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Junior Fernandez Junior Fernandez Latches on with Kansas City
Fri, Dec 20, 2024, 2:09 PM
The Royals signed Fernandez to a minor-league contract Friday.
Analysis: Fernandez signed with Japan's Chiba Lotte Marines last offseason but wound up making just two appearances for them. The right-handed reliever last appeared in the big leagues in 2022 and has posted a 5.17 ERA and 47:35 K:BB over 54 career innings covering parts of four major-league seasons. |
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Taylor Clarke Taylor Clarke Back with KC
Tue, Dec 17, 2024, 9:31 PM
Clarke signed a minor-league contract with the Royals on Thursday.
Analysis: Clarke spent the entire 2024 campaign with the Brewers' Triple-A affiliate, turning in a 4.92 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 64 innings. He'll now return to the organization he spent two seasons with from 2022-23, though he doesn't project to act as anything more than organizational depth this time around. |
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Kyle Wright Kyle Wright Avoids arbitration
Tue, Dec 17, 2024, 2:58 PM
The Royals and Wright (shoulder) avoid arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.8 million contract Tuesday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Wright will make the same salary in 2025 as he made in 2024 when he missed the season while recovering from surgery to repair a torn capsule in his right shoulder. The right-hander has been throwing off a mound and hopes to be without restrictions during spring training as he competes for a spot in the Royals' rotation. |
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Kyle Wright Kyle Wright Hopes to be 100 percent for spring
Thu, Dec 12, 2024, 11:30 AM
Wright (shoulder) hopes to be fully healthy for spring training and compete for a spot in the Royals' rotation, Jaylon Thompson of the Kansas City Star reports.
Analysis: Wright underwent surgery in October of 2023 to repair a torn capsule in his right shoulder. He's now more than a year removed from that operation and in October touched 90 mph during a bullpen session. That's a far cry from the 95.1 mph Wright averaged with his four-seamer during his breakout 2022 campaign when he won 21 games and posted a 3.19 ERA, but the hope is that his velocity will continue to tick up as he further distances himself from surgery. It's no guarantee his stuff will bounce back as he returns from major shoulder surgery, but Wright will be one to keep a close eye on during spring training. |
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Maikel Garcia Maikel Garcia Expected to be ready for spring
Fri, Dec 6, 2024, 10:19 AM
Garcia (elbow) is expected to be ready for the start of spring training, MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Garcia reported soreness in his right elbow while playing catch recently and an MRI revealed bone chips, which he had surgically removed Thursday. The Royals are calling the procedure "minor" and do not expect the infielder's availability for the beginning of spring training to be impacted. Garcia slashed .231/.281/.332 with seven home runs and 37 stolen bases for Kansas City during the 2024 regular season. |
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Maikel Garcia Maikel Garcia Undergoes elbow surgery
Thu, Dec 5, 2024, 9:34 PM
Garcia underwent surgery to remove bone spurs from his right elbow Thursday, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.
Analysis: Garcia didn't spend any time on the injured list in 2024 and was available throughout the postseason, leaving it unclear when he suffered the injury. The Royals haven't commented as to whether Garcia's recovery will cost him any time during spring training or even regular season contests. |
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Jordan Groshans Jordan Groshans Latches on with KC
Tue, Dec 3, 2024, 6:29 PM
Groshans signed a minor-league contract with the Royals on Tuesday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Analysis: Most of Groshans' time last season was spent in Double-A, where he slashed .237/.313/.318 across 320 plate appearances between the Yankees' and Athletics' affiliates. He could potentially receive a bump to Triple-A upon joining the Royals, though major-league at-bats are likely out of the question for the 25-year-old. |
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Kris Bubic Kris Bubic Returning to rotation
Tue, Dec 3, 2024, 5:52 PM
The Royals intend to move Bubic back into their starting rotation in 2025, per Will Sammon, Katie Woo and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Analysis: After recovering from a Tommy John procedure he underwent in April 2023, Bubic appeared exclusively out of the bullpen during the final three months of the 2024 campaign. In 27 regular-season appearances, the lefty posted a strong 2.67 ERA and 1.02 WHIP alongside a 39:5 K:BB over 30.1 frames. Assuming the 27-year-old is able to turn in similar numbers during spring training, he should have little trouble securing a spot in the Royals' rotation, which lost some depth after the trade that sent Brady Singer to Cincinnati. |
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Jonathan India Jonathan India Dealt to KC
Fri, Nov 22, 2024, 6:25 PM
The Royals acquired India (ankle) and Joey Wiemer in exchange for Brady Singer on Friday.
Analysis: India enjoyed a strong 2024 season with the Reds while serving as their primary second baseman. However, with Matt McLain and Christian Encarnacion-Strand back from injury, there was a projected playing time squeeze along Cincinnati's infield. India should immediately slot into the starting second base job with the Royals and should have the chance to hit in a prominent spot in the lineup. |
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Joey Wiemer Joey Wiemer Headed to Kansas City
Fri, Nov 22, 2024, 6:07 PM
The Reds traded Wiemer and Jonathan India to the Royals on Friday in exchange for Brady Singer.
Analysis: Wiemer went just 4-for-26 with nine strikeouts in 21 big-league games played between Milwaukee and Cincinnati last season. His performance in the minors wasn't great either, as he slashed .189/.277/.226 in 119 plate appearances with the Reds' Triple-A affiliate after being traded at the deadline. Once regarded as a top prospect in the Brewers' farm system, the 25-year-old Wiemer will look to turn things around with the Royals, though he will likely report to Triple-A Omaha. |
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Michael Wacha Michael Wacha Inks new deal with Royals
Sun, Nov 3, 2024, 1:07 PM
Wacha agreed to a three-year, $51 million contract with the Royals on Sunday that includes a $14 million club option for 2028, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: The right-hander was expected to decline his $16 million player option for 2025, but Kansas City utilized the exclusive five-day negotiating window after the World Series to secure a new deal. Wacha was a key rotation piece for the Royals during their 2024 resurgence with a 3.35 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 145:45 K:BB over 166.2 innings. |
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Chris Stratton Chris Stratton Exercises option
Thu, Oct 31, 2024, 8:44 PM
Stratton (forearm) exercised his player worth $4.5 million for the 2025 season, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Stratton threw 58.1 innings out of the bullpen for the Royals in 2024, occasionally working in high-leverage situations. He posted a 5.55 ERA and 1.47 WHIP to go along with four saves and five holds. Stratton's season ended in mid-September due to injury, though he is expected to be ready for the start of spring training. |
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Hunter Renfroe Hunter Renfroe Sticking with Royals
Thu, Oct 31, 2024, 8:27 PM
Renfroe exercised his player option worth $7.6 million for the 2025 season, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Renfroe began the season as the starting right fielder for the Royals, though his role shrunk after the acquisition of Tommy Pham. His primary shortcoming was a lack of power, as he posted a career-low .163 ISO across 424 plate appearances. Pham is entering free agency, which could give Renfroe a shot to start again entering 2025. |
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Chris Stratton Chris Stratton On track for start of spring
Tue, Oct 15, 2024, 9:00 AM
Stratton (forearm) is expected to be healthy for the beginning of spring training, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Stratton missed the final couple weeks of the regular season and the playoffs with a right flexor strain, but he's expected to recover with an offseason of rest. The veteran reliever holds a $4.5 million player option for 2025, which he seems likely to exercise after posting a lackluster 5.55 ERA and 44:33 K:BB over 58.1 innings in 2024. |
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James McArthur James McArthur Expected to be ready for spring
Tue, Oct 15, 2024, 8:57 AM
McArthur (elbow) is expected to be ready for the start of spring training, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: McArthur was diagnosed with a Grade 1 UCL sprain in his right elbow in mid-September, resulting in a premature end to his season. While a Grade 1 sprain is the least severe, there is always going to be some long-term concern when UCL damage is involved. For now, though, the expectation is McArthur will be ready for spring training after some rest and rehab. |
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Adam Frazier Adam Frazier Undergoing thumb surgery
Tue, Oct 15, 2024, 8:53 AM
Frazier will undergo surgery on his right thumb this week, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Frazier strained the thumb back in June and required a brief injured-list stint at the time. The exact nature of the procedure he will have isn't clear, but Frazier should be fully healthy well ahead of spring training. The utility player has an $8.5 million mutual option for 2025. |
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Tommy Pham Tommy Pham Sitting out ALDS Game 3
Wed, Oct 9, 2024, 12:36 PM
Pham is not in the lineup Wednesday for Game 3 of the ALDS versus the Yankees.
Analysis: Pham was in the lineup for the first two games of the series, picking up two hits, two RBI and two runs scored. He will begin Game 3 on the bench as Adam Frazier starts in right field and bats eighth. |
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Michael Wacha Michael Wacha Named Game 4 starter
Tue, Oct 8, 2024, 6:18 PM
Wacha will start Thursday in Game 4 of the ALDS against the Yankees, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Wacha had a rough outing in Game 1 on Saturday, allowing three earned runs on four hits and three walks over four innings en route to a loss. The 33-year-old righty is no stranger to poor postseason performances, as he owns a 5.36 ERA over 42 innings across nine playoff appearances in his career. |
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Seth Lugo Seth Lugo Gets nod for ALDS Game 3
Mon, Oct 7, 2024, 10:55 PM
Lugo will start Wednesday in Game 3 of the ALDS against the Yankees, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Lugo will toe the rubber Wednesday night after the Royals were able to even the series Monday. The right-hander turned in a decent outing in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series against Baltimore, allowing one run on five hits and one walk while striking out six over 4.1 innings. |
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Kyle Isbel Kyle Isbel Absent from Game 2 lineup
Mon, Oct 7, 2024, 3:10 PM
Isbel is not in the lineup Monday for Game 2 of the ALDS against the Yankees.
Analysis: The left-handed-hitting Isbel will grab as seat as the Yankees send southpaw Carlos Rodon to the bump. Garrett Hampson is covering center field and batting ninth for the Royals. |
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