Rosternomics
Log in Sign up 𝕏

Royals KCR

202174–88 (0.457)
‹ Previous Next ›

GM: J.J. Picollo

Overview

Ranks vs the 30 teams in 2021, or a custom range (defaults to every team-season since 1985, when our data starts).

to

Front Office

PoorAverageGreat
Value
Payroll $M
$92M
Surplus $M
-11
Win %
0.457
TAB
-5.4
WAB
-3.9
Roster composition
Roster fWAR
25.1
Dead money %
33%
Depth Players
6.0
Dead WAR
-6.4

Offense

PoorAverageGreat

Pitching & Defense

PoorAverageGreat

Roster

2021 depth chart — stacked by playing time

C

RSalvador Perez124
RCam Gallagher46
RSebastián Rivero17

1B

BCarlos Santana136
LRyan O'Hearn20
RHunter Dozier19
RRyan McBroom6
REmmanuel Rivera1
RKelvin Gutiérrez⇄1

2B

RWhit Merrifield149
RHanser Alberto31
LNicky Lopez4

3B

RHunter Dozier57
RHanser Alberto49
REmmanuel Rivera28
BAdalberto Mondesi20

SS

LNicky Lopez148
RHanser Alberto17
BAdalberto Mondesi11

LF

LAndrew Benintendi129
RHunter Dozier14
REdward Olivares11
LKyle Isbel4
RWhit Merrifield2
LRyan O'Hearn1

CF

RMichael A. Taylor139
LKyle Isbel9
REdward Olivares4

RF

RHunter Dozier60
LJarrod Dyson⇄34
LRyan O'Hearn25
REdward Olivares22
RWhit Merrifield18
LKyle Isbel14

DH

RJorge Soler⇄94
RSalvador Perez40
LRyan O'Hearn29
BCarlos Santana19
RHunter Dozier11
RHanser Alberto9
BAdalberto Mondesi5
LKyle Isbel2
RWhit Merrifield2
RMichael A. Taylor2
REdward Olivares1
RRyan McBroom1

Starters

LMike Minor2.3 WAR
RBrady Singer2.1 WAR
LDanny Duffy1.7 WAR
RBrad Keller1.1 WAR
RCarlos Hernandez1.0 WAR
LDaniel Lynch IV0.6 WAR
RJakob Junis0.5 WAR
LKris Bubic0.3 WAR
RJoel Payamps⇄0.2 WAR
LAngel Zerpa0.2 WAR
RErvin Santana0.1 WAR
RJonathan Heasley-0.0 WAR
RKyle Zimmer-0.1 WAR
RJackson Kowar-0.2 WAR

Bullpen

★ RScott Barlow16 sv
LJake Brentz16 h
RJosh Staumont16 h
RKyle Zimmer10 h
RGreg Holland8 h
RDomingo Tapia⇄7 h
RWade Davis2 h
RErvin Santana1 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 2020)

PlayerfWAR
Mike Minor2.3
Michael A. Taylor2.0
Andrew Benintendi1.4
Daniel Lynch IV0.6
Domingo Tapia0.5
Kyle Isbel0.5

Key subtractions (gone from 2020)

Player2020 fWAR
Maikel Franco1.1
Trevor Rosenthal0.2
Franchy Cordero0.1
Glenn Sparkman0.1
Alex Gordon0.1
Chance Adams0.1

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 2021; everyone else is shown as a 2021 season snapshot.

PlayerPeriodfWARTier Market $MPaid $MSurplus $M$ / WARTierContract
Nicky Lopez 2021 +5.5 +65.9 0.6 +65.3 $0.1M 1.51× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Scott Barlow 2021 +2.2 +33.9 0.7 +33.2 $0.3M 1.95× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $2.0M AAV
Brady Singer 2021 +2.1 +24.8 0.6 +24.2 $0.3M 1.49× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $12.8M AAV
Mike Minor 2021 +2.3 +26.8 7.0 +19.8 $3.1M 1.49× –
Michael A. Taylor 2021 +2.0 +19.1 1.8 +17.3 $0.9M 1.22× –
Whit Merrifield 2021 +2.7 +23.0 6.8 +16.3 $2.5M 1.07× –
Josh Staumont 2021 +1.0 +10.8 0.6 +10.2 $0.6M 1.34× –
Salvador Perez 2021 +2.7 +21.6 14.2 +7.4 $5.3M 1.00× Extension · 2026–2027 · $12.5M AAV
Brad Keller 2021 +1.1 +9.0 3.4 +5.6 $3.0M 1.02× Free Agent · 2026–2027 · $11.0M AAV
Carlos Hernández 2021 +1.0 +5.1 0.4 +4.7 $0.4M 0.67× –
Daniel Lynch IV 2021 +0.6 +4.7 0.2 +4.4 $0.4M 1.02× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $1.0M AAV
Danny Duffy 2021 +1.7 +19.8 15.5 +4.3 $9.3M 1.49× –
Kyle Isbel 2021 +0.5 +3.3 0.1 +3.2 $0.3M 0.83× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $2.7M AAV
Andrew Benintendi 2021 +1.4 +9.5 6.6 +2.9 $4.6M 0.83× Free Agent · 2023–2027 · $15.0M AAV
Jake Brentz 2021 +0.3 +3.4 0.6 +2.8 $1.8M 1.34× –
Domingo Tapia↔ 2021 +0.5 +2.8 0.2 +2.6 $0.4M 0.67× –
Cam Gallagher 2021 +0.7 +3.1 0.6 +2.5 $0.8M 0.52× –
Kris Bubic 2021 +0.3 +2.5 0.5 +2.0 $1.6M 1.02× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $6.2M AAV
Adalberto Mondesi 2021 +1.0 +4.4 2.5 +1.9 $2.7M 0.58× –
Angel Zerpa 2021 +0.2 +1.4 0.0 +1.4 $0.1M 1.02× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $1.1M AAV
Dylan Coleman 2021 +0.2 +1.1 0.0 +1.1 $0.2M 0.67× –
Joel Payamps↔ 2021 +0.2 +1.2 0.1 +1.1 $0.5M 0.67× –
Gabe Speier 2021 +0.2 +1.0 0.1 +0.9 $0.3M 0.67× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $2.1M AAV
Jakob Junis 2021 +0.5 +2.6 1.7 +0.9 $3.4M 0.67× –
Richard Lovelady 2021 +0.2 +1.1 0.3 +0.8 $1.5M 0.67× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $1.0M AAV
Ronald Bolaños 2021 +0.2 +0.9 0.3 +0.6 $1.9M 0.67× –
Hanser Alberto 2021 +0.4 +1.7 1.6 +0.1 $4.4M 0.58× –
Ryan McBroom 2021 -0.0 -0.0 0.1 -0.1 – 0.69× –
Scott Blewett 2021 -0.0 -0.0 0.0 -0.1 – 0.67× –
Emmanuel Rivera 2021 -0.0 -0.2 0.2 -0.4 – 0.58× –
Anthony Swarzak↔ 2021 -0.1 -0.7 0.1 -0.7 – 0.67× –
Edward Olivares 2021 -0.1 -0.7 0.2 -0.9 – 0.83× –
Jake Newberry 2021 -0.2 -0.9 0.1 -0.9 – 0.67× –
Ervin Santana 2021 +0.1 +0.5 1.5 -1.0 $15.5M 0.67× –
Kyle Zimmer 2021 -0.1 -0.7 0.6 -1.3 – 0.67× –
Sebastián Rivero 2021 -0.3 -1.3 0.2 -1.5 – 0.52× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Jarrod Dyson↔ 2021 -0.1 -0.8 1.1 -1.9 – 0.83× –
Tyler Zuber 2021 -0.3 -1.6 0.3 -1.9 – 0.67× –
Jackson Kowar 2021 -0.2 -2.0 0.1 -2.2 – 1.02× –
Wade Davis 2021 -0.3 -1.4 1.2 -2.6 – 0.67× –
Kelvin Gutiérrez↔ 2021 -0.7 -3.0 0.1 -3.1 – 0.56× –
Jesse Hahn 2021 -0.3 -1.8 1.8 -3.6 – 0.67× –
Ryan O'Hearn 2021 -0.6 -3.6 0.4 -4.0 – 0.69× Free Agent · 2026–2027 · $14.5M AAV
Greg Holland 2021 -0.2 -1.6 2.8 -4.4 – 1.34× –
Hunter Dozier 2021 -0.9 -5.9 2.5 -8.4 – 0.83× –
Carlos Santana 2021 -0.8 -3.4 7.0 -10.4 – 0.56× Free Agent · 2026–2027 · $2.0M AAV
Jorge Soler↔ 2021 -1.2 -6.4 5.1 -11.5 – 0.69× Free Agent · 2024–2026 · $14.0M AAV
Jonathan Heasley 2021 -0.0 -0.2 – – – 1.02× –
Total—+25.4+268.892.4+176.6—

Trades

Every graded 2021 deal involving the Royals — best expected value first. Surplus is realized value in $M; 4 total.

2021 · KCR / ARI
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$1.6M
Eduardo Herrera
ARI · Mike Hazen −$1.6M
Nick Heath
KCR came out ahead by $1.6M
2021 · KCR / NYM / BOS
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$22.4M
Andrew Benintendi
NYM · Sandy Alderson −$9.6M
Khalil Lee
BOS · Chaim Bloom −$12.8M
Josh Winckowski, Franchy Cordero, Luis De La Rosa, Grant Gambrell, Freddy Valdez
KCR came out ahead by $22.4M 3-team
2021 · ATL / KCR
ATL · Alex Anthopoulos +$1.6M
Jorge Soler
KCR · J.J. Picollo −$1.6M
Kasey Kalich
ATL came out ahead by $1.6M
2021 · LAD / KCR
LAD · Andrew Friedman +$0.0M
Danny Duffy
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$0.0M
Zach Willeman
Even trade

Current & Historical Payroll

2021 payroll
$92.2M
2022 guaranteed
$0M

What the front office was committed to as of 2021, 2021–2027. Guaranteed $ are contract commitments signed by 2021; 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

Guaranteed / signed (10)

PlayerAgeSvc2021202220232024202520262027
Danny Duffy329.085$15.5MFREE AGENT
Salvador Perez319.050$14.2MFREE AGENT
Carlos Santana3510.115$7.0MFREE AGENT
Mike Minor339.138$7.0MFREE AGENT
Greg Holland358.163$2.8MFREE AGENT
Michael A. Taylor307.000$1.8MFREE AGENT
Ervin Santana3813.123$1.5MFREE AGENT
Wade Davis3511.029$1.2MFREE AGENT
Jarrod Dyson369.088$1.1MFREE AGENT
Anthony Swarzak3512.000$87kFREE AGENT

Arbitration-eligible (9)

PlayerAgeSvc2021202220232024202520262027
Whit Merrifield324.101$6.8MARB 3FREE AGENT
Andrew Benintendi264.062$6.6MARB 3FREE AGENT
Jorge Soler295.143$5.1MFREE AGENT
Brad Keller253.000$3.4MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Adalberto Mondesi253.088$2.5MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Hunter Dozier293.060$2.5MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jesse Hahn315.031$1.8MFREE AGENT
Jakob Junis284.000$1.7MARB 3FREE AGENT
Hanser Alberto284.085$1.6MARB 3FREE AGENT

Pre-arbitration (29)

PlayerAgeSvc2021202220232024202520262027
Scott Barlow282.030$650kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Cam Gallagher282.106$604kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Nicky Lopez261.139$598kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Brady Singer241.000$594kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Josh Staumont271.072$589kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Kyle Zimmer291.064$589kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jake Brentz260.000$570kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Kris Bubic230.164$475kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Ryan O'Hearn272.034$426kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Carlos Hernández240.081$405kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Ronald Bolaños240.056$316kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Richard Lovelady251.000$297kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Tyler Zuber261.000$267kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Emmanuel Rivera250.000$227kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Daniel Lynch IV240.000$218kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Domingo Tapia290.047$208kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Edward Olivares250.147$187kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Sebastián Rivero220.000$175kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jackson Kowar240.000$147kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Kyle Isbel240.000$132kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Joel Payamps270.064$104kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jake Newberry261.146$83kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Kelvin Gutiérrez261.046$75kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Ryan McBroom291.008$60kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Gabe Speier260.105$55kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Dylan Coleman240.000$40kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Scott Blewett250.031$34kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Angel Zerpa210.000$9kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jonathan Heasley240.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT

Graphs

How each 2021 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).
Privacy Policy · Terms of Service · © 2026 Rosternomics