Coming off a surprising season that saw the Royals return to the postseason for the first time in nine years, the franchise focus quickly shifts. Making the playoffs and getting to the ALDS is no longer a dream season with this core; it’s an expectation. While the Royals sit back and watch the Yankees and Dodgers duke it out for the Commissioner’s Trophy, here is my guide to getting the Royals in this spot in 2025.

Outfield Bats

Those who watched the Royals closely in 2024 know the outfield significantly hamstrung the lineup. Players like Drew Waters and Tyler Gentry will challenge for spots, and the Royals need to look outside the organization for help. Elite talents such as Juan Soto and Cody Bellinger may be out of the Royals’ price range, but the club should look into some other notable free agents.

• Jurickson Profar: After a mostly disappointing career, the former number one baseball prospect put it all together for the Padres in 2024. The 31-year-old posted career highs in batting average, home runs, RBIs, and essentially every other offensive metric in his breakout season. Due to his age and limited sample size the price for Profar shouldn’t exceed the Royals’ budget.

• Michael Conforto: Someone I lobbied for in my Royals trade deadline targets in the summer finds himself on the open market. Conforto’s best days may be behind him but that shouldn’t stop the Royals from having interest. He provides power at a cheap price to the Royals’ lineup, holding very little risk with a nice upside.

• Teoscar Hernández: Would be a gigantic splash, but Teoscar could be what put Kansas City over the top. The Dodgers’ lineup is full of superstars such as Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani but it’s hard to believe they win the pennant this season without Hernández’s huge season at the plate. In 154 games, the second-time all-star hit 33 home runs and drove in 99 runs. It would likely be a contract a bit above the typical Royals’ comfort zone, but if the team wants to push the offense over the top, they should be all in on getting Hernández in Kansas City.

Bullpen

The Royals bullpen was a massive liability for most of the 2024 campaign. Players brought in to bolster the bullpen, such as Will Smith and Chris Stratton, didn’t live up to expectations, and others were wildly inconsistent. Although the unit came together late in the season and produced, the Royals should still be looking to get help from outside the organization.

• Kirby Yates: He’ll be 38 by the time opening day rolls around, but Kirby Yates proved this past season he has plenty left in the tank. The veteran reliever enjoyed his best season yet in 2024, posting a 1.17 ERA and 33 saves as one of the few bright spots on the Rangers. The Royals have their closer role filled with Lucas Erceg, but there is no denying a setup man with the stuff Yates possesses would go a long way.

• A.J. Minter: A veteran reliever with consistent career numbers, Minter would bring a much-needed arm to the Royals’ bullpen. In his eight years with the Braves, Minter has posted a respectable 3.28 ERA in 348.2 innings.

• Kenley Jansen: The four-time all-star finds himself on the free agent market yet again. After a couple of solid seasons in Boston, Jansen finds himself looking for a contender he can contribute to in his final seasons in the league. Jansen isn’t a long-term free agent, but he could fill an immediate hole in the Royals’ bullpen.

Leadoff Man

For most of 2024, the Royals used third baseman Maikel Garcia as their leadoff man, and it did not go well. The Royals need someone who can consistently get on base in front of their best hitters in the lineup if they want to see more offensive production in 2025. While Michael Massey and company are competent enough, the Royals should look into these names for a more explosive lineup in 2025.

• Ha-Seong Kim: Coming off a down year in 2024, Kim’s price dropped significantly compared to where it would’ve been had he hit the free agent market a year earlier. With a career OBP of .326, the Royals would see a massive upgrade at the top of the lineup compared to Maikel Garcia who posted a measly .281 OBP in 2024.

• Kevin Newman: If the Royals are interested in utility men who don’t hit for power, Kevin Newman is right up their alley. The seven-year veteran put together a solid campaign in one year with the Diamondbacks, posting a .278 batting average with a .311 OBP. The former first-round pick never quite lived up to the potential expected out of a top 20 pick, but Newman could be an upgrade over the likes of Garrett Hampson and Adam Frazier.

Players to Retain

The Royals have multiple players who made a big impact on their season that could hit the free agency market. Here is a list of everyone who can become a free agent via the team/player option and all unrestricted free agents.

• Michael Wacha (Player option)
• Hunter Renfroe (Player option)
• Will Smith (UFA)
• Michael Lorenzen (UFA)
• Adam Frazier (Mutual option)
• Chris Stratton (Player option)
• Paul DeJong (UFA)
• Tommy Pham (UFA)
• Garrett Hampson (UFA)
• Robbie Grossman (UFA)
• Yuli Gurriel (UFA)

I’m sure the Royals would prefer to have Wacha opt into his option and return as a staple of the rotation. The rest of the list is completely up in the air. If I were the Royals, I would decline Adam Frazier’s option and let all of the unrestricted free agents test the market. For the Royals’ sake, it would be nice if Renfroe and Stratton opted out and moved on after rough seasons in Kansas City but that is out of the organization’s control.