***Official 2024/2025 KC Royals Offseason Thread***

[GabyKeepsMeWarm]

Royals went from 56-106 to 86-76.

Made the playoffs. Took out the Orioles on the road.

Lost in four games to the Yankees by 4 runs.

Finally got a bullpen.

Had two pitchers who will finish in the top five for the Cy Young.

Bobby Witt jr turned into a superstar likely being an MVP #2 to that phag in NY.

Salvy just kept doing Salvy stuff.

Vinnie came back from shoulder surgery and had a helluva year.

Cole Ragans had a full season. His arm didn’t fall off. He’s probably top five for Cy Young.

Seth Lugo is gonna finish top five for Cy Young. He’s like Rick Reed. And he’s ours for at least another season.

Brady Singer will get his next time with arbitration. And I’m ambivalent, but I know it’s damn hard to find healthy arms who could be be better as a 3/4 starter.

Michael Wacha was more than everything we could’ve ever wanted, but I say let that man fly unless he wants to take a dumb contract, which he won’t do.

That gives us Alec Marsh who was pretty great for his role.

And we have Wright coming in, plus Bubic who could start.

But this team needs another bat and wingman for Bobby. It’s perfect that Juan Soto would fill many roles, but it ain’t happening.

Adames is someone I like. And we can dangle Massey/Garcia. Just a thought.

This team…. I hope they go into the offseason working hard, and I hope they got the glitter out of their eyes.

Good team with obvious weakness, and a perennial superstar ready to erupt….

Sherman and JJ should be on the phone soon

[nychief]

Originally Posted by TLO

I think you can live with Isbel in CF if he provides excellent defense. He would be fine in the #9 spot, IMO.

Melendez... I don't know. He doesn't play great defense in left, and his bat doesn't warrant an everyday spot in the lineup.

MJ going to end up with the yank, o’s or ray’s and hit 40 homers for three straight years.

[PHOG]

Originally Posted by nychief

I'm not so sure wacha opts out... 16 million is about his market, I would think.

Well, I would be happy if Wacha comes back, he pitched very well after early season struggles.

[Woogieman]

I have a feeling Garcia is your 3B next year, good (enough) defender, good baserunner, and the hopes he hits near .270 next yr with 13-15 HRs. Infield appears set...they need a cleanup hitter (think Kendrys Morales) that will give them quality, vet ABs and consistent RBIs (JD Martinez?), that would push Salvy and his K streaks down to 5 or 6 and would be a much more productive middle. They have to also get one solid corner OF, and maybe sign Pham another year and see what John Rave can do? I doubt they make a big splash though...

[nychief]

Originally Posted by Woogieman

I have a feeling Garcia is your 3B next year, good (enough) defender, good baserunner, and the hopes he hits near .270 next yr with 13-15 HRs. Infield appears set...they need a cleanup hitter (think Kendrys Morales) that will give them quality, vet ABs and consistent RBIs (JD Martinez?), that would push Salvy and his K streaks down to 5 or 6 and would be a much more productive middle. They have to also get one solid corner OF, and maybe sign Pham another year and see what John Rave can do? I doubt they make a big splash though...

I really hope you're wrong re: Garcia. While I like him as a player in general, at third base he's... just so bad offensively... a .281 OBP? Shoot me. No power. Glad he is good with the glove over there, but he's a shortstop playing third, he should be good.

We just have too many black holes in the line up - which was laid bare in the playoffs. Have to at least try and upgrade over there.

[BlackHelicopters]

Need two hitters and two starters and plenty of bullpen help.

[tk13]

Garcia makes a lot of sense as a trade candidate. That's the biggest question, is JJ going to be aggressive with trades?

The ideal hope is maybe guys like Gavin Cross could contribute at some point next year but I'm guessing JJ isn't going to count on that.

[duncan_idaho]

Season in review
That's a profoud "Exceeds Expectations" performance. Front office killed it. Quartaro killed it. Players performed. Witt continued his ascendance over a full season.

Looking ahead
I think KC will explore its options and be open to a variety of approaches.

Trades? Luis Rengifo (Angels) and Ryan McMahon (Rockies) are both players who would fit nicely in KC. McMahon would be more of a middle-lineup guy, and Rengifo a leadoff hitter. Jonathan India (2B, Reds) also might be a fit. I'd see what the Blue Jays want for Bichette if they make him available, too (because a left side of Bichette and Witt might be the coolest and most exciting in baseball, and they'd be one hell of a 1-2 punch).

Free agents? Alex Bregman is the best 3B on the market and will be looking for a big deal. He'd be a pretty slick fit at 3B and hitting 3rd behind Witt (with Pasquantino behind him and then Perez). If Cody Bellinger opts out of his deal with the Cubs (no guarantee, they owe him $54M the next two years if he doesn't), that fit seems so perfect and obvious as someone who can play some 1B and some CF and some RF... but then you look at park factor and see Baseball Savant would project him as a low teens HR hitter at the K, and wonder ... would that be Andrew Benintendi again?

Anthony Santander is also a FA and coming off a 40+HR season. Baseball Savant projects him as a consistent 30-HR hitter, even at the K. But is he really a fit for KC?

And then there is pitching. Does Wacha return? Would you go try to do something with Sean Manaea or Max Fried instead, and upgrade? Take a chance on Shane Bieber coming off of Tommy John and looking at a mid-season return?

Being aggressive with some FA pitching might make it a little easier to move Brady Singer as part of a trade that makes sense (maybe the Reds in return for India?).

[TomBarndtsTwin]

Originally Posted by arrowheadnation

Hopefully Caglianone takes the express path to the big club.

THIS.

And get on the phone to Boras for CODY BELLINGER. He's a perfect fit for this team. In EVERY way.

Gonna keep pounding the table for that one all off-season. You know, cause I'm sure J.J. Piccolo cares what I think . . . . .

Brandon Drury at 3B would also be a great low risk, high reward type signing. He won't cost much on a one year prove it deal.

[ChiefsCountry]

I think JJ knows the holes. We were connected to Matt Chapman this offseason at 3rd. Then for leadoff with Luis Arraez.

Players like Garcia and Isbel are fine and you can get by with but would be much better served in the roles that Hampson and Frazier take up.

[Woogieman]

Originally Posted by tk13

Garcia makes a lot of sense as a trade candidate. That's the biggest question, is JJ going to be aggressive with trades?

The ideal hope is maybe guys like Gavin Cross could contribute at some point next year but I'm guessing JJ isn't going to count on that.

That's a good thought...his offense is more palatable at 2nd than at 3rd, at least by old-school standards.

[TomBarndtsTwin]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Season in review
That's a profoud "Exceeds Expectations" performance. Front office killed it. Quartaro killed it. Players performed. Witt continued his ascendance over a full season.

Looking ahead
I think KC will explore its options and be open to a variety of approaches.

Trades? Luis Rengifo (Angels) and Ryan McMahon (Rockies) are both players who would fit nicely in KC. McMahon would be more of a middle-lineup guy, and Rengifo a leadoff hitter. Jonathan India (2B, Reds) also might be a fit. I'd see what the Blue Jays want for Bichette if they make him available, too (because a left side of Bichette and Witt might be the coolest and most exciting in baseball, and they'd be one hell of a 1-2 punch).

Free agents? Alex Bregman is the best 3B on the market and will be looking for a big deal. He'd be a pretty slick fit at 3B and hitting 3rd behind Witt (with Pasquantino behind him and then Perez). If Cody Bellinger opts out of his deal with the Cubs (no guarantee, they owe him $54M the next two years if he doesn't), that fit seems so perfect and obvious as someone who can play some 1B and some CF and some RF... but then you look at park factor and see Baseball Savant would project him as a low teens HR hitter at the K, and wonder ... would that be Andrew Benintendi again?

Anthony Santander is also a FA and coming off a 40+HR season. Baseball Savant projects him as a consistent 30-HR hitter, even at the K. But is he really a fit for KC?

And then there is pitching. Does Wacha return? Would you go try to do something with Sean Manaea or Max Fried instead, and upgrade? Take a chance on Shane Bieber coming off of Tommy John and looking at a mid-season return?

Being aggressive with some FA pitching might make it a little easier to move Brady Singer as part of a trade that makes sense (maybe the Reds in return for India?).

Rumor is Bellinger will opt out because Boras knows he can get more in FA and Cubs want the flexibility of using his money for other things since they've got Crow-Armstrong for center now and Suzuki can move to right.

I'm praying.

[ChiefsCountry]

I think I would kick the tires of Tyler O'Neil again.

[Woogieman]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

I think JJ knows the holes. We were connected to Matt Chapman this offseason at 3rd. Then for leadoff with Luis Arraez.

Players like Garcia and Isbel are fine and you can get by with but would be much better served in the roles that Hampson and Frazier take up.

Chapman would be a big upgrade. The good news is, JJ doesn't have to break the bank at all to significantly upgrade 3 black holes, they were that bad all season. Would be an amazing offseason if Kyle Wright is "healthy" (they thought Ragans was done!) and they could plug the cleanup spot with an OF or 3B, and lastly, some in-house OFer (Cross? Rave?) decides they are ready to play in the bigs.

[lcarus]

We should pick up Herman Moore. Big, tall receiver who can do it all. Not sure how good he is with the lumber but for his price tell me it's not worth a shot.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by TomBarndtsTwin

Rumor is Bellinger will opt out because Boras knows he can get more in FA and Cubs want the flexibility of using his money for other things since they've got Crow-Armstrong for center now and Suzuki can move to right.

I'm praying.

I've driven this bus a bit for a while now, but when you look at his park factors, the numbers get a little scary for KC... 11-12 home runs instead of 20-25.

I'm not sure that's going to be worth the investment he and Boras would be looking for.

Gotta be careful and make the right move. If you splash big and hit, you make yourself more of a contender next year. If you don't and miss, you dig a hole.

A trade for Jonathan India or Ryan McMahon might work a little better, ultimately. Less upside but less risk, too.