After losing 106 games in 2023, the Royals shocked the baseball world in 2024 by making the playoffs and sweeping the Orioles in the wild-card round before falling to the Yankees in four games in the ALDS.
The starting rotation was the biggest change for the Royals from 2023 to 2024. They signed veteran free agents Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha. Both finished in the top ten in ERA in the American League. Cole Ragans, acquired in the summer of 2023, became an ace, and Brady Singer became a solid third starter.
The unit should be a strength in 2025. Lugo, Ragans and Singer will all return. Wacha has a player option next year and could return. The Royals also have Kyle Wright, acquired last offseason from the Braves. Wright was injured all of 2024 but won 21 games in 2022. And Alec Marsh, who started 25 games this season, will still be around for depth.
One area in which the Royals must improve is the outfield. They ranked 29th in the majors in production. The team’s outfielders’ accumulative slash line was paltry at best at .219/.282/.366. As a group, they hit just 58 home runs and drove in only 225 runs.
MJ Melendez is under team control but has yet to grow as a batter. In 2024, his third season in the majors, he slashed a brutal .206/.273/.400. Hunter Renfroe has a player option to stay in Kansas City and earn $7.57M, according to Spotrac. The best of the regulars is Kyle Isbel, who is unspectacular at best. He slashed .229/.287/.367, but is terrific in centerfield.
The Royals need to get better at both corner outfield spots. It will be hard to improve if they go into next season with the same players roaming the grass in Kauffman Stadium.
Third base was hardly better. As a group, the Royals who manned the hot corner slashed a pitiful .222/.280/.324. Kansas City ranked 26th in production in the majors. Maikel Garcia was the main culprit. While he has some excellent aspects to his game, including his glove and speed, he might be better suited for a utility role.
For most of the season, the bullpen was an issue, but it was more than solid in September and October. They need to add another big arm or two for next season, but there are pieces in place that offer hope for 2025.
The front office must find some offensive help for shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino and catcher Salvador Perez. The latter will be 35-years-old next season, and while he had a fantastic season this year, he probably won’t be able to match that again.
A few outfielders and third basemen will be available this offseason, but the ones who offer the most help will also cost the most. The Royals’ budget is still being determined.
It will be interesting to see what the front office can pull together because the AL Central is now competitive again, and the Royals are once again contenders.
