the third time in his career and in back-to-back seasons. The Venezuelan backstop is heading into his 15th MLB campaign, and while he still has plenty of fantasy value at a weak position because of his power and run-producing ability, injuries will be a concern, and fantasy managers will no longer be able to count on a high batting average.

Nov 5

Kris Bubic • SP • Royals

Kris Bubic Cleared to Begin a Throwing Program

Kansas City Royals left-hander Kris Bubic (shoulder) has been cleared to begin an offseason throwing program, according to MLB.com. Bubic's 2025 season ended early in late July due to a left rotator-cuff strain, but he thankfully avoided having to go under the knife. The 28-year-old southpaw should be ready for the start of the 2026 season, but his shoulder injury will make him much more of a risk in fantasy drafts next spring. Before his rotator-cuff injury, though, Bubic made his first career All-Star team by going 8-7 with a career-best 2.55 ERA (2.90 FIP) and 1.18 WHIP with a career-high 116 strikeouts and 39 walks in 116 1/3 innings over 20 starts for the Royals. If not for his shoulder injury, Bubic was well on his way to a breakout campaign in his sixth year in the majors. In his 117 big-league appearances (80 starts), Bubic has a 4.14 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, and a below-average 21.9% strikeout rate.

Nov 4

Seth Lugo • SP • Royals

Seth Lugo Shut Down for Rest of 2025

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Seth Lugo (back) won't take the mound again this season, according to manager Matt Quatraro. Lugo has been sidelined since early September due to back discomfort. The right-hander was able to throw a bullpen session, but didn't respond well. It doesn't sound like Lugo is healing fast enough to take the mound again before the regular season ends. He'll finish the 2025 campaign with a 4.15 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and a 125/55 K/BB across 26 starts. Lugo should be ready in time for spring training next season.

Sep 21

Jac Caglianone • RF • Royals

Jac Caglianone in Lineup on Sunday

Kansas City Royals outfielder Jac Caglianone (elbow) is in the lineup against the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday. He'll play right field and bat eighth versus right-hander Trey Yesavage. Caglianone left the Royals' 2-1 win early on Saturday after taking a pitch off the right elbow, but it won't cost him any additional time. The 22-year-old has a week left to try to end a difficult rookie campaign on a positive note. Since debuting on June 3, Caglianone has struggled to a .162/.239/.298 line with seven homers, 18 RBI, and 18 runs scored in 57 games and 218 plate appearances.

Sep 21

Seth Lugo • SP • Royals

Seth Lugo "a Long Shot" to Return This Season

Kansas City Royals right-hander Seth Lugo (back) is "a long shot" to pitch again this season, according to manager Matt Quatraro. Lugo has been on the 15-day injured list since Sept. 1 with a strained lower back, and after he had a setback in a Sept. 15 bullpen session, it appears his season is over. While Lugo's condition has improved since then, he still hasn't resumed throwing. After finishing as the American League Cy Young runner-up in 2024, the 35-year-old's production has gone backward this season. Lugo has made 26 starts and posted an 8-7 record with a 4.15 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP, 125 strikeouts, and 55 walks in 145 1/3 innings.

Sep 20

Bailey Falter • SP • Royals

Bailey Falter Starting Rehab Assignment on Thursday

The Kansas City Royals expect left-hander Bailey Falter (biceps) to start a minor-league rehab assignment on Thursday night with Triple-A Omaha. It remains to be seen if Falter will be able to return to the big-league squad in the last week and a half of the season. The 28-year-old southpaw was placed on the 15-day injured list in late August and is trying to return after suffering a left-biceps contusion. Before his injury, the Royals had moved Falter into a relief role, killing what little fantasy value he had. In 26 appearances (24 starts) with the Royals and Pittsburgh Pirates this year, Falter has a 4.45 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 81:46 K:BB in 125 1/3 innings. He has appeared in only four games (two starts) with the Royals and has allowed 15 earned runs with seven walks and 11 punchouts in only 12 innings pitched.

Sep 18

John Rave • RF • Royals

John Rave Recalled from Triple-A Omaha

Kansas City Royals outfielder John Rave was recalled from Triple-A Omaha on Thursday after Kyle Isbel (hamstring) was placed on the 10-day injured list. The 27-year-old debuted with the team in late May, logging 156 plate appearances before being sent down in late August. During his time in the majors, the left-handed slugger hit just .199, but was able to walk at a 10.3 percent rate, hit four home runs, and steal seven bases in his limited action. Even so, the former fifth-round draft pick is not a viable fantasy option as he'll likely just get sporadic starts down the stretch, so he's best left on the waiver wire.

Sep 18

Kansas City Royals News

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