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Royals KCR

202662–77 (0.446)
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GM: J.J. Picollo · partial season

Overview

Ranks vs the 30 teams in 2026, or a custom range (defaults to every team-season since 1985, when our data starts).

to

Front Office

PoorAverageGreat
Value
Payroll $M
$144M
Surplus $M
-18
Win %
0.446
TAB
-5.6
WAB
-7.1
Roster composition
Roster fWAR
27.3
Dead money %
42%
Depth Players
6.0
Dead WAR
-7.7
Farm System
Total Proj. WAR
60.8
Pitching Proj. WAR
30.9
Hitting Proj. WAR
29.9

Offense

PoorAverageGreat

Pitching & Defense

PoorAverageGreat

Roster

2026 depth chart — stacked by playing time

C

LCarter Jensen86
RSalvador Perez44
RLuke Maile12
RElias Díaz⇄10

1B

LVinnie Pasquantino89
LJac Caglianone38
RSalvador Perez21
RNick Loftin2

2B

LMichael Massey105
RNick Loftin35
RJonathan India17
RTyler Tolbert13
BIsaac Collins7
LJosh Rojas3
BAndrew Velazquez1

3B

RMaikel Garcia68
RNick Loftin63
LJosh Rojas23
LMichael Massey2
RTyler Tolbert1

SS

RBobby Witt Jr.117
RTyler Tolbert21
BAndrew Velazquez6
LJosh Rojas5
RMaikel Garcia3
RNick Loftin3

LF

BIsaac Collins119
RTyler Tolbert10
RStarling Marte8
LJohn Rave4
RMatthew Lugo3
LKameron Misner3
LMichael Massey3
RNick Loftin2

CF

LKyle Isbel78
RLane Thomas⇄63
LKameron Misner9
RTyler Tolbert7
LJohn Rave6

RF

LJac Caglianone86
RStarling Marte26
LJohn Rave21
RTyler Tolbert14
RNick Loftin6
LKameron Misner4
LMichael Massey1

DH

RSalvador Perez65
LCarter Jensen42
RStarling Marte19
LJac Caglianone7
RBobby Witt Jr.3
LJosh Rojas3
LVinnie Pasquantino2
BIsaac Collins2
LJohn Rave1
LKameron Misner1
RNick Loftin1
LMichael Massey1
RMaikel Garcia1
RTyler Tolbert1

Starters

LNoah Cameron2.7 WAR
RMichael Wacha2.6 WAR
RSeth Lugo1.9 WAR
LKris Bubic0.8 WAR
LDaniel Lynch IV0.8 WAR
RRandy Dobnak0.7 WAR
RStephen Kolek0.5 WAR
RLuinder Avila0.4 WAR
RMitch Spence-0.2 WAR
LCole Ragans-0.2 WAR
LBailey Falter-0.3 WAR
RSteven Cruz-0.4 WAR
Beck WayNone WAR

Bullpen

★ RLucas Erceg12 sv
LMatt Strahm13 h
RNick Mears5 h
RSteven Cruz5 h
RAlex Lange3 h
Beck Way1 h
RJohn Schreiber0 h
RMason Black0 h

Each position shows its top 3 by games (top = starter) — click "+more" for the rest. The letter is bats/throws; ⇄ marks a player traded mid-season. Starters are ranked by WAR, bullpen by holds; ★ marks the closer (most save chances). MLB Stats API.

Key additions (new vs 2025)

PlayerfWAR
Lane Thomas0.8
Randy Dobnak0.7
Isaac Collins0.7
Nate Pearson0.3
Jose Cuas0.2
Elias Díaz0.1

Key subtractions (gone from 2025)

Player2025 fWAR
Mike Yastrzemski1.3
Michael Lorenzen1.3
Ryan Bergert0.7
Adam Frazier0.6
Hunter Harvey0.5
Freddy Fermin0.4

Contract Value

WAR translated into tier-adjusted market value, then compared with what the player was paid by Royals. Guaranteed contracts from the 2015-present contract-data period use the known contract period through 2026; everyone else is shown as a 2026 season snapshot.

PlayerPeriodfWARTier Market $MPaid $MSurplus $M$ / WARTierContract
Bobby Witt Jr. 2026 +7.5 +90.0 14.1 +75.9 $1.9M 1.51× –
Noah Cameron 2026 +3.2 +49.6 0.8 +48.8 $0.3M 1.96× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Jac Caglianone 2026 +2.9 +37.2 0.8 +36.4 $0.3M 1.60× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Michael Wacha 2026 +3.0 +47.6 18.0 +29.6 $5.9M 1.96× Extension · 2026–2027 · $17.0M AAV
Carter Jensen 2026 +2.4 +14.8 0.8 +14.0 $0.3M 0.76× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Michael Massey 2026 +2.4 +15.5 1.6 +13.9 $0.7M 0.82× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $1.6M AAV
Cole Ragans 2025–2026 +1.8 +14.8 5.7 +9.1 $3.1M 1.02× Pre-arb extension · 2025–2027 · $4.4M AAV
Maikel Garcia 2026 +2.0 +13.3 4.3 +9.0 $2.2M 0.85× Arb extension · 2026–2031 · $11.5M AAV
Nick Loftin 2026 +1.3 +6.3 0.7 +5.5 $0.5M 0.58× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Seth Lugo 2026 +2.2 +25.9 21.5 +4.4 $9.9M 1.49× Extension · 2026–2028 · $23.0M AAV
Tyler Tolbert 2026 +1.0 +5.1 0.6 +4.4 $0.6M 0.61× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Isaac Collins 2026 +0.8 +5.1 0.8 +4.3 $1.0M 0.83× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Stephen Kolek 2026 +0.6 +4.9 0.8 +4.1 $1.3M 1.02× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Daniel Lynch IV 2026 +0.9 +4.9 1.0 +3.9 $1.1M 0.67× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $1.0M AAV
Luinder Avila 2026 +0.4 +3.4 0.7 +2.8 $1.6M 1.02× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Kyle Isbel 2026 +0.8 +5.2 2.7 +2.5 $3.5M 0.83× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $2.7M AAV
Kris Bubic 2026 +1.0 +7.9 6.2 +1.7 $6.3M 1.02× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $6.2M AAV
Lane Thomas↔ 2026 +0.9 +6.0 4.4 +1.6 $4.9M 0.83× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $5.2M AAV
Nate Pearson↔ 2026 +0.3 +1.6 0.7 +1.0 $2.1M 0.67× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $1.4M AAV
Craig Kimbrel↔ 2026 +0.1 +0.7 0.1 +0.6 $0.6M 0.67× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Elias Díaz↔ 2026 +0.1 +0.6 0.1 +0.5 $0.5M 0.52× –
Josh Rojas 2026 -0.0 -0.1 0.0 -0.1 – 0.58× –
Connor Seabold↔ 2026 -0.0 -0.1 0.2 -0.3 – 0.67× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Easton McGee↔ 2026 -0.2 -0.9 0.0 -0.9 – 0.67× –
Vinnie Pasquantino 2026 +0.7 +3.3 4.2 -0.9 $5.6M 0.56× Arb extension · 2026–2027 · $5.5M AAV
Alex Lange 2026 -0.0 -0.1 0.9 -1.0 – 1.34× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $0.9M AAV
Mitch Spence 2026 -0.3 -1.5 0.0 -1.6 – 0.67× –
Nick Mears 2026 -0.0 -0.1 1.9 -2.0 – 0.67× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $1.9M AAV
Aaron Bummer↔ 2026 -0.2 -1.2 0.9 -2.1 – 0.67× –
Eli Morgan 2026 -0.3 -1.8 0.8 -2.6 – 0.67× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $1.0M AAV
Kameron Misner 2026 -0.5 -3.1 0.5 -3.5 – 0.83× –
Mason Black 2026 -0.6 -3.2 0.6 -3.8 – 0.67× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Steven Cruz 2026 -0.4 -4.4 0.6 -5.0 – 1.34× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Starling Marte 2026 -0.6 -3.9 1.4 -5.2 – 0.83× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $1.0M AAV
Bailey Falter 2026 -0.4 -2.1 3.6 -5.7 – 0.67× –
John Schreiber 2026 -0.4 -2.1 3.7 -5.8 – 0.67× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $3.7M AAV
Jonathan India 2026 -0.0 -0.2 8.0 -8.2 – 0.56× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $8.0M AAV
Lucas Erceg 2026 -0.7 -7.4 0.8 -8.2 – 1.34× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Carlos Estévez 2025–2026 +0.8 +10.6 20.2 -9.6 $24.1M 1.00× Free Agent · 2025–2027 · $11.1M AAV
Matt Strahm 2026 -1.5 -8.1 7.5 -15.6 – 0.67× Extension · 2025–2026 · $7.5M AAV
Salvador Perez 2026 -1.4 -7.9 12.5 -20.4 – 0.69× Extension · 2026–2027 · $12.5M AAV
Andrew Velazquez 2026 -0.2 -1.0 – – – 0.61× –
Anthony Gose 2026 +0.1 +0.4 – – – 0.67× –
Carlos Duran 2026 -0.1 -0.3 – – – 0.67× –
Connor Thomas↔ 2026 +0.1 +0.6 – – – 0.67× –
John Rave 2026 +0.4 +2.9 – – – 0.83× –
Jose Cuas 2026 +0.3 +1.4 – – – 0.67× –
Luke Maile 2026 -0.2 -0.7 – – – 0.52× –
Matthew Lugo 2026 -0.0 -0.0 – – – 0.83× –
Randy Dobnak 2026 +0.9 +7.0 – – – 1.02× –
Total—+30.9+336.4154.7+171.5—

Trades

Every graded 2026 deal involving the Royals — best expected value first. Surplus is realized value in $M; 12 total.

2026 · MIA / KCR Aug 5, 2026
MIA · Peter Bendix +$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$0.0M
Jacob Berry
Too soon to call unsettled
2026 · OAK / KCR Feb 12, 2026
OAK · David Forst +$0.8M
A.J. Causey
KCR · J.J. Picollo −$0.8M
Mitch Spence
Too soon to call unsettled
2026 · BAL / KCR Jul 18, 2026
BAL · Mike Elias +$0.0M
Rudy Martin Jr.
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
Too soon to call unsettled
2026 · MIL / KCR Jul 14, 2026
MIL · Matt Arnold +$0.8M
cash / PTBNL
KCR · J.J. Picollo −$0.8M
Easton McGee
Too soon to call unsettled
2026 · PHI / KCR Aug 3, 2026
PHI · Dave Dombrowski +$0.0M
Manuel Colon
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$0.0M
Nolan Hoffman
Too soon to call unsettled
2026 · KCR / PHI Jul 25, 2026
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
PHI · Dave Dombrowski +$0.0M
Kameron Misner
Too soon to call unsettled
2026 · KCR / ATL Aug 2, 2026
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$0.8M
Lucas Braun, Carter Holton
ATL · Alex Anthopoulos −$0.8M
Lane Thomas, Bailey Falter
Too soon to call unsettled
2026 · KCR / SEA Jun 17, 2026
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$5.6M
Randy Dobnak
SEA · Jerry Dipoto −$5.6M
cash / PTBNL
Too soon to call unsettled
2026 · LAD / KCR Aug 3, 2026
LAD · Andrew Friedman +$0.0M
Kris Bubic
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$0.0M
Carlos Duran
Too soon to call unsettled
2026 · TBR / KCR Mar 13, 2026
TBR · Erik Neander +$0.0M
Matthew Hoskins
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
Too soon to call unsettled
2026 · KCR / HOU Jul 22, 2026
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$1.6M
Nate Pearson
HOU · Dana Brown −$1.6M
Max Martin
Too soon to call unsettled
2026 · TOR / KCR Jun 15, 2026
TOR · Ross Atkins +$0.0M
Denis Samudio
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$0.0M
Connor Seabold
Too soon to call unsettled

Current & Historical Payroll

2026 payroll
$143.8M
luxury tax $139M
2027 guaranteed
$82.7M

What the front office was committed to as of 2026, 2026–2032. Guaranteed $ are contract commitments signed by 2026; arbitration & free-agent years are projected from service time. Hover a figure for its luxury-tax (CBT) & actual-cash values.

current $ guaranteed $ arbitration (proj) pre-arb (proj) free agent club option player option mutual option vesting option

Summary — luxury-tax (CBT) basis

2026202720282029203020312032
Tax threshold$244M$247M$250M$253M$256M$259M$262M
Guaranteed contracts$101M$85M$48M$12M$12M$12M
Proj. arbitration$29M
Proj. pre-arbitration$10M
Player benefits$18M$18M$18M$18M$18M$18M
Total CBT payroll$157M$103M$66M$30M$30M$30M
Tax space+$87M+$144M+$184M+$224M+$226M+$230M
Est. tax bill——————

Luxury-tax (CBT) basis: contract AAV + ~$18M benefits/bonus-pool — distinct from the base-salary payroll above. Threshold is the CBA line. Tier-1 payor rates on the overage. Forward years show only guaranteed deals (arb/pre-arb not yet set). Figures are estimates.

Guaranteed / signed (14)

PlayerAgeSvc2026202720282029203020312032
Seth Lugo369.082$21.5M$21.5M$17.0MCLUBFREE AGENT
Michael Wacha3412.062$18.0M$14.0M$14.0MCLUBFREE AGENT
Salvador Perez3614.050$12.5M$12.5MFREE AGENT
Carlos Estévez339.022$10.1M$13.0MCLUBFREE AGENT
Matt Strahm349.064$7.5MVESTFREE AGENT
Cole Ragans283.029$4.6M$7.6MARB 3FREE AGENT
Lane Thomas306.014$4.4MFREE AGENT
Maikel Garcia262.168$4.3M$7.3M$10.3M$13.3M$19.3M$21.0MCLUBFREE AGENT
Vinnie Pasquantino283.101$4.2M$6.9MARB 3FREE AGENT
Starling Marte3712.162$1.4MFREE AGENT
Aaron Bummer327.150$905kFREE AGENT
Craig Kimbrel3814.031$80kFREE AGENT
Elias Díaz359.087$66kFREE AGENT
Luke Maile358.148—FREE AGENT

Arbitration-eligible (17)

PlayerAgeSvc2026202720282029203020312032
Bobby Witt Jr.264.000$14.1MARB 3FREE AGENT
Jonathan India295.000$8.0MFREE AGENT
Kris Bubic285.135$6.2MFREE AGENT
John Schreiber325.027$3.7MFREE AGENT
Bailey Falter293.138$3.6MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Kyle Isbel294.043$2.7MARB 3FREE AGENT
Nick Mears294.022$1.9MARB 3FREE AGENT
Michael Massey283.068$1.6MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Daniel Lynch IV293.136$1.0MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Alex Lange303.145$900kFREE AGENT
Eli Morgan304.091$821kFREE AGENT
Nate Pearson294.042$653kFREE AGENT
Josh Rojas325.126$23kFREE AGENT
Anthony Gose355.139—FREE AGENT
Jose Cuas323.129—ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Andrew Velazquez315.126—FREE AGENT
Randy Dobnak315.038—FREE AGENT

Pre-arbitration (19)

PlayerAgeSvc2026202720282029203020312032
Lucas Erceg312.136$804kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Noah Cameron260.137$802kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Isaac Collins281.022$800kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Stephen Kolek291.099$785kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jac Caglianone230.118$784kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Carter Jensen220.028$781kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Nick Loftin271.081$728kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Luinder Avila240.033$659kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Tyler Tolbert280.144$645kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Steven Cruz271.057$626kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Mason Black260.051$580kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Kameron Misner281.029$455kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Connor Seabold301.054$190kFREE AGENT
Mitch Spence281.124$42kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Easton McGee281.024$25kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
John Rave28–—
Connor Thomas28–—
Carlos Duran24–—
Matthew Lugo25–—

Graphs

How each 2026 acquisition stacked onto Royals's playoff-odds curve. The side table is ranked by PPA.

Rosternomics — front-office performance, roster value, and transaction history. Follow @rosternomics on X.
Decision-maker records extend to 1933; resource-controlled WAR and payroll metrics cover 1985–2026. Data sources include FanGraphs, Baseball-Reference, the Chadwick Bureau register, the Lahman Database, prospect rankings from Baseball America, MLB Pipeline, and FanGraphs, and public payroll records. Transaction and trade data was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by Retrosheet. Executive birth/death data via Wikidata (CC0).
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