Monday, October 13

KANSAS CITY -- The Royals are coming off a winning season, but without another postseason appearance, there’s a lot of dissatisfaction in the organization. This offseason, they’ll be retooling a roster that has the pieces to win but still needs improvement, as well as evaluating their processes that will help get the most out of that roster.

Here are five questions facing the Royals this offseason:

1. What will the hitting department look like?

One of the biggest priorities early this offseason is revamping the staff under senior director of hitting performance/hitting coach Alec Zumwalt. A search for assistant hitting coaches has begun after informing Keoni DeRenne and Joe Dillon that they will not return in 2026. How the Royals configure the staff for ‘26, including who joins, how many and in what roles, remains to be seen. The Royals will also be searching for a Minor League director of hitting after letting Drew Saylor go this month.

That makes for a lot of retooling following a year in which the Royals scored 84 fewer runs than in 2024 with largely the same roster -- and similar production outside of runs. Kansas City’s offense slashed .248/.309/.397 in ‘24 and .247/.309/.397 in ‘25. The baserunning regressed, and there were struggles with runners in scoring position early that certainly hurt. With several hitters returning next year, the Royals are evaluating their processes and tools to help those hitters behind the scenes.

2. Is there a bat to be added?

But the offensive philosophy is not the only thing that the Royals can, should and will address this winter. The roster needs improving.

Bobby Witt Jr., Maikel Garcia, Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez will return as the core of the Royals’ lineup in 2026. But once again, the Royals will be looking for a bat that can either help boost that group or help the bottom of the lineup.

Kansas City tried to sign a power-hitting outfielder last winter, but it didn’t work out. The outfield is again an open path to adding a bat: Royals outfielders hit just .219 in 2025 with a .617 OPS and 70 wRC+.

A proven corner-outfield bat should be at the top of the Royals’ shopping list this winter. They also saw what a platoon could look like when they brought in Mike Yastrzemski and Randal Grichuk at the Trade Deadline this year, and it’s not something they’re not opposed to doing again -- especially with interest in bringing Yastrzemski back.

3. What will Salvy’s contract look like?

Perez is entering the last year of his current contract: A $13.5 million club option the Royals can pick up ... if they don’t negotiate a new deal. The latter remains likely, and conversations have begun around what that might look like.

Perez might be 35 years old, but he’s not slowing down offensively. His .236 average was nearly a career low this year, but he hit 30 home runs and drove in 100 runs -- significant numbers for the middle of the Royals’ lineup.

They’ll have to talk about workload, especially after No. 2 prospect Carter Jensen’s standout September. But keeping Perez in Kansas City is a priority for him, so they’ll want to get those contract talks done as early as they can.

4. Will they trade a starter?

After an injury-riddled season, the Royals know that depth is massively important. And they seem to have a bunch of it entering Spring Training.

Cole Ragans, Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo figure to headline the rotation again. Kris Bubic is expected to be back at full strength. Noah Cameron has established himself after a strong rookie season. Stephen Kolek, Ryan Bergert, Bailey Falter and Luinder Avila could all compete as starters.

As important as depth is, it could also be used in trades. Teams are always looking for pitching, so it seems likely those names could come up in trade conversations with the Royals looking for a bat.

Who they part with, and how many, are questions the Royals must answer.

5. Who could get an extension?

The Royals see the value in contracts for their young, core players. They did so with Witt’s mega-extension, keeping the superstar in Kansas City long term, and with Ragans’ three-year deal signed last spring. There’s cost certainty for the club, guaranteed money for the player and goodwill spread among everyone with the commitment.

Contract candidates this offseason include Pasquantino and Garcia, as both are entering their first season of arbitration eligibility. There might be interest in guaranteed money in their arb years or longer. There also might be some interest in Bubic, who is entering his final year of arbitration and will be a free agent after 2026, although the Royals could also use him as a trade piece.

The Royals have to first find out the players’ desire, but the offseason is the time to approach those conversations.

Pope Leo XIV might be a White Sox fan, but that didn’t stop Mike Sweeney from gifting some Royals gear when he got to meet the head of the Catholic Church two weeks ago. Sweeney and his wife, Shara, were celebrating their 23rd wedding anniversary in Rome and were invited to join the Papal Audience on Oct. 1.

Sweeney gifted Leo with a custom No. 267 Royals jersey -- created by wardrobe director Beverly Vratn -- and a custom bat from Trinity Bat Company.

“He was genuinely excited,” Sweeney said. “He instantly went into a batting stance and it was awesome.”

Sweeney, a former All-Star, said Leo remembered watching Sweeney play against his hometown White Sox, a “surreal thing to hear,” Sweeney recounted.

“I expressed to him my admiration for him and what a joy it was to be in his presence,” Sweeney said. “I told him, ‘I obviously never played for the White Sox, but I’ll say it to you: Go White Sox and go Royals.’ And as I was walking away, he said, ‘Yes, go White Sox and go Royals.’ And I’m always going to remember that his last words to me were, ‘Go Royals.’”

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