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Royals KCR

202486–76 (0.531)Made Playoffs
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GM: J.J. Picollo

Overview

Ranks vs the 30 teams in 2024, or a custom range (defaults to every team-season since 1985, when our data starts).

to

Front Office

PoorAverageGreat
Value
Payroll $M
$110M
Surplus $M
+61
Win %
0.531
TAB
+11.4
WAB
+8.9
Roster composition
Roster fWAR
41.0
Dead money %
37%
Depth Players
6.0
Dead WAR
-3.9

Offense

PoorAverageGreat

Pitching & Defense

PoorAverageGreat

Roster

2024 depth chart — stacked by playing time

C

RFreddy Fermin91
RSalvador Perez91

1B

LVinnie Pasquantino103
RSalvador Perez49
RYuli Gurriel12
RGarrett Hampson8
RNick Loftin7
LMJ Melendez1
LAdam Frazier1
RHunter Renfroe1

2B

LMichael Massey82
LAdam Frazier43
RMaikel Garcia37
RNick Loftin28
RGarrett Hampson24

3B

RMaikel Garcia124
RNick Loftin17
RPaul DeJong⇄11
LAdam Frazier9
LCJ Alexander3
RGarrett Hampson2

SS

RBobby Witt Jr.160
RPaul DeJong⇄25
RGarrett Hampson8
RMaikel Garcia4

LF

LMJ Melendez120
RDairon Blanco36
RGarrett Hampson28
LAdam Frazier10
RNelson Velázquez10
RTommy Pham⇄9
RNick Loftin4
BRobbie Grossman⇄4
BDrew Waters3

CF

LKyle Isbel136
RGarrett Hampson52
RDairon Blanco15

RF

RHunter Renfroe116
LAdam Frazier26
RDairon Blanco21
RTommy Pham⇄13
RNelson Velázquez11
RGarrett Hampson7
BDrew Waters4
BRobbie Grossman⇄4
LMJ Melendez4
RTyler Gentry3
RMaikel Garcia1

DH

RNelson Velázquez40
LVinnie Pasquantino25
RSalvador Perez23
RFreddy Fermin21
LAdam Frazier16
LMichael Massey14
BRobbie Grossman⇄8
RDairon Blanco6
LMJ Melendez6
RYuli Gurriel5
RHunter Renfroe3
RNick Loftin3
RTommy Pham⇄2
LCJ Alexander1
RBobby Witt Jr.1
RPaul DeJong⇄1

Starters

LCole Ragans4.9 WAR
RSeth Lugo4.7 WAR
RMichael Wacha3.3 WAR
RBrady Singer2.5 WAR
RAlec Marsh1.4 WAR
RMichael Lorenzen⇄0.5 WAR
LDaniel Lynch IV0.0 WAR
RDan Altavilla-0.1 WAR
RJonathan Bowlan-0.3 WAR

Bullpen

★ RJames McArthur18 sv
RJohn Schreiber23 h
LAngel Zerpa12 h
LWill Smith8 h
LSam Long7 h
RChris Stratton5 h
RNick Anderson2 h
RCarlos Hernandez1 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 2023)

PlayerfWAR
Seth Lugo4.7
Michael Wacha3.3
Lucas Erceg1.4
John Schreiber1.1
Paul DeJong0.7
Garrett Hampson0.5

Key subtractions (gone from 2023)

Player2023 fWAR
Aroldis Chapman1.3
Zack Greinke1.1
Nicky Lopez0.7
Ryan Yarbrough0.7
Edward Olivares0.5
Scott Barlow0.5

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 2024; everyone else is shown as a 2024 season snapshot.

PlayerPeriodfWARTier Market $MPaid $MSurplus $M$ / WARTierContract
Bobby Witt Jr. 2024 +10.5 +126.5 3.1 +123.4 $0.3M 1.51× –
Cole Ragans 2024 +4.9 +85.0 0.8 +84.3 $0.2M 2.19× Pre-arb extension · 2025–2027 · $4.4M AAV
Seth Lugo 2024 +4.7 +81.9 15.0 +66.9 $3.2M 2.19× Extension · 2026–2028 · $23.0M AAV
Michael Wacha 2024 +3.3 +51.9 16.0 +35.9 $4.8M 1.96× Extension · 2026–2027 · $17.0M AAV
Brady Singer 2024 +2.5 +29.2 4.8 +24.3 $2.0M 1.49× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $12.8M AAV
Lucas Erceg↔ 2024 +1.4 +14.9 0.3 +14.6 $0.2M 1.34× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Freddy Fermin 2024 +1.9 +11.7 0.7 +11.0 $0.4M 0.76× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $2.1M AAV
John Schreiber 2024 +1.1 +11.7 1.2 +10.5 $1.1M 1.34× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $3.7M AAV
Alec Marsh 2024 +1.4 +11.1 0.7 +10.4 $0.5M 1.02× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Michael Massey 2024 +1.6 +10.2 0.8 +9.4 $0.5M 0.82× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $1.6M AAV
Kyle Isbel 2024 +1.5 +10.0 0.8 +9.2 $0.5M 0.83× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $2.7M AAV
Vinnie Pasquantino 2024 +1.5 +9.8 0.8 +9.1 $0.5M 0.81× Arb extension · 2026–2027 · $5.5M AAV
Salvador Perez 2024 +3.2 +25.8 20.0 +5.8 $6.2M 1.00× Extension · 2026–2027 · $12.5M AAV
Maikel Garcia 2024 +1.3 +5.8 0.8 +5.1 $0.6M 0.58× Arb extension · 2026–2031 · $11.5M AAV
Paul DeJong↔ 2024 +0.7 +3.5 0.5 +3.0 $0.7M 0.61× –
Dairon Blanco 2024 +0.5 +3.3 0.7 +2.6 $1.5M 0.83× –
Kris Bubic 2024 +0.9 +4.9 2.4 +2.6 $2.6M 0.67× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $6.2M AAV
Michael Lorenzen↔ 2024 +0.5 +3.8 1.2 +2.6 $2.6M 1.02× Free Agent · 2026–2027 · $8.0M AAV
Garrett Hampson 2024 +0.5 +3.3 2.0 +1.3 $4.0M 0.83× –
Angel Zerpa 2024 +0.2 +1.0 0.7 +0.3 $3.8M 0.67× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $1.1M AAV
James McArthur 2024 +0.1 +1.0 0.7 +0.2 $8.3M 1.34× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Sam Long 2024 +0.2 +0.9 0.7 +0.2 $4.3M 0.67× –
Carlos Hernández 2024 +0.2 +1.1 1.0 +0.1 $4.8M 0.67× –
Walter Pennington↔ 2024 +0.0 +0.1 0.0 +0.1 $0.5M 0.67× –
Will Klein↔ 2024 +0.1 +0.6 0.5 +0.1 $4.4M 0.67× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Steven Cruz 2024 +0.1 +0.5 0.7 -0.2 $7.7M 0.67× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Colin Selby↔ 2024 -0.0 -0.1 0.3 -0.4 – 0.67× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Daniel Lynch IV 2024 +0.0 +0.2 0.7 -0.6 $25.8M 0.67× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $1.0M AAV
Nick Pratto 2024 +0.0 +0.2 0.7 -0.6 $25.0M 0.65× –
Tommy Pham↔ 2024 -0.0 -0.3 0.4 -0.7 – 0.83× –
Drew Waters 2024 -0.0 -0.1 0.7 -0.8 – 0.83× –
Tyler Gentry 2024 -0.1 -0.8 0.0 -0.8 – 0.83× –
Dan Altavilla 2024 -0.1 -0.5 0.4 -0.9 – 0.67× –
Matt Sauer 2024 -0.2 -1.0 0.2 -1.2 – 0.67× –
Hunter Harvey↔ 2024 -0.2 -1.0 0.3 -1.3 – 0.67× Free Agent · 2026–2027 · $6.0M AAV
CJ Alexander 2024 -0.3 -1.4 0.0 -1.4 – 0.58× –
Nick Loftin 2024 -0.2 -0.9 0.7 -1.6 – 0.56× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Robbie Grossman↔ 2024 -0.3 -1.7 0.2 -1.9 – 0.69× –
MJ Melendez 2024 -0.2 -1.7 0.8 -2.4 – 0.83× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $1.5M AAV
Nick Anderson 2024 -0.2 -1.2 1.6 -2.8 – 0.67× –
Jonathan Bowlan 2024 -0.3 -2.4 0.7 -3.1 – 1.02× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Nelson Velázquez 2024 -0.5 -2.6 0.7 -3.4 – 0.69× –
Adam Frazier 2024 -0.5 -2.3 2.0 -4.3 – 0.56× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $1.8M AAV
Hunter Renfroe 2024 +0.1 +0.7 5.5 -4.8 $53.6M 0.83× –
Chris Stratton 2024 -0.2 -2.1 3.5 -5.6 – 1.34× –
Will Smith 2024 -0.4 -2.0 5.0 -7.0 – 0.67× –
Jordan Lyles 2024 +0.0 +0.2 8.5 -8.3 $206.8M 0.67× –
Anthony Veneziano↔ 2024 +0.0 +0.1 0.1 -0.0 $6.4M 0.67× –
Tyler Duffey 2024 +0.0 +0.2 0.2 -0.0 $5.6M 0.67× –
Yuli Gurriel 2024 -0.0 -0.2 – – – 0.56× –
Total—+41.2+488.8110.1+378.9—

Trades

Every graded 2024 deal involving the Royals — best expected value first. Surplus is realized value in $M; 15 total.

2024 · CHC / KCR Jul 16, 2024
CHC · Jed Hoyer +$0.8M
Jesús Tinoco
KCR · J.J. Picollo −$0.8M
cash / PTBNL
Too soon to call unsettled
2024 · CHC / KCR Aug 2, 2024
CHC · Jed Hoyer +$0.0M
Kevin Padlo
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
Too soon to call unsettled
2024 · KCR / TEX Jul 29, 2024
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$4.8M
Michael Lorenzen
TEX · Chris Young −$4.8M
Walter Pennington
Too soon to call unsettled
2024 · WSN / KCR Jul 14, 2024
WSN · Michael Rizzo +$3.2M
Cayden Wallace
KCR · J.J. Picollo −$3.2M
Hunter Harvey
Too soon to call unsettled
2024 · SEA / KCR Mar 15, 2024
SEA · Jerry Dipoto +$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$0.0M
Natanael Garabitos
Too soon to call unsettled
2024 · KCR / BOS Feb 17, 2024
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$4.8M
John Schreiber
BOS · Craig Breslow −$4.8M
David Sandlin
Too soon to call unsettled
2024 · SFG / KCR Jun 14, 2024
SFG · Farhan Zaidi +$0.0M
Logan Porter
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
Too soon to call unsettled
2024 · KCR / SEA Jan 30, 2024
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$0.8M
cash / PTBNL
SEA · Jerry Dipoto −$0.8M
Samad Taylor
Too soon to call unsettled
2024 · BAL / KCR Jul 11, 2024
BAL · Mike Elias +$0.0M
Colin Selby
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
Too soon to call unsettled
2024 · KCR / CHW Jul 30, 2024
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$1.6M
Paul DeJong
CHW · Chris Getz −$1.6M
Jarold Rosado
Too soon to call unsettled
2024 · ATL / KCR Aug 31, 2024
ATL · Alex Anthopoulos +$0.8M
cash / PTBNL
KCR · J.J. Picollo −$0.8M
Yuli Gurriel
Too soon to call unsettled
2024 · KCR / PHI May 26, 2024
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
PHI · Dave Dombrowski +$0.0M
Jonah Dipoto
Too soon to call unsettled
2024 · KCR / OAK Jul 30, 2024
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$10.4M
Lucas Erceg
OAK · David Forst −$10.4M
Mason Barnett, Will Klein, Jared Dickey
Too soon to call unsettled
2024 · PIT / KCR Apr 7, 2024
PIT · Ben Cherington +$0.0M
Connor Oliver
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$0.0M
Colin Selby
Too soon to call unsettled
2024 · CIN / KCR Nov 22, 2024
CIN · Nick Krall +$37.6M
Brady Singer
KCR · J.J. Picollo −$37.6M
Jonathan India, Joey Wiemer
Too soon to call unsettled

Current & Historical Payroll

2024 payroll
$110.4M
2025 guaranteed
$0M

What the front office was committed to as of 2024, 2024–2030. Guaranteed $ are contract commitments signed by 2024; 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 (14)

PlayerAgeSvc2024202520262027202820292030
Salvador Perez3412.050$20.0MFREE AGENT
Michael Wacha3210.062$16.0MFREE AGENT
Seth Lugo347.082$15.0MFREE AGENT
Jordan Lyles3313.000$8.5MFREE AGENT
Hunter Renfroe326.165$5.5MFREE AGENT
Will Smith3412.000$5.0MFREE AGENT
Chris Stratton336.100$3.5MFREE AGENT
Adam Frazier328.000$2.0MFREE AGENT
Michael Lorenzen328.159$1.2MFREE AGENT
Paul DeJong306.057$466kFREE AGENT
Tommy Pham368.107$426kFREE AGENT
Tyler Duffey337.026$204kFREE AGENT
Robbie Grossman349.060$172kFREE AGENT
Yuli Gurriel408.000—FREE AGENT

Arbitration-eligible (7)

PlayerAgeSvc2024202520262027202820292030
Brady Singer273.156$4.8MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Kris Bubic263.135$2.4MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Garrett Hampson295.030$2.0MFREE AGENT
Nick Anderson335.000$1.6MFREE AGENT
John Schreiber303.027$1.2MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Dan Altavilla314.063$398kARB 3FREE AGENT
Hunter Harvey294.047$288kARB 3FREE AGENT

Pre-arbitration (29)

PlayerAgeSvc2024202520262027202820292030
Bobby Witt Jr.242.000$3.1MARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Carlos Hernández272.145$1.0MARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Kyle Isbel272.043$758kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Michael Massey261.068$757kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
MJ Melendez251.153$755kPre-ArbARB 1FREE AGENT
Cole Ragans261.029$754kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Vinnie Pasquantino261.101$753kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Maikel Garcia240.168$751kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Angel Zerpa241.082$748kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Nelson Velázquez251.031$747kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
James McArthur270.150$746kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Alec Marsh260.094$745kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Freddy Fermin290.165$744kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Dairon Blanco310.132$744kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Nick Loftin250.031$742kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Daniel Lynch IV272.083$740kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Nick Pratto251.067$740kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jonathan Bowlan270.013$740kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Steven Cruz250.034$740kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Drew Waters251.045$740kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Sam Long281.160$740kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Will Klein240.000$462kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Colin Selby261.000$296kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Lucas Erceg290.136$283kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Matt Sauer25–$235k
Anthony Veneziano260.013$123kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
CJ Alexander270.000$44kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Tyler Gentry250.000$24kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Walter Pennington26–$12k

Graphs

How each 2024 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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