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Nick Mears Nick Mears Nabs $1.9 million from Royals
Thu, Jan 8, 2026, 4:44 PM
Mears agreed to a one-year, $1.9 million contract with the Royals on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Mears was traded from Milwaukee to Kansas City in December following his best season in the majors, during which he logged a 3.49 ERA and 0.97 WHIP over 56.2 innings. The 29-year-old will now receive a $937,000 raise from his new club and is expected to begin the new year as a middle reliever for the Royals. |
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John Schreiber John Schreiber Reaches deal with KC
Thu, Jan 8, 2026, 4:39 PM
Schreiber agreed to a one-year, $3.715 million contract with the Royals on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Schreiber's $1.415 million raise comes after he posted a 3.80 ERA and 1.19 WHIP across 64 innings in 2025 while collecting 23 holds. The Royals brought in Matt Strahm from Philadelphia in December, which figures to lessen the number of high-leverage opportunities available for Schreiber in 2026, but he should still collect his fair share of holds again this year. The 31-year-old righty is due to enter the open market next offseason. |
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Bailey Falter Bailey Falter Settles at $3.6 million
Thu, Jan 8, 2026, 3:32 PM
Falter (biceps) agreed to a one-year, $3.6 million contract with the Royals on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Analysis: Falter failed to make a positive first impression with the Royals after being traded from Pittsburgh at the deadline, as he allowed 15 earned runs over just 12 innings before spending the final month of the season on the injured list due to a biceps contusion. He's likely to be fully recovered by the time spring training starts, at which point he'll compete for a spot in Kansas City's rotation. |
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Kyle Isbel Kyle Isbel Nets $2.7 million from Royals
Thu, Jan 8, 2026, 3:20 PM
Isbel (hamstring) agreed to a one-year, $2.7 million contract with the Royals on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Analysis: Isbel batted .255 over 135 games last year but otherwise failed to improve at the plate, finishing the season with a .654 OPS alongside four home runs, 33 RBI and 42 runs scored -- all decreases from 2024. With the Royals bringing in Lane Thomas and Isaac Collins during the offseason, Isbel is likely to receive some competition for playing time in the outfield in 2026. |
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Daniel Lynch IV Daniel Lynch IV Gets $1.025 million from Royals
Thu, Jan 8, 2026, 2:32 PM
Lynch agreed to a one-year, $1.025 million contract with the Royals on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Lynch finished the 2025 campaign with a 3.06 ERA across 67.2 innings, although his 4.75 FIP tells a much different story about how well he performed on the mound. He'll pick up a slight raise for 2026 and figures to continue working in a multi-inning relief role for the Royals. |
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Michael Massey Michael Massey Settles at $1.57 million
Thu, Jan 8, 2026, 12:07 PM
Massey agreed to a one-year, $1.57 million contract with the Royals on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.
Analysis: It's the first season of arbitration eligibility for Massey, who missed nearly three months during the 2025 season due to wrist, ankle and back issues. The 27-year-old struggled when available last year with a .244/.268/.313 slash line in 77 games, which was a significant decline from his .743 OPS during the 2024 regular season. |
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Josh Rojas Josh Rojas Grabs NRI pact from Royals
Wed, Jan 7, 2026, 1:47 PM
The Royals signed Rojas to a minor-league contract Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Rojas slashed just .180/.252/.259 over 69 games for the White Sox in 2025 before being released in August. The 31-year-old's defensive versatility will give him a shot to earn a spot on the Royals' Opening Day roster, but the better bet is that he begins the season at Triple-A Omaha. |
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Jorge Alfaro Jorge Alfaro Inks MiLB deal with Royals
Mon, Jan 5, 2026, 1:19 PM
The Royals signed Alfaro to a minor-league contract Monday, Aram Leighton of JustBaseball.com reports.
Analysis: Alfaro got into 14 games with the Nationals in 2025, slashing .256/.256/.308. The 32-year-old hasn't seen significant action at the major-league level since 2022, and with Salvador Perez and Carter Jensen locked onto the big-league roster, that's unlikely to change in 2026. |
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Abraham Toro Abraham Toro Signs NRI pact with Royals
Fri, Dec 19, 2025, 9:25 AM
The Royals signed Toro to a minor-league contract Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.
Analysis: Toro got into 77 games with the Red Sox this past season, slashing .239/.289/.371 with seven long balls. The 29-year-old can handle first base, second base and third base, and that versatility gives him a shot to land an Opening Day roster spot in a reserve role. |
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Matt Strahm Matt Strahm Headed back to Kansas City
Fri, Dec 19, 2025, 8:56 AM
The Royals acquired Strahm from the Phillies on Friday in exchange for Jonathan Bowlan, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: It's a homecoming for Strahm, who was drafted by and first reached the majors with the Royals. The left-hander has been one of the best relievers in baseball in recent years, posting a 2.71 ERA, 30.5 percent strikeout rate and 6.2 percent walk rate over the last three regular seasons for the Phillies. Strahm will help set up ahead of closer Carlos Estevez. |
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Salvador Perez Salvador Perez Injures thumb in winter ball
Tue, Dec 16, 2025, 12:20 PM
Perez suffered a left thumb injury Sunday while playing in the Venezuelan Winter League, Al Son de la LVBP reports.
Analysis: Perez posted a video on Instagram of himself working out and he didn't seem to be overly affected by the injury, so it seems to be a day-to-day situation that shouldn't affect his availability for spring training. The 35-year-old Perez has gone 6-for-29 with two home runs for Leones del Caracas in winter ball thus far. |
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Nick Mears Nick Mears Sent to Royals
Sat, Dec 13, 2025, 5:49 PM
The Brewers traded Mears to the Royals on Saturday alongside Isaac Collins in exchange for Angel Zerpa, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Mears enjoyed the best campaign of his career with Milwaukee in 2025, finishing the regular season with a 3.49 ERA and 0.97 WHIP over 56.2 innings while also notching his first career save. The 29-year-old righty is unlikely to beat out Carlos Estevez and Lucas Erceg in the race for high-leverage opportunities, but Mears will inject some depth into Kansas City's middle-relief unit. |
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Isaac Collins Isaac Collins Traded to Kansas City
Sat, Dec 13, 2025, 5:41 PM
The Brewers traded Collins to the Royals on Saturday alongside Nick Mears in exchange for Angel Zerpa, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Collins entered the 2025 season as a relatively unknown player but quickly proved himself as a productive bat, slashing .263/.368/.411 with 54 RBI, 56 runs scored and 16 stolen bases over 441 regular-season plate appearances. His performance allowed him to take fourth place in NL Rookie of the Year voting. With Garrett Mitchell (shoulder) expected to return in 2026 and Akil Baddoo signing with the Brewers on Thursday, Milwaukee's outfield room was beginning to become crowded, so the team will now send Collins to Kansas City, where the 28-year-old outfielder should have a much easier path to regular playing time. |
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Jose Cuas Jose Cuas Returns to Royals
Fri, Dec 12, 2025, 3:04 PM
The Royals signed Cuas to a minor-league contract Friday.
Analysis: Cuas spent all of the 2025 season in the minors after collecting a 4.37 ERA and 122:69 K:BB over 119.1 frames at the major-league level from 2022-2024. The first one-and-a-half of those seasons was spent with the Royals. Cuas should be ticketed for Triple-A Omaha to begin the 2026 campaign. |
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Maikel Garcia Maikel Garcia Signs five-year contract extension
Fri, Dec 12, 2025, 11:56 AM
The Royals and Garcia (hamstring) avoided arbitration by agreeing to a five-year contract extension with a club option for 2031 on Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Anne Rogers of MLB.com says the deal is worth a guaranteed $57.5 million and can reach $85 million if he hits escalators and the option is exercised. Garcia had been eligible for salary arbitration for the first time as a Super 2 qualifier, but his new deal with cover all arbitration years and at least one year of free agency. Slated to turn 26 in March, Garcia had a breakout 2025 season, slashing .286/.351/.449 with 16 home runs and 23 stolen bases while capturing his first American League Gold Glove award. Garcia recently strained his hamstring while playing in the Venezuelan Winter League, but he should be fine for the beginning of spring training. |
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Kevin Newman Kevin Newman Receives NRI deal with Royals
Fri, Dec 12, 2025, 10:50 AM
The Royals signed Newman to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training Friday.
Analysis: Newman managed just a .202/.209/.272 batting line in 56 games for the Angels in 2025 before eventually being released. The 32-year-old does still have a steady, versatile glove, but it will be a bad sign for the Royals if he winds up playing a lot in 2026. |
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Lane Thomas Lane Thomas Links up with Royals
Thu, Dec 11, 2025, 5:46 PM
Thomas (foot) signed a one-year, $5.25 million contract with the Royals on Thursday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Injuries limited Thomas to playing in just 39 games with the Guardians in 2025, as he missed time at the start of the year with a wrist issue before plantar fasciitis in his right foot ended his season in July. When the 30-year-old was healthy, he struggled to remain effective, slashing just .160/.246/.272 over 142 plate appearances. Despite his struggles, Thomas should be able to capture a starting job in a Royals outfield that lacks depth following Mike Yastrzemski's departure. |
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Jonathan India Jonathan India Will stick to second base in 2026
Tue, Dec 9, 2025, 8:54 AM
The Royals plan to keep India at second base in 2026 rather than playing him at multiple positions, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: India played third base and left field in addition to second base in 2025, and the Royals believe all the moving around could have affected the 29-year-old's offense, as he slashed just .233/.323/.346 in his first year in Kansas City. It was a bit of a surprise that Royals brought India back for $8 million rather than non-tendering him, but they're confident he can bounce back in his walk year. |
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Maikel Garcia Maikel Garcia Strains hamstring in winter ball
Mon, Dec 8, 2025, 5:48 PM
Garcia suffered a strained hamstring Sunday while playing for Tiburones de La Guaira in the Venezuelan Winter League, Marcos Grunfeld of El Emergente reports.
Analysis: Garcia will wait to hear back from the Royals about either returning to winter ball at a later date or shutting things down. At the very least, he is expected to be sidelined for the next week or so. Garcia had a breakout 2025 campaign for Kansas City, slashing .286/.351/.449 with 16 home runs and 23 stolen bases over 160 games. |
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Jonathan India Jonathan India Settles with Royals at $8 million
Fri, Nov 21, 2025, 3:06 PM
The Royals and India avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $8 million contract, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: India was seen as a non-tender candidate after he slashed a disappointing .233/.323/.346 over 136 games in his first year in Kansas City, but the Royals ultimately decided to bring him back in his final year of arbitration eligibility. Slated to turn 29 next month, India played second base, third base and left field for the Royals in 2025 and could bounce around to different positions for them again in 2026. |
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