#20
The Kansas City Royals had a sneaky good off-season. Does it have them set up to contend in 2024?
#25 - 4th in AL Central
MIH - Vinnie Pasquatino
MIP - Daniel Lynch
PTW - Drew Waters
FP - Bobby Witt Jr. will be the starting shortstop for the AL in the All Star Game in 2023.
2023 Results
#29 - 56-106, 5th in AL Central
Highest WAR (Position) - Bobby Witt Jr.
Highest WAR (Pitcher) - Cole Ragans
The Royals struggled in 2023 despite having one of the most dynamic young players in the game. Their young first base slugger was hurt most of the season, their young pitching stumbled... It was almost all bad.
Additions / Subtractions
The Royals off-season was defined by a bunch of smaller signings that make you say, "Oh, that's a sneaky good move." They brought in starters Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha to stabilize their rotation. They brought in relievers Will Smith, Nick Anderson, and Chris Stratton to stabilize the bullpen. They brought in veterans Adam Frazier and Hunter Renfroe to stabilize the lineup. Not one of these moves moves the needle, but the combination of them all is impressive.
Most Important Hitter
Bobby Witt Jr.
I don't know if another team is tying its entire success over the next decade to one player quite like the Royals and Bobby Witt Jr. Entering his third season, Witt has shown he is everything that his potential promised. Somehow he didn't make the All Star Team last year, but he did finish 7th in MVP despite being on a 100+ loss team. He could be in the conversation as one of the best players in baseball in the next year or two. All the small moves the Royals made only work if Witt stays healthy and continues to play like a budding superstar.
Most Important Pitcher
Cole Ragans
Acquired at the Trade Deadline last season for Aroldis Chapman, Cole Ragans came to the Royals and quickly established himself as the ace of the young staff. It was success he hadn't seen yet in the big leagues. Now, with all the veterans on the pitching staff, the Royals are looking to Ragans to continue his dominance he showed at the end of last season and emerge as a true ace.
Prospect to Watch
Nick Loftin
The Royals currently have the 28th best farm system in baseball with only one prospect ranked in the Top 100, and that prospect won't be ready for at least another year. Their second best prospect, though, started the season on the Opening Day roster. Nick Loftin was drafted in 2020 as a top shortstop, and now he is entering 2024 as the go to utility man in Kansas City. It takes a true athlete to thrive in a role like that, and the Royals believe he is that kind of athlete. He could be yet another sneaky good addition to this roster.
2024 Prediction
2nd in AL Central
I know it would be quite a jump, but the Royals have two things going for them. First, their roster may have seen more turnover than any other roster in the league, mainly with proven veterans. Second, the AL Central is the weakest division in baseball ... by a lot. The Royals are poised to make a leap like this in 2024. They won't have much of a shot at the Wild Card, but they could make a push for the division crown.
Fearless Prediction
Salvador Perez will be traded before the start of next season.
The one constant in Kansas City over the highs and lows of the last decade has been Salvador Perez behind the plate. He was on the team before their run in the mid-2010's, and he's the last one left after that run ended. Now, he is in the last two seasons of his contract, and the Royals have a catcher as their top prospect. It's not very likely, but there's a chance the Royals decide to finally move on from Sally, see what they can get for him, and move forward with their young prospect next year. It's probably more likely that Perez is a lifelong Royal, but the possibility is there.
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