This web page will probably be up to date all through the offseason to mirror any Royals transactions, in addition to damage updates, made this winter.
Jan. 17: C Sandy León indicators Minor League deal
León will probably be a non-roster invitee at Royals camp subsequent month. The 34-year-old catcher appeared in 21 video games final 12 months with Texas, going 6-for-41 on the plate earlier than the Rangers designated him for project in June. León signed a Minor League contract with Cleveland after that, and he spent the remainder of the season in Triple-A.
León has Salvador Perez and Freddy Fermin forward of him on the depth chart, however his veteran presence will probably be some good added depth for the Royals.
Dec. 19: LHP Kris Bubic indicators one-year deal, avoiding arbitration
Bubic, who’s recovering from Tommy John surgical procedure that he had final April, prevented arbitration in his second 12 months of being eligible for the method. A supply instructed MLB.com that the deal is price $2.35 million, a small elevate from the $2.2 million Bubic made in 2023. The 26-year-old is on monitor in his restoration from surgical procedure, common supervisor J.J. Picollo stated Tuesday, and Bubic will probably be returning to the massive league mound by mid-season subsequent 12 months. Bubic made simply three begins this previous season earlier than he obtained damage, posting a 3.94 ERA throughout 16 innings.
The Royals nonetheless have a number of arbitration-eligible gamers to come back to agreements with in 2024, together with righties Brady Singer, Carlos Hernández, Nick Anderson and Kyle Wright. That course of will ramp up in January.
Dec. 19: OF Hunter Renfroe indicators one-year take care of participant choice for 2025; RHP Max Castillo designated for project
The Royals added to their outfield by signing Renfroe to a one-year deal price $5.5 million with a $7.5 million participant choice in 2025. The 31-year-old slugger spent nearly all of final season with the Angels, slashing .242/.304/.434 with 31 doubles, 19 homers and 56 RBIs over 126 video games. He was acquired off waivers by Cincinnati on the finish of August and performed in 14 video games with the Reds, amassing his twentieth homer of the season. That gave him his fourth consecutive full season with at the very least 20 homers. Renfroe made his debut in ’16 with the Padres and is a profession .239 hitter with 177 house runs.
Castillo, 24, was a part of the commerce that despatched Whit Merrifield to the Blue Jays on the 2022 Commerce Deadline. Castillo appeared in 12 video games (4 begins) with the Royals since becoming a member of the group and posted a 6.69 ERA with 27 strikeouts throughout 39 innings.
Dec. 18: RHP Jonathan Heasley traded to Orioles for Minor League RHP Cesar Espinal
In one other transfer to clear a 40-man roster spot, the Royals acquired the 18-year-old Espinal whereas sending Heasley to Baltimore. Espinal appeared in 9 video games (eight begins) for the Dominican Summer season League Orioles Orange in 2023, going 2-1 with a 3.18 ERA (12 earned runs in 34 innings), 34 strikeouts and 11 walks. The Dominican Republic native owns a profession 4.02 ERA throughout two summers with the DSL Orioles.
Heasley, the Royals’ Thirteenth-round 2018 Draft choose, pitched in 36 video games (24 begins) over three seasons with Kansas Metropolis with a 5.45 ERA. He made 12 reduction appearances final season and allowed 13 runs (12 earned) for a 7.20 ERA. Heasley was probably going to be competing for a bullpen spot in Spring Coaching, however with all of the additions made this offseason to the Royals’ ‘pen, the membership felt it was time to maneuver on.
Dec. 18: RHP Michael Wacha indicators one-year contract with participant choice in 2025
The Royals made the Wacha signing official Monday and launched him in a press convention at Kauffman Stadium. The 32-year-old posted a 3.22 ERA throughout 24 begins and 134 1/3 innings with the Padres final season, together with 124 strikeouts and a 14-4 report. Wacha has pitched in elements of 11 seasons for the Cardinals (2013-19), Mets (’20), Rays (’21), Pink Sox (’22) and Padres (’23). He has a profession 3.96 ERA. The Royals have now added two veteran starters this offseason, and each occur to be former teammates on the Padres. Wacha and Seth Lugo will headline Kansas Metropolis’s rotation in 2024.
LHP Daniel Lynch IV (left shoulder pressure)
Anticipated return: 2024
Lynch completed the 12 months with simply 9 begins and a 4.64 ERA for Kansas Metropolis. He started the 12 months on the IL with a left rotator cuff pressure and ended it on the IL with the same damage. However Lynch was capable of have one rehab outing with Triple-A Omaha earlier than the season ended, and he went again to Arizona to proceed that development. Lynch made a begin within the Arizona Fall League that acted extra as a rehab begin earlier than going to the Dominican Republic to pitch in winter ball. Throughout 20 1/3 innings (5 begins) for the Leones del Escogido, Lynch posted a 2.66 ERA with 23 strikeouts and 13 walks. (Final up to date: Dec. 11)
LHP Kris Bubic (left elbow surgical procedure)
Anticipated return: 2024
Bubic opted for full ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgical procedure on April 21. He has been rehabbing in Kansas Metropolis however will proceed that restoration in California, the place he lives through the offseason. Pitchers usually return from Tommy John surgical procedure a 12 months after the operation, so it is doable Bubic might be again with the Royals after the 2024 season begins. (Final up to date: Oct. 1)