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Royals KCR

202582–80 (0.506)
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GM: J.J. Picollo

Overview

Ranks vs the 30 teams in 2025, or a custom range (defaults to every team-season since 1985, when our data starts).

to

Front Office

PoorAverageGreat
Value
Payroll $M
$129M
Surplus $M
+6
Win %
0.506
TAB
+1.7
WAB
+2.5
Roster composition
Roster fWAR
33.6
Dead money %
30%
Depth Players
5.0
Dead WAR
-6.4

Offense

PoorAverageGreat

Pitching & Defense

PoorAverageGreat

Roster

2025 depth chart — stacked by playing time

C

RSalvador Perez92
RFreddy Fermin⇄61
RLuke Maile23
LCarter Jensen10

1B

LVinnie Pasquantino126
RSalvador Perez30
LJac Caglianone10
LCavan Biggio6
RNick Loftin5
RMark Canha3

2B

RJonathan India76
LMichael Massey60
LAdam Frazier⇄32
RNick Loftin16
RMaikel Garcia11
RTyler Tolbert5
LCavan Biggio4
RFreddy Fermin⇄1

3B

RMaikel Garcia136
RJonathan India20
RNick Loftin14
LAdam Frazier⇄3
LCavan Biggio3
RTyler Tolbert3

SS

RBobby Witt Jr.154
RMaikel Garcia17
RTyler Tolbert5

LF

BDrew Waters41
RNick Loftin38
LJohn Rave32
RMark Canha22
RJonathan India21
LMJ Melendez17
LMichael Massey14
LAdam Frazier⇄13
RTyler Tolbert13
RRandal Grichuk⇄8
LCavan Biggio5
RDairon Blanco3
LMike Yastrzemski⇄2

CF

LKyle Isbel135
RTyler Tolbert28
BDrew Waters22
LJohn Rave15
RMaikel Garcia6
RDairon Blanco3
LMike Yastrzemski⇄3
RRandal Grichuk⇄1

RF

LJac Caglianone52
LMike Yastrzemski⇄43
LJohn Rave34
RHunter Renfroe33
BDrew Waters21
RRandal Grichuk⇄16
RMark Canha12
LCavan Biggio8
LMJ Melendez6
RTyler Tolbert5
LAdam Frazier⇄4
RMaikel Garcia1

DH

RSalvador Perez38
LVinnie Pasquantino34
RJonathan India27
RRandal Grichuk⇄18
LCavan Biggio11
LCarter Jensen9
RMark Canha7
LJac Caglianone7
RMaikel Garcia6
RFreddy Fermin⇄5
RBobby Witt Jr.4
LMichael Massey4
LAdam Frazier⇄3
RTyler Tolbert3
RHunter Renfroe2
LMJ Melendez1
LJohn Rave1
RNick Loftin1
LMike Yastrzemski⇄1

Starters

RMichael Wacha3.7 WAR
LKris Bubic3.4 WAR
LCole Ragans2.1 WAR
LNoah Cameron1.9 WAR
RMichael Lorenzen1.3 WAR
RStephen Kolek⇄0.9 WAR
RRyan Bergert⇄0.7 WAR
RSeth Lugo0.6 WAR
LAngel Zerpa0.4 WAR
RJonathan Bowlan0.2 WAR
LBailey Falter⇄0.0 WAR
LDaniel Lynch IV-0.1 WAR
LRich Hill-0.2 WAR

Bullpen

★ RCarlos Estevez42 sv
RJohn Schreiber23 h
RLucas Erceg22 h
LAngel Zerpa14 h
RSteven Cruz9 h
LDaniel Lynch IV7 h
RTaylor Clarke5 h
LSam Long1 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 2024)

PlayerfWAR
Noah Cameron1.9
Mike Yastrzemski1.3
Carlos Estévez1.1
Stephen Kolek0.9
Ryan Bergert0.7
Carter Jensen0.7

Key subtractions (gone from 2024)

Player2024 fWAR
Brady Singer2.5
Paul DeJong0.7
Garrett Hampson0.5
Carlos Hernández0.2
Will Klein0.1
Jordan Lyles0.0

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 2025; everyone else is shown as a 2025 season snapshot.

PlayerPeriodfWARTier Market $MPaid $MSurplus $M$ / WARTierContract
Bobby Witt Jr. 2025 +8.0 +97.0 8.2 +88.8 $1.0M 1.51× –
Maikel Garcia 2025 +5.7 +64.8 0.8 +64.0 $0.1M 1.43× Arb extension · 2026–2031 · $11.5M AAV
Kris Bubic 2025 +3.4 +53.1 3.0 +50.1 $0.9M 1.96× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $6.2M AAV
Michael Wacha 2025 +3.7 +65.2 18.0 +47.2 $4.8M 2.19× Extension · 2026–2027 · $17.0M AAV
Cole Ragans 2025 +2.1 +25.0 1.1 +24.0 $0.5M 1.49× Pre-arb extension · 2025–2027 · $4.4M AAV
Noah Cameron 2025 +1.9 +22.5 0.6 +22.0 $0.3M 1.49× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Vinnie Pasquantino 2025 +1.5 +9.9 0.8 +9.1 $0.5M 0.81× Arb extension · 2026–2027 · $5.5M AAV
Lucas Erceg 2025 +0.9 +9.6 0.8 +8.8 $0.9M 1.34× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Stephen Kolek↔ 2025 +0.9 +7.6 0.1 +7.5 $0.1M 1.02× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Mike Yastrzemski↔ 2025 +1.3 +8.8 2.8 +6.0 $2.1M 0.83× Free Agent · 2026–2028 · $11.5M AAV
Kyle Isbel 2025 +1.1 +7.6 1.8 +5.9 $1.5M 0.83× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $2.7M AAV
Ryan Bergert↔ 2025 +0.7 +5.7 0.1 +5.6 $0.2M 1.02× –
Michael Lorenzen 2025 +1.3 +10.7 6.5 +4.2 $4.9M 1.02× Free Agent · 2026–2027 · $8.0M AAV
Carter Jensen 2025 +0.7 +2.9 0.1 +2.8 $0.2M 0.52× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Adam Frazier↔ 2025 +0.6 +2.8 0.4 +2.5 $0.6M 0.56× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $1.8M AAV
Carlos Estévez 2025 +1.1 +12.2 10.1 +2.1 $8.9M 1.34× Free Agent · 2025–2027 · $11.1M AAV
Freddy Fermin↔ 2025 +0.4 +2.4 0.3 +2.1 $0.8M 0.69× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $2.1M AAV
Tyler Tolbert 2025 +0.3 +2.3 0.6 +1.7 $1.7M 0.83× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
John Schreiber 2025 +0.4 +3.8 2.3 +1.5 $6.4M 1.34× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $3.7M AAV
Angel Zerpa 2025 +0.4 +1.9 0.8 +1.1 $2.2M 0.67× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $1.1M AAV
Luinder Avila 2025 +0.2 +1.2 0.1 +1.1 $0.6M 0.67× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Taylor Clarke 2025 +0.4 +1.9 0.8 +1.1 $2.3M 0.67× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $1.6M AAV
Jonathan Bowlan 2025 +0.2 +1.2 0.4 +0.8 $1.7M 0.67× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Evan Sisk↔ 2025 +0.1 +0.6 0.0 +0.6 $0.3M 0.67× –
John Rave 2025 +0.1 +0.9 0.4 +0.5 $3.1M 0.83× –
Steven Cruz 2025 +0.2 +0.9 0.7 +0.2 $4.0M 0.67× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Luke Maile 2025 +0.3 +1.3 1.2 +0.1 $3.9M 0.52× –
Bailey Falter↔ 2025 +0.0 +0.1 0.2 -0.1 $14.7M 1.02× –
Thomas Hatch↔ 2025 -0.1 -0.3 0.0 -0.3 – 0.67× –
Dairon Blanco 2025 -0.1 -0.4 0.3 -0.7 – 0.83× –
Hunter Harvey 2025 +0.5 +2.6 3.7 -1.1 $7.5M 0.67× Free Agent · 2026–2027 · $6.0M AAV
Daniel Lynch IV 2025 -0.1 -0.7 0.8 -1.5 – 0.67× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $1.0M AAV
Rich Hill 2025 -0.2 -1.6 0.1 -1.7 – 1.02× –
Michael Massey 2025 -0.4 -1.8 0.8 -2.6 – 0.56× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $1.6M AAV
Randal Grichuk↔ 2025 -0.4 -2.2 0.6 -2.8 – 0.69× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Sam Long 2025 -0.3 -1.8 0.9 -2.8 – 0.67× –
Cavan Biggio 2025 -0.2 -1.2 2.0 -3.2 – 0.69× –
Chris Stratton↔ 2025 +0.0 +0.2 3.6 -3.4 $97.3M 0.67× –
Drew Waters 2025 -0.6 -4.0 0.4 -4.3 – 0.83× –
MJ Melendez 2025 -0.6 -3.9 0.5 -4.4 – 0.83× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $1.5M AAV
Mark Canha 2025 -0.6 -4.3 1.4 -5.7 – 0.83× –
Jonathan India 2025 -0.2 -0.9 7.0 -8.0 – 0.56× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $8.0M AAV
Seth Lugo 2025 +0.6 +4.8 15.0 -10.2 $25.6M 1.02× Extension · 2026–2028 · $23.0M AAV
Jac Caglianone 2025 -1.5 -10.3 0.5 -10.8 – 0.83× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Hunter Renfroe 2025 -0.9 -6.2 7.6 -13.8 – 0.83× –
Salvador Perez 2025 +0.6 +2.4 20.0 -17.6 $34.7M 0.52× Extension · 2026–2027 · $12.5M AAV
Nick Loftin 2025 +0.1 +0.5 0.5 -0.0 $6.9M 0.83× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Trevor Richards↔ 2025 +0.0 +0.0 0.1 -0.0 $5.7M 0.67× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $1.0M AAV
Andrew Hoffmann↔ 2025 -0.1 -0.4 – – – 0.67× –
Total—+33.4+394.4128.8+266.4—

Trades

Every graded 2025 deal involving the Royals — best expected value first. Surplus is realized value in $M; 15 total.

2025 · KCR / MIL Dec 14, 2025
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$4.8M
Nick Mears, Isaac Collins
MIL · Matt Arnold −$4.8M
Angel Zerpa
Too soon to call unsettled
2025 · PIT / KCR Jul 31, 2025
PIT · Ben Cherington +$8.8M
Evan Sisk, Callan Moss
KCR · J.J. Picollo −$8.8M
Bailey Falter
Too soon to call unsettled
2025 · MIL / KCR Mar 22, 2025
MIL · Matt Arnold +$4.8M
cash / PTBNL
KCR · J.J. Picollo −$4.8M
Mark Canha
Too soon to call unsettled
2025 · ARI / KCR Jul 26, 2025
ARI · Mike Hazen +$0.0M
Andrew Hoffmann
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$0.0M
Randal Grichuk
Too soon to call unsettled
2025 · KCR / SFG Jul 31, 2025
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$0.8M
Mike Yastrzemski
SFG · Buster Posey −$0.8M
Yunior Marte
Too soon to call unsettled
2025 · KCR / PIT Jul 16, 2025
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$4.0M
Adam Frazier
PIT · Ben Cherington −$4.0M
Cam Devanney
Too soon to call unsettled
2025 · PHI / KCR Dec 19, 2025
PHI · Dave Dombrowski +$19.2M
Jonathan Bowlan
KCR · J.J. Picollo −$19.2M
Matt Strahm
Too soon to call unsettled
2025 · NYM / KCR May 22, 2025
NYM · David Stearns +$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$0.0M
Diego Castillo
Too soon to call unsettled
2025 · TBR / KCR Nov 10, 2025
TBR · Erik Neander +$3.2M
cash / PTBNL
KCR · J.J. Picollo −$3.2M
Kameron Misner
Too soon to call unsettled
2025 · SEA / KCR Jul 22, 2025
SEA · Jerry Dipoto +$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$0.0M
Julio E. Rodriguez
Too soon to call unsettled
2025 · BAL / KCR Apr 5, 2025
BAL · Mike Elias +$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$0.0M
Nick Gordon
Too soon to call unsettled
2025 · LAD / KCR Mar 24, 2025
LAD · Andrew Friedman +$0.0M
Shawndrick Oduber
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
Too soon to call unsettled
2025 · MIL / KCR Apr 21, 2025
MIL · Matt Arnold +$0.0M
Cesar Espinal
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
Too soon to call unsettled
2025 · SFG / KCR Nov 11, 2025
SFG · Buster Posey +$3.2M
Logan Martin
KCR · J.J. Picollo −$3.2M
Mason Black
Too soon to call unsettled
2025 · KCR / SDP Jul 31, 2025
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$9.6M
Ryan Bergert, Stephen Kolek
SDP · AJ Preller −$9.6M
Freddy Fermin
Too soon to call unsettled

Current & Historical Payroll

2025 payroll
$128.7M
2026 guaranteed
$32.7M

What the front office was committed to as of 2025, 2025–2031. Guaranteed $ are contract commitments signed by 2025; 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)

PlayerAgeSvc2025202620272028202920302031
Salvador Perez3513.050$20.0MFREE AGENT
Michael Wacha3311.062$18.0M$18.0M$14.0M$14.0MCLUBFREE AGENT
Seth Lugo358.082$15.0MFREE AGENT
Carlos Estévez328.022$10.1M$10.1M$13.0MCLUBFREE AGENT
Hunter Renfroe337.165$7.6MFREE AGENT
Michael Lorenzen339.159$6.5MFREE AGENT
Chris Stratton347.100$3.6MFREE AGENT
Mark Canha369.092$1.4MFREE AGENT
Luke Maile347.148$1.2MFREE AGENT
Cole Ragans272.029$1.1M$4.6M$7.6MARB 3FREE AGENT
Randal Grichuk3310.033$645kFREE AGENT
Adam Frazier338.075$384kFREE AGENT
Rich Hill4514.141$81kFREE AGENT
Trevor Richards326.070$53kFREE AGENT

Arbitration-eligible (9)

PlayerAgeSvc2025202620272028202920302031
Bobby Witt Jr.253.000$8.2MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jonathan India284.000$7.0MARB 3FREE AGENT
Hunter Harvey305.047$3.7MFREE AGENT
Kris Bubic274.135$3.0MARB 3FREE AGENT
Mike Yastrzemski345.128$2.8MFREE AGENT
John Schreiber314.027$2.3MARB 3FREE AGENT
Cavan Biggio305.129$2.0MFREE AGENT
Kyle Isbel283.043$1.8MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Taylor Clarke324.169$812kARB 3FREE AGENT

Pre-arbitration (26)

PlayerAgeSvc2025202620272028202920302031
Sam Long292.121$950kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Vinnie Pasquantino272.101$793kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Michael Massey272.068$790kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Daniel Lynch IV282.136$782kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Angel Zerpa252.082$779kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Lucas Erceg301.136$777kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Maikel Garcia251.168$775kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Steven Cruz260.058$699kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Tyler Tolbert270.000$588kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Noah Cameron250.000$560kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Nick Loftin260.121$539kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
MJ Melendez262.153$484kARB 1FREE AGENT
Jac Caglianone220.000$482kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
John Rave27–$417k
Jonathan Bowlan280.017$405kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Drew Waters261.062$355kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Freddy Fermin301.165$328kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Dairon Blanco321.132$278kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Bailey Falter282.138$233kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Luinder Avila230.000$135kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Carter Jensen210.000$114kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Stephen Kolek281.000$107kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Ryan Bergert25–$105k
Evan Sisk280.000$40kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Thomas Hatch302.032$19kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Andrew Hoffmann25–—

Graphs

How each 2025 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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