Browsing: Royals

KANSAS CITY — The Royals have agreed to a one-year, $5.25 million deal with veteran outfielder Lane Thomas, sources told MLB.com on Thursday night.

The club has not confirmed the contract, which is pending a physical and includes $1 million in incentives. The Royals are at 38 players on their 40-man roster, so a corresponding move is not needed.

The 30-year-old Thomas is a buy-low bounceback candidate and a right-handed hitter who can play center field, all items the Royals were searching for when looking at the free-agent market for outfielders who can provide some length to the bottom of their lineup. They missed out on re-signing Mike Yastrzemski, who inked a two-year, $23 million contract with the Braves on Wednesday, but had a list of free agents to continue to go after as they left the Winter Meetings.

Thomas spent the last year and a half with the Guardians and went through several ups and downs. After joining Cleveland in a Trade Deadline deal with the Nationals in 2024 — the Royals expressed interest in adding him then, too — the outfielder batted .148 in his first 29 games for Cleveland. But he turned it on in September, with a .560 slugging percentage, and Thomas†grand slam in Game 5 of the ALDS against Detroit and Tarik Skubal helped send the Guardians to the ALCS. There, Thomas†double preceded a game-tying home run by Jhonkensy Noel in the bottom of the ninth in Game 3 against the Yankees, which the Guardians won in 10 innings.

After that uneven 2024, Thomas was limited to 39 games and 125 at-bats for the Guardians in 2025, mostly due to a lingering case of plantar fasciitis in his right foot, which required surgery in September. And before that, Thomas missed a month with a right wrist bone bruise after he was hit by a pitch on the right wrist in Clevelandâ€s home opener. When healthy enough to play, Thomas batted just .160 with a .518 OPS and six extra-base hits.

The biggest question is if Thomas can recapture the form he showed in 2023, when he hit 28 homers and stole 20 bases for Washington, to go with a .783 OPS and 3.3 WAR (per Baseball Reference). Even if not, he can still provide value against left-handed pitchers, against whom he has a career .292/.359/.500 slash line.

Defensively, Thomas has seen time at all three outfield positions, including 276 starts in right field and 170 in center. In his last full season in 2024, he showed limited range (-8 outs above average, third percentile) but an elite arm (95th percentile arm strength). The Royals could use him as a right-handed option in center field when lefty Kyle Isbel sits, or in right field if lefty Jac Caglianone is not playing. Thereâ€s lots of opportunity in left field right now, too; the Royals plan to have Michael Massey (also a lefty) split time between second base and left field in 2026.

It remains to be seen how much, if at all, Thomas†foot injury will zap him of his 94th-percentile sprint speed in limited time in 2025, but when healthy Thomas still presents a tantalizing power/speed combination that could make him more than a platoon bat if he performs.

This move doesnâ€t mean the Royals are done searching for outfield bats. Their preference is to add multiple this offseason, and theyâ€ll still be exploring the trade market for a more impactful bat. Thomas provides them with depth that can hit lefties well, something the Royals will want to get on base at the bottom of their order so the core of the lineup can produce runs.

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JAIPUR: Unhappy with the facilities and arrangements at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, the Jaipur-based IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals are actively exploring alternative venues and appear close to shifting its home base to Pune, at least for the 2026 season. While the Royals†management has remained tight-lipped, Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) secretary Kamlesh Pisal confirmed to TOI that the franchise has expressed strong interest in hosting the majority of its home games at the MCA Stadium in Gahunje.As reported by TOI on November 12, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) officials had also shown interest in adopting Pune as a temporary home venue due to the ongoing restrictions at Bengaluruâ€s Chinnaswamy Stadium. However, there has been no further communication from RCB, whereas the Royals have moved significantly ahead.“The Royals†officials were here on November 18 and they did the recce. We have shown our willingness to them as well because RCB have not yet confirmed. RCB showed their willingness but the Royals have gone a step ahead by coming to Pune and inspecting the stadium and things around logistics. Now it is with the BCCI to approve the venue. The ball is in the BCCIâ€s court,†Pisal said.The MCA secretary also indicated that the association with the Royals could extend well beyond a single season.“Not just 2026, we might host them even after that,†he added.During the recently concluded Womenâ€s ODI World Cup, the Royals†management had also visited Indoreâ€s Holkar Stadium.“Two Royals†officials came here to have a look at the stadium and they enquired about the stadium capacity and hospitality, but we donâ€t know exactly what their purpose was. We havenâ€t heard anything from them after that,†said Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association chief administrative officer Rohit Pandit.Meanwhile, Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) ad-hoc committee convener Deendayal Kumawat remains hopeful that the Royals†home games will continue to be played in Jaipur. He said he has met franchise vice-president Rajeev Khanna and has also written to IPL COO Hemang Amin, assuring them of “good facilitiesâ€.“RCA, in coordination with the state government, will ensure the Royals face no issues related to the ground, security or passes. I have offered to host matches both at the SMS Stadium and Jodhpurâ€s Barkatullah Khan Stadium,†Kumawat added.

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KANSAS CITY – The Royals signed right-hander Alex Lange to a one-year deal on Thursday night, bringing in the reliever with Kansas City ties to add to their bullpen. Langeâ€s deal is worth $900,000 in 2026 with $100,000 in performance bonuses, a source told MLB.com.

Lange, 30, will still be arbitration-eligible after the 2026 season and is under club control through 2028. He was designated for assignment by the Tigers on Nov. 12, going unclaimed on waivers and electing free agency.

On the injured list for most of the 2025 season because of right lat surgery, Lange made just one appearance for the Tigers before he was optioned to Triple-A Toledo in August. In 24 Triple-A appearances, Lange posted a 4.63 ERA.

Lange is not that far removed from being a key piece of Detroit’s bullpen. He notched 26 saves for the Tigers in ‘23 — with 32 save opportunities — and posted a 3.68 ERA across 66 innings that year, which included a 27.4% strikeout rate. Between 2022-23, he appeared in 138 games and posted a 3.55 ERA. Langeâ€s stuff — including a sinker and knuckle curveball — really plays in the ‘pen when heâ€s healthy, generating a lot of whiffs and weak contact, although he can get a bit wild at times with control.

His strikeout rate plummeted in 2024, though, and he was optioned to Triple-A before the significant lat injury ended his season.

Lange went to Leeâ€s Summit West High School in Leeâ€s Summit, Mo., just outside of Kansas City. He went to Louisiana State University and was a first-round pick by the Cubs in the 2017 Draft.

If Lange is healthy again and his stuff still plays like it did in ‘23, the Royals are getting a bounce-back candidate who could add depth to their ‘pen. Plus, a cheap deal with a player who has years of control is a low-risk, high-reward kind of gamble.

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Rajasthan Royals will enter the IPL 2026 auction with a remaining purse of Rs 16.05 crore. The team made major changes before the mini-auction, including trading out Sanju Samson to Chennai Super Kings and bringing in Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, and Donovan Ferreira.

RR kept a strong and balanced core for IPL 2026. Their batting group stays secure with Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Shubham Dubey, and Lhuan-dre Pretorius. The pace attack remains stable through Jofra Archer, Tushar Deshpande, Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma, Kwena Maphaka, and Yudhvir Singh. Jadeja, Sam Curran, and Donovan Ferreira add all-round strength.

The team released Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Akash Madhwal, Kumar Kartikeya, Kunal Rathore, and Ashok Sharma to reshape their squad.

Speaking about the retention and releases, Kumar Sangakkara said,

“We are very pleased with the balance and depth of the squad following our retentions and key trades going into 2026.

“Weâ€ve retained a core that understands our environment and plays the brand of cricket we believe in. The additions of Jadeja, Sam Curran, and Donovan Ferreira further strengthen us across most phases of the game.

“We also want to extend our gratitude to the players not retained in this cycle, and we look forward to the possibilities that the auction may bring.â€

What Players should the Rajasthan Royals eye at the IPL 2026 Auction

The Rajasthan Royals are heading into 2026 IPL with a very different identity after a series of major trades and releases. The most significant shift came through the decision to move on from Samson and bring in Jadeja and Sam Curran. This shows that RR wants more all-round depth and a stronger bowling core. Jadeja brings control with the ball, sharp fielding, and late-order batting. Curran adds left-arm swing, lower-order hitting, and flexibility in different match situations.

Samsonâ€s exit leaves a clear vacuum in leadership, and this is now one of the franchiseâ€s biggest decisions. Riyan Parag has experience as a stand-in captain but did not produce strong results. Yashasvi Jaiswal brings energy and long-term potential but has not captained at this level before. The captaincy choice, if chosen internally, can be either Jaiswal, Jurel, or Parag.

RR have also made their spin department thinner by releasing Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana. Apart from Jadeja, there is no frontline spinner, and this creates a clear requirement for the auction. They need a dependable spinner like Rahul Chahar or Ravi Bishnoi, or the team will be too reliant on Jadeja through long spells.

The move to trade Nitish Rana is another talking point because Rana filled the No. 3 slot well. Donovan Ferreira brings power-hitting but does not fill the same tactical role, which means RR must find a reliable top-order batter in the auction. Venkatesh Iyer is an ideal replacement candidate for the No. 3 slot, or they can go for an overseas player like Devon Conway, who was released by CSK.

RRâ€s purse of ₹16.05 crore gives them enough room to target a quality spinner, a top-order batter, and possibly a backup pacer. Their retained group has strong young talent like Jaiswal, Parag, Jurel, and Vaibhav Suryavanshi, and key bowlers such as Jofra Archer and Kwena Maphaka. The team now looks more flexible but has clear gaps to address.

FAQs

Q. Why is Sanju Samson leaving RR?

A. Sanju Samson told the Rajasthan Royals that he wants a new start with a different team.

Q. Were Jadeja and Samson traded?

A. Yes. RR sent Sanju to CSK. CSK sent Jadeja and Sam Curran to RR.

Q. Is Sam Curran traded to RR?

A. Yes. Sam Curran moved from CSK to RR in the same trade.

Q. Who bought Jofra Archer in the IPL auction?

A. Rajasthan Royals bought Jofra Archer for ₹12.50 crore.

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Misner, 27, is a Poplar Bluff, Mo., native and attended the University of Missouri from 2016-19. He was originally selected by the Royals in the 33rd round of the 2016 Draft out of Poplar Bluff High School, but he elected to go to college and turned into a first-round pick, drafted 35th overall by the Marlins in 2019.

Misner played in 71 games with Tampa Bay in 2025 and hit .213 with a .618 OPS. He made the Opening Day roster this past season for the first time in his career and, on Opening Day, he entered as a defensive replacement in the eighth inning only to find himself making history in the ninth when he hit a walk-off home run. He became the first player in Major League history to hit his first career home run in walk-off fashion on Opening Day.

Acquired by the Rays from the Marlins after the 2021 season, Misner made his big league debut on Aug. 2 of last season and has only 79 career games under his belt. He has a .203/.260/.325 career slash line, with nine doubles, one triple, five homers and eight stolen bases. Heâ€s more known for his defense, which is elite in center field thanks to good speed and a strong arm. Despite limited playing time this past season, he still recorded +5 in run value and +3 outs above average in the outfield, according to Statcast.

The Royals are searching for outfield help this offseason, specifically a bat that can lengthen the lineup and bring some impact in the middle of the order. Misner doesnâ€t fit that criteria, but he does offer controllable, center field depth as Kansas City assesses the rest of its roster and how it might be able to retool it this winter.

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Sanju Samson is set to be traded by the Rajasthan Royals ahead of the 2026 season of the Indian Premier League, most likely to the Chennai Super Kings. The question now is, who will replace him as the captain of the inaugural IPL champions?

The Kerala wicketkeeper-batter made his league debut in 2023 for the Royals and was named the franchise captain in 2021. He is an absolute RR legend; his 155 appearances and 4219 runs are the most in the 18-year history of this team. He has also led the Jaipur-based team in 67 games, the most for the side, and has won 33 of them, which is also the most for RR.

But now, it is all but confirmed that Samson will leave the Royals in the upcoming season. Although there are a few players who have been with the team for several seasons, it remains a very young side. Determining their next captain might not be the easiest although there are still a few clear options.

Who Will Be the Rajasthan Royals Captain in IPL 2026?

There are a few international players who might get the nod. Wanindu Hasaranga has experience captaining the Sri Lankan Cricket Team in limited-overs formats, but he also joined the side just last season. Then, players like Jofra Archer and Shimron Hetmyer, being integral pieces of the squad, can also be handed the hat. But Archer is injury-prone, and Hetmyer has almost no experience captaining at the top level, so handing captaincy to an overseas player with minimal leadership experience might be a no-go.

It is very clear that the Rajasthan Royals will look towards their young Indian batting core to find their new leader. A recent report by The Times of India claimed that Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel have emerged as the frontrunners to lead the Royals for the upcoming IPL 2026 season.

Jaiswal is the regular opener for the Indian Cricket Team in Test cricket. He is a regular in the squad in limited-overs cricket. The explosive batter is one of the most promising batters in world cricket, with several accolades already under his belt. The former U-19 star joined RR in 2020, and despite having played only 67 matches for the franchise, he is already their fifth-highest run scorer.

On the other hand, Dhruv Jurel is a reliable middle-order batter and wicketkeeper for the Royals. He joined the franchise in 2022 and has become a crucial part of the squad. He is also a regular for the Indian Test team. He was also named the captain of the Central Zone team for the 2025-26 Duleep Trophy before he was pulled from the side due to injury.

Jaiswal and Jurel were also retained by RR ahead of the IPL 2025 mega-auction, making them essential parts of the teamâ€s plans back then. And while plans change from season to season, their young age suggests that they are still a massive part of the organisation, despite a change in management.

However, there are a few other choices for the Rajasthan Royals captaincy for IPL 2026. A very surprising omission from the TOI report was one Riyan Parag. Parag is the only former RR captain in the squad. Not only did he captain the Royals for half of the 2025 season, with Sanju Samson out with an injury. He has also led Assam in several domestic competitions.

Another former captain in the squad is Nitish Rana, who is the most experienced skipper in the team. The former captain of Delhi in domestic competitions, Rana, led the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2023 season, replacing an injured Shreyas Iyer.

Sanju Samsonâ€s transfer will be announced this week, as November 15 is the final date for announcing retentions. And so, it is also very likely that the Rajasthan Royals will announce their captain for IPL 2026 soon after.

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Veteran catcher Salvador Perez will be back with the Kansas City Royals for at least two more years.

The Royals announced Tuesday that they had agreed to a two-year contract with Perez. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Kansas City had the option this offseason to either exercise the $13.5 million option on Perez’s contract for the 2026 season or buy him out for $2 million. Instead, they agreed to a new deal.

Perez is coming off another strong season that became even more special after he became just the eighth primary catcher in MLB history to reach 300 home runs and the third Royals player to record 1,000 RBI. He finished the year with 30 homers and 100 RBI while hitting .236.

Despite Perez’s impressive season, the Royals finished with an 82-80 record and fell short of the playoffs just a year after they made their first postseason appearance since winning the World Series in 2015.

While Kansas City ended the year in disappointing fashion, the team has some promising pieces like star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino and rookie slugger Jac Caglianone.

By retaining Perez, the Royals are keeping their team leader around for another season and beyond as they try to return to the playoffs in 2026.

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Next Match:

at St. Catherine University

10/31/2025 | 7 p.m.

Oct. 31 (Fri) / 7 p.m.

at St. Catherine University

History

MINNEAPOLIS – The Augsburg University volleyball team suffered a three-set loss to Bethel University in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match on Wednesday evening at Si Melby Hall.

THE BASICSÂ
FINAL SCORE: Macalester def. Augsburg 3-0 (25-12, 25-23, 28-26)
LOCATION: Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis
RECORDS: Augsburg 9-16 overall (4-4 MIAC), Bethel 13-8 overall (6-2 MIAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The match featured 23 ties and 12 lead changes, but Bethel hit .231 (35 kills, eight errors in 117 attacks), compared to a .198 average (42 kills, 17 digs, 126 attacks) for the Auggies. Bethel also took advantage of 10 service aces, compared to seven for the Auggies.
• Jovial King (SO, Caledonia, Minn./Caledonia HS) recorded her 11th assist-dig of the season and 17th of her Auggie career, with 29 assists and 17 digs, adding two block assists and five kills.
• Taliah Triggs (SO, Moorhead, Minn./Moorhead HS) led the Auggie attackers with 10 kills, adding three digs and two service aces.
• Marley Mitchell (SO, Nevis, Minn./Nevis HS) had nine kills, and Elizabeth Oster (JR, Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji HS) recorded eight kills with three service aces and a block assist.
• Taylor Hoehns (SR, Cedar Falls, Iowa/Dike-New Hartford HS) had three block assists.
• Defensively, Maggie Lile (JR, Spring Grove, Minn./Spring Grove HS) had 16 digs, Lola Pilon (JR, Farmington, Minn./Mounds Park Academy HS) had 11 digs and Elise Uphoff (JR, Marshfield, Wis./Marshfield HS) had eight digs.

FOR THE FOES
• Peyton Howie led Bethel with nine kills and four blocks (one solo), while Hannah Penke had nine kills and 18 digs.
• Sophia Rubio had 29 assists and 18 digs, and Grace Therrien had 17 digs and four service aces.

UP NEXT
• Augsburg travels to face St. Catherine University in an MIAC match on Friday (10/31) at 7 p.m. in St. Paul, Minn.

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Just days after arriving in Arizona for his stateside debut, 17-year-old Royals righthander Kendry Chourio was invited to Chase Field, where Kansas City’s big league club was playing the Diamondbacks over Fourth of July weekend. He walked into the visiting clubhouse wide-eyed, taking in the rows of crisp jerseys and nameplates—each one a symbol of a dream he was just beginning to chase.

In the dugout, Chourio spotted familiar faces in fellow Venezuelans Freddy Fermín, Angel Zerpa and Salvador Perez going through their warmups. All three had once stood where he was—scouted in Venezuela, signed by the Royals and developed through the system. Now, they were on a big league field together, each at a different stage of a shared journey.

It gave Chourio, who had been in the United States for less than a week, the assurance to tell himself that would be him one day.

“I felt so confident when I walked into the stadium,†Chourio, who turned 18 on Oct. 1, told Baseball America in Spanish. “I felt like I could go out and compete with them. I have so much respect for everything they have done to get to where they are at, and it motivates me to do the same.â€

The righthander had already put himself in prime position before even touching U.S. soil. In just five games in the Dominican Summer League, he established himself as one of the most dominant pitchers in the circuit with a 2.04 ERA, 22 strikeouts and just one walk.

The Royals were confident in Chourio’s command of his arsenal, which features a strong pair of secondaries in an upper-70s curveball with sharp bite and a fading mid-to-upper-80s changeup. But they wanted to see more velocity on his fastball. At the time of his Jan. 15 signing, his heater sat in the low 90s. So when he came out pumping 95–98 mph, it turned heads.Â

Even if it was just five starts, the jump was real—and Kansas Cityâ€s player development staff knew it. They didnâ€t wait around, sending him to the Arizona Complex League in July.

“He looks far from a kid who is 17 years old,†Royals senior vice president of major league and international operations Rene Francisco said. “That’s why we felt so good about the decision that we made with him. Heâ€s a bright kid. No oneâ€s perfect, but he wants to be that. We felt like he was ready for the next level.â€

Chourioâ€s dominance carried over into Arizona, where he posted a 2.45 ERA with 17 strikeouts and no walks. With the complex season nearing its end—and just 28.2 innings under his belt—the Royals made a rare move. Rather than keeping him in Arizona for the bridge league alongside their incoming draft class, they promoted Chourio to Low-A Columbia, making him the youngest pitcher at the level.

It was going to be Chourioâ€s biggest test yet. He knew his fastball could play, but he was determined to make sure his breaking pitches could keep pace against more advanced hitters. Over six starts (22.2 innings), he struck out 24, posted a 5.16 ERA and showed flashes of dominance while adjusting to a tougher league.

His biggest moment came in the Carolina League playoffs when he delivered five innings of one-run ball in a critical start to help the Columbia Fireflies advance to the championship series. Chourio felt a special adrenaline in that atmosphere—something he hadn’t experienced before. But he kept his composure, just as if he was still pitching on the quiet backfields.

“I was never nervous,†Chourio said. “Itâ€s the same game, just a different stage.â€

Most 17-year-old baseball prospects are getting ready for their senior year of high school. Chourio had already touched three levels of professional baseball.

But whatâ€s propelled him forward isnâ€t just his velocity spike or ability to throw strikes.

“There was always a serious tone in my household,†Chourio said. “My family provided me with a great education and taught me the value of respect. The values taught to me at a young age really helped me with my discipline.â€

Those values show up in the way Chourio carries himself. Coaches and staff point to his poise, routine focus—all rare traits for someone still learning how to live day to day in a new country.

“His maturity is the reason heâ€s been able to advance rapidly,†Jose Gualdron, the scout who signed Chourio in Venezuela, said in Spanish. “He knows what he wants right now and for his future. He has incredible focus and is able to avoid distractions. He isnâ€t concerned about whatâ€s around him, heâ€s strictly focused on working, working and working.â€

That mindset and work ethic are what the Royals believe will carry Chourio through the next steps of a baseball journey that has only just begun. Heâ€s already shown he can rise to the occasion, level after level. And while his path to the majors will come with more challenges, the 18-year-old Venezuelan native steps onto every field with the confidence he belongs on a major league mound.

Because for Chourio, the big league dream no longer feels so far away.

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Sep 30, 2025, 05:22 PM ET

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals expect to have nine-time All-Star catcher Salvador Perez back next season.

They expect to have the same set of goals, too.

First on the list is a return to the playoffs, which they managed to accomplish in 2024 but failed to replicate this season. The Royals were in contention until last week, when the last of the AL wild cards proved to be too far out of reach, thanks in part to an inconsistent offense and a starting rotation that was ransacked by injuries.

“I have a tremendous amount of pride and gratitude for being in this position, and being able to lead this team, and a tremendous amount of pride in what we did do,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said during a wrap-up news conference Tuesday.

“There’s also a tremendous amount of disappointment in the fact that we’re not playing, because we believe in ourselves. Our internal expectations are extremely high, not only for winning and losing games but in how we perform, you know? Process-wise, decision-making, all those kinds of things. And all of those areas need to be improved.”

Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said most of the coaching staff would return from a club that finished 82-80 for its second straight winning season, though changes could be made in the hitting department. Alec Zumwalt will be back to lead the group, but he could have some new voices helping to direct an offense that too frequently failed to produce.

Most of the roster should return intact, too.

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That includes Perez, their 35-year-old captain, who hit just .236 but finished with 30 homers and 100 RBIs. The Royals value not just his production but his leadership, especially for Carter Jensen, who dazzled in a small sample size after making his big league debut behind the plate late in the season.

The Royals have a $13.5 million club option on Perez next season, though a reworked deal could be in the works.

“We’ve already started those discussions,” Picollo said. “It’s safe to say, one way or another, Salvy will be here in ’26.”

The rest of the lineup

The Royals are set across the infield with All-Star third baseman Maikel Garcia and All-Star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. coming off solid seasons, and first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino hitting 32 homers and driving in 113 runs. Jonathan India is expected to play more at second base, his natural position, rather than fill in where the Royals had other needs.

Jac Caglianone will have an opportunity to start in right field on opening day after spending 62 games in the big leagues. The 22-year-old slugger dominated Triple-A pitching but struggled after his promotion, hitting .157 with seven homers and 18 RBIs.

The big question is whether Kansas City can upgrade elsewhere in the outfield. Kyle Isbel plays an above-average centerfield, but left field was especially bleak this season, and played a big part in an offense that struggled for long stretches.

Rotation rundown

Cole Ragans missed much of the season to injury, though his dominance over the final couple of weeks reinforced how good he can be when healthy. Ragans is a rotation lock along with Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha, a pair of dependable veterans.

The competition will be tough for the other spots. Noah Cameron had a brilliant rookie season, going 9-7 with a 2.99 ERA, and has the inside track on one of the jobs. Kris Bubic is the favorite for another after a season in which he went 8-7, posted a 2.55 ERA, earned his first All-Star trip but ultimately finished on the injured list with a strained rotator cuff.

Where does that leave Ryan Bergert, Stephen Kolek and Bailey Falter? Depth is never a bad thing, but the Royals also could use some of them as trade pieces in an effort to upgrade their offense this offseason.

Bullpen situation

Carlos Estevez joined Dan Quisenberry as the only Royals relievers to lead the majors in saves, finishing with 42; he remains under contract for next season. So does Lucas Erceg, who was shut down in September with shoulder fatigue, and fellow late-inning specialists Daniel Lynch IV and John Schneider.

The Royals hope for better health for Hunter Harvey, who made just 12 appearances but did not allow a run, and James McArthur, who missed the entire season after experiencing setbacks following an elbow procedure the previous offseason.

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