MLB Trade Rumors’ Steve Adams looks aheadto the cold outlook for the Royals this coming offseason.
Although the 2026 season was an immense disappointment, it’s unlikely that there will be sweeping changes made to organizational leadership. The Royals extended manager Matt Quatraro on a new three-year contract that covers the 2027-29 seasons — with a club option for 2030 — back in February. General manager J.J. Picollo signed a five-year extension just 11 months prior. He’s under contract through 2030,
with a club option for the 2031 season. Prolonged struggles can eventually jeopardize executives and managers even when they’re under contract, but it’s quite rare for those figures to be replaced so early in long-term contracts — and the Royals have historically been a franchise that’s very loyal to its top decision-makers.
The challenges for Picollo and his staff this winter will be significant. They’ll have multiple needs to address both on the pitching side of the roster and in the lineup. They’ll need to do so without a great deal of payroll space, barring a sudden hike in spending from owner John Sherman. One could argue that those facts, coupled with a last-place finish in a thin American League Central, signal there’s a need for a more forward-looking, long-term approach this offseason, but Kansas City’s activity at the trade deadline was indicative of the fact that a rebuild isn’t in the cards.
Kansas City Star’s Pete Grathoff details how the AL Central this week really depends on how the Royals play at home.
Being mediocre in the American League kept most teams in the postseason hunt, but the Royals couldn’t even manage that. However, the Royals can make life miserable for their division rivals. The race for the Central crown is between the Guardians and White Sox, and the Royals will play both teams this week at Kauffman Stadium. “I’m looking forward to playing these guys this week,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro told reporters Sunday after KC’s 4-3 loss to the Pirates. “We can have something to say about who wins the division, who goes to the playoffs, and I’m looking forward to competing.”
The Athletics’ power rankings have Kansas City at 25th as the season comes to an end, but there is one clear reason to watch the team in 2027.
One reason to believe in next year: [Holds up a photo of Bobby Witt Jr.] What, are you gonna not watch this guy?
Count me among those with egg on my face when it comes to the 2026 Kansas City Royals. I expected them to compete with the Tigers for a division title. Let’s just check in on those standings …
Right. Neat.
So do you really want me to tell you what is coming in 2027? Probably not.
Instead, I’ll just say it’s always a pleasure to watch Bobby Witt Jr. play. Carter Jensen looks like a successful successor to Salvador Pérez at catcher, Jac Caglianone looks legit, and I think Noah Cameron has borderline-ace potential.
Will Vinnie Pasquantino come into his own as a star first baseman? Will Cole Ragans recover from a disaster season?
And what will they do about the bullpen? If you set the minimum number of innings to two — two innings — here are your bullpen ERA leaders:
36-year-old Anthony Gose (0.00, 9.2 innings)
32-year-old Jose Cuas (2.21, 20.1 innings)
31-year-old Randy Dobnak (3.02, 73 innings)
That’s right. Not a single reliever who has thrown more than 21 innings has an ERA under 3.00. How common is that? This year, only three* other teams are in the same boat: the Twins, Mariners and Nationals (who set a new MLB record for blown saves in a season). — Weaver*Daniel Lynch IV had an ERA of 1.96 as a reliever, but was moved into the rotation in early August. Since we’re looking forward to 2027, I’m not counting him.
**The Angels only had one guy, Chase Silseth, and they traded him. So … count them if you want, they’re 60-96.
Kings of Kauffman’s Matthew Swigonski has high expectations for Royals prospect Carson Roccaforte after a strong 2026 season.
This year, Roccaforte took that next step the Royals had been waiting for. While spending the majority of the 2026 season at Double-A, Roccaforte saw an even greater boost in his power. He belted 30 home runs and drove in 80 runs before being promoted to Triple-A Omaha in August, where he continued to rake. In 28 games for the Storm Chasers, Roccaforte put up an .862 OPS.
There is just one flaw that is holding back his offensive game. Like in his previous seasons, Roccaforte has continued to fall victim to the K. In 540 at-bats this season, he struck out 181 times. But as his power stroke develops at an encouraging clip, it may be something that the Royals will be able to live with.
With bats like Carter Jensen, Jac Caglianone, and Bobby Witt Jr. already in the lineup, Royals fans could see an exciting change coming in 2027. Paired with fellow prospect Blake Mitchell, the addition of Roccaforte could transform the ball club into an explosive offensive powerhouse. The Royals could be young enough and good enough to compete with the Chicago White Sox as the team to watch out for in the AL Central over the next several years.
FanSided’s Robert Murray polled MLB agents on the sticking points in the MLB labor negotiations, with ACES’ Seth Levinson pointing out the competitive balance as an underrated aspect.
If the concern is that small-market clubs cannot compete with big markets, then we must first understand that small markets receive billions of dollars in subsidies through central revenues, local revenue sharing, and the redistribution of luxury tax proceeds.
Beyond the finances, the MLBPA has identified additional paths to level the playing field. For instance, the argument is that despite the subsidies, small-market clubs cannot afford to acquire high-end talent in free agency and must rely heavily on the draft. Generally speaking, why not allow small-market teams to pick at the top of the draft to ensure they can acquire young, talented, and affordable players? Brilliantly run clubs like Tampa and Milwaukee should not suffer draft position as a result of their success, while big-market clubs reap the benefits of their failures. Does anyone believe it would be fair for the Mets to have the first pick in the draft, which is a possibility?
Additionally, there has been an influx of professional Japanese players, who have immediately contributed at the big-league level. History has shown that most, if not all, of these enormously talented players sign with big-market clubs. Why not make those players subject to a draft or available only to small market clubs?
Royals Keep’s Kevin O’Brien answers whether the Royals should keep Daniel Lynch IV in the rotation or not in early 2027.
Baseball America put out their final RoboScout hitter and pitcher rankings, with Quad Cities southpaw David Shields at 13th.
Meet the new favorite to go first overall in the coming MLB Draft, infielder Dylan Seward.
Baseball America’s J.J. Cooper looks at how runs surged across minor-league baseball in 2026, and what it means for player evaluation.
Pittsburgh Pirates starter Paul Skenes puts some blame for 2026 struggles on playing in the World Baseball Classic.
Ahead of a return to the postseason, the Chicago Cubs are giving Chicago fun baseball again for better or worse.
With the ABS challenge system coming to the big leagues in 2026, the strike zone responded in kind by getting tighter.
Detroit Tigers legend Justin Verlander will start Saturday as the 43-year-old bids farewell.
The New York Mets make Andy Green their full-time manager, giving him a three-year contract to turn the NL East club around.
The Boston Red Sox removed the interim tag from manager Chad Tracy following a positive turnaround into the postseason.
MLB already has an exemption in place for its annual scouting dead period, with the WBSC U-18 Pan American Championship next month in the Dominican Republic.
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is unlikely to play in the Wild Card series after receiving an injection in his right calf.
FanGraph’s Michael Baumann looks at the bleeding behind the pinstripes if the Yankees do not have Judge in the postseason lineup.
Chicago White Sox Chase Meidroth is producing big power numbers despite hitting the ball and swinging softer.
Former Los Angeles Angels executive Andrew Ball looks back on where the team went wrong during his five-year tenure with the club.
Cole Roberts, son of Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, finds his own way down on the farm leading a team.
Pebble Hunting looks at those darn batting helmets, always getting in the way.
Nebraska and Miami (Ohio) are set to open their 2027 seasons in Arrowhead Stadium.
The Toronto Raptors and Kawhi Leonard agree to a two-year extension worth $115 million.
NBA veteran Nicolas Batum calls it a career after 18 years in the NBA.
Minnesota Lynx rookie Olivia Miles is blowing past rookie records set by Caitlin Clark, but how does she do it?
Jessica Shepard bet on herself going to the Dallas Wings. That is paying off, not to the surprise of her or her teammates.
Swifites go nuts as Taylor Swift announces her first song, “Patient Zero”, since marrying Travis Kelce this summer.
American Royal opens a $375 million campus worthy of the historic name.
