RRosternomics
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Royals KCR

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GM: J.J. Picollo

Overview

REBUILD ↘ cooling
cheap & losing · year 5 in this regime · payroll 0.6× league · TAB -7.1
-7.1TAB — talent above budget21st/30
-19.2WAB — realized wins (TAB + luck)27th/30
3.0depth — 2+ WAR regulars26th/30
-6.5dead WAR — sub-replacement drag26th/30
75%dead money %28th/30
0.346win %29th/30
20.8roster fWAR26th/30
-10surplus $M (value vs cost)15th/30
$92Mpayroll $M24th/30

Roster

CFKyle Isbel 89GDrew Waters 50GJackie Bradley Jr. 29G
LFMJ Melendez 58GEdward Olivares 54GDairon Blanco 35G
RFMJ Melendez 72GDrew Waters 47GNelson Velázquez 26G
SSBobby Witt Jr. 149GMaikel Garcia 14GMatt Duffy 1G
2BMichael Massey 118GMatt Duffy 22GSamad Taylor 12G
3BMaikel Garcia 104GMatt Duffy 31GHunter Dozier 17G
1BNick Pratto 78GVinnie Pasquantino 44GSalvador Perez 23G
STARTERSCole Ragans 2.4WARBrady Singer 1.9WARZack Greinke 1.1WARDaniel Lynch IV 0.3WARJordan Lyles 0.2WAR
CSalvador Perez 91GFreddy Fermin 65GLogan Porter 11G
DHEdward Olivares 42GSalvador Perez 29GNelson Velázquez 17G
BULLPEN★ Carlos Hernández 4svTaylor Clarke 12hDylan Coleman 5hAustin Cox 5hNick Wittgren 2hTucker Davidson 2hAmir Garrett 0hJackson Kowar 0h
CSalvador Perez 91 · Freddy Fermin 65 · Logan Porter 11
1BNick Pratto 78 · Vinnie Pasquantino 44 · Salvador Perez 23
2BMichael Massey 118 · Matt Duffy 22 · Samad Taylor 12
3BMaikel Garcia 104 · Matt Duffy 31 · Hunter Dozier 17
SSBobby Witt Jr. 149 · Maikel Garcia 14 · Matt Duffy 1
LFMJ Melendez 58 · Edward Olivares 54 · Dairon Blanco 35
CFKyle Isbel 89 · Drew Waters 50 · Jackie Bradley Jr. 29
RFMJ Melendez 72 · Drew Waters 47 · Nelson Velázquez 26
DHEdward Olivares 42 · Salvador Perez 29 · Nelson Velázquez 17
SPCole Ragans 2.4 · Brady Singer 1.9 · Zack Greinke 1.1 · Daniel Lynch IV 0.3 · Jordan Lyles 0.2
BP★ Carlos Hernández 4 · Taylor Clarke 12 · Dylan Coleman 5 · Austin Cox 5 · Nick Wittgren 2 · Tucker Davidson 2 · Amir Garrett 0 · Jackson Kowar 0

Each position lists its starter then backups by games (so platoons & bench show). Starters (mound) & bullpen (left, foul territory) are ranked by WAR; ★ marks the closer (most save chances). MLB Stats API.

2023 roster — value & surplus

PlayerAgeServiceGfWARSalary $MSurplus $M
Bobby Witt Jr. 23 pre-arb 1585.9 0.7 +22.7
Cole Ragans↔ TEX 25 pre-arb 122.4 0.3 +9.3
Maikel Garcia 23 pre-arb 1232.2 0.6 +8.0
Brady Singer 26 arb 291.9 3.0 +4.7
Freddy Fermin 28 pre-arb 701.9 0.6 +6.9
Aroldis Chapman↔ TEX 35 FA-elig 311.3 1.9 +3.2
Dairon Blanco 30 pre-arb 691.2 0.4 +4.5
Kyle Isbel 26 pre-arb 911.2 0.7 +3.9
Zack Greinke 39 FA-elig 301.1 8.5 -4.2
Drew Waters 24 pre-arb 980.9 0.7 +3.0
Nicky Lopez↔ ATL 28 arb 680.7 2.7 +0.2
Nelson Velázquez↔ CHC 24 pre-arb 400.7 0.3 +2.4
Ryan Yarbrough↔ LAD 31 arb 140.7 1.7 +1.0
James McArthur 26 pre-arb 180.5 0.2 +1.9
Edward Olivares 27 arb 1070.5 0.7 +1.3
Kris Bubic 25 arb 30.5 2.2 -0.2
Scott Barlow↔ SDP 30 arb 380.5 3.2 -1.2
Michael Massey 25 pre-arb 1290.5 0.7 +1.1
Austin Cox 26 – 240.5 0.4 +1.4
MJ Melendez 24 pre-arb 1480.4 0.7 +0.8
Nick Loftin 24 – 190.4 0.1 +1.3
Daniel Lynch IV 26 – 90.3 – –
Carlos Hernández 26 arb 670.3 0.7 +0.3
Jordan Lyles 32 FA-elig 310.2 8.5 -7.7
Josh Staumont 29 arb 210.2 1.0 -0.4
Angel Zerpa 23 pre-arb 150.1 0.7 -0.1
Vinnie Pasquantino 25 pre-arb 610.1 0.7 -0.2
Steven Cruz 24 – 100.1 0.1 +0.3
John McMillon 25 – 40.1 0.7 -0.4
Logan Porter 27 – 110.0 0.1 +0.1
Nick Wittgren 32 – 270.0 0.3 -0.2
Jose Cuas↔ CHC 29 pre-arb 450.0 0.5 -0.3
Anthony Veneziano 25 – 20.0 0.0 -0.0
Josh Taylor 30 arb 170.0 1.0 -1.0
Jonathan Bowlan 26 – 2-0.0 0.1 -0.2
Mike Mayers 31 arb 6-0.0 0.1 -0.3
Taylor Hearn↔ ATL 28 arb 8-0.1 0.9 -1.1
Samad Taylor 24 – 31-0.1 0.3 -0.6
Max Castillo 24 pre-arb 7-0.1 0.1 -0.5
Tyler Cropley 27 – 2-0.1 0.0 -0.4
Brooks Kriske 29 – 4-0.1 0.1 -0.5
Matt Beaty↔ SFG 30 arb 26-0.1 1.1 -1.7
Brad Keller 27 arb 11-0.2 5.8 -6.5
Jackson Kowar 26 pre-arb 23-0.2 0.3 -1.0
Tucker Davidson↔ ANA 27 arb 20-0.2 0.4 -1.2
Hunter Dozier 31 FA-elig 29-0.2 7.5 -8.3
Amir Garrett 31 FA-elig 27-0.2 2.6 -3.5
Taylor Clarke 30 arb 58-0.2 1.1 -2.1
Salvador Perez 33 FA-elig 140-0.3 20.0 -21.1
Matt Duffy 32 FA-elig 79-0.3 1.5 -2.6
Jonathan Heasley 26 – 12-0.3 – –
Collin Snider 27 pre-arb 20-0.3 0.2 -1.5
Dylan Coleman 26 pre-arb 23-0.4 0.7 -2.5
Alec Marsh 25 – 17-0.5 0.4 -2.3
Franmil Reyes 27 arb 19-0.5 2.0 -4.1
Jackie Bradley Jr. 33 FA-elig 43-0.5 0.4 -2.5
Nick Pratto 24 pre-arb 95-0.6 0.6 -3.2
Nate Eaton 26 pre-arb 28-0.8 0.7 -4.1

Key additions (new vs 2022)

PlayerfWAR
Cole Ragans2.4
Aroldis Chapman1.3
Nelson Velázquez0.7
Ryan Yarbrough0.7
James McArthur0.5
Austin Cox0.5

Key subtractions (gone from 2022)

Player2022 fWAR
Michael A. Taylor1.7
Andrew Benintendi1.4
Whit Merrifield0.5
Emmanuel Rivera0.3
Luke Weaver0.2
Wyatt Mills0.2

Current & Historical Payroll

2023 payroll
$91.7M
2024 guaranteed
$0M

What the front office was committed to as of 2023, 2023–2029. Guaranteed $ are contract commitments signed by 2023; 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 (9)

PlayerAgeSvc2023202420252026202720282029
Salvador Perez3311.050$20.0MFREE AGENT
Zack Greinke3918.057$8.5MFREE AGENT
Jordan Lyles3211.002$8.5MFREE AGENT
Hunter Dozier317.000$7.5MFREE AGENT
Amir Garrett316.000$2.6MFREE AGENT
Aroldis Chapman3512.009$1.9MFREE AGENT
Matt Duffy327.059$1.5MFREE AGENT
Jackie Bradley Jr.3310.000$363kFREE AGENT
Nick Wittgren327.000$329kFREE AGENT

Arbitration-eligible (11)

PlayerAgeSvc2023202420252026202720282029
Brad Keller275.000$5.8MFREE AGENT
Scott Barlow304.030$3.2MARB 3FREE AGENT
Nicky Lopez283.139$2.7MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Franmil Reyes275.000$2.0MFREE AGENT
Ryan Yarbrough314.117$1.7MARB 3FREE AGENT
Taylor Clarke303.120$1.1MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Matt Beaty303.086$1.1MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Josh Taylor303.121$1.0MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Josh Staumont293.072$1.0MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Taylor Hearn283.125$900kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Mike Mayers314.134$124kARB 3FREE AGENT

Pre-arbitration (38)

PlayerAgeSvc2023202420252026202720282029
Brady Singer262.156$3.0MARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Kris Bubic252.135$2.2MARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Bobby Witt Jr.231.000$746kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Edward Olivares272.055$741kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Dylan Coleman261.014$732kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Carlos Hernández261.145$730kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Kyle Isbel261.042$728kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
MJ Melendez240.153$726kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Vinnie Pasquantino250.101$726kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Michael Massey250.068$723kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Drew Waters240.045$722kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Nate Eaton260.058$722kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
John McMillon250.000$720kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Angel Zerpa230.082$652kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Nick Pratto240.080$649kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Freddy Fermin280.004$615kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Maikel Garcia230.015$588kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jose Cuas290.123$454kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Dairon Blanco300.020$430kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Austin Cox260.000$399kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Tucker Davidson271.039$389kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Alec Marsh250.000$360kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Cole Ragans250.063$300kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Nelson Velázquez240.111$295kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jackson Kowar260.089$279kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Samad Taylor240.000$255kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Collin Snider270.114$205kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
James McArthur260.099$194kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Steven Cruz240.000$128kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Nick Loftin240.000$116kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Max Castillo240.056$89kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Logan Porter270.000$77kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Brooks Kriske290.000$50kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jonathan Bowlan260.000$50kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Anthony Veneziano250.000$46kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Tyler Cropley27–$31k
Daniel Lynch IV262.000—ARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jonathan Heasley262.000—ARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT

Graphs

Every roster slot ranked best→worst by WAR. Bars = Royals 2023; the black line = the league-average player at each slot that season. Staying above the line deep into the roster is the depth edge; dropping below it = holes & dead weight.

What each regime is worth — every settled team-season since 1985

RegimeSeasonsWin %Playoff %Pennant %WS %
WINDOW 28152.131.05.01.1
CONTEND 30056.964.719.710.3
FORCED-SPEND 25648.09.81.61.6
REBUILD 32143.31.20.30.3
Rosternomics — quantifying front-office skill, attribution-clean. Follow @rosternomics on X. Decision-makers on record back to 1933; resource-controlled metrics (WAR & payroll) cover 1985–2026.
Data: FanGraphs (WAR), Baseball-Reference & the Chadwick Bureau register (rosters, IDs), the Lahman Database, Baseball America prospect rankings (via The Baseball Cube), 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); bios are original. Emoji graphics by OpenMoji (CC BY-SA 4.0).
All figures are franchise-level outcomes credited to the decision-maker in the acquisition year — not solely attributable to one executive.