MLB Insider Mark Feinsand reported some updates on Halloween night regarding mutual and player options for the upcoming season.
Three Royals were mentioned in Feinsand’s report: outfielder Hunter Renfroe, reliever Chris Stratton, and utility player Adam Frazier.
According to Feinsand’s first post on X, the Royals declined Frazier’s mutual option for the upcoming year.
Kansas City signed Frazier to a one-year, $4.5 million contract last year. The hope was that Frazier would give the Royals a veteran presence in the clubhouse and that he could play multiple positions in the infield and outfield.
According to Spotrac, Frazier’s contract was structured to pay him only $2 million in 2024 and then $2.5 million the following season as part of a possible $8.5 million mutual option for 2025. Since Kansas City decided not to exercise the mutual option, the Royals will pay a buyout of $2.5 million, which essentially equals the $4.5 million that Frazier and the Royals agreed to last offseason.
The former Pirates draft pick played in 104 games with the Royals in 2024 but struggled to produce overall, whether at the plate or in the field. In 294 plate appearances, he posted a 63 wRC+ and accumulated a -0.6 fWAR. The Royals will likely look to find another player like Frazier in free agency who can fill that utility role for 2025.
Feinsand also announced on X that Renfroe and Stratton would be exercising their player options for 2025.
Renfroe will be owed $7.5 million, and Stratton will be owed $4.5 million next season. GM JJ Picollo had to structure player-friendly deals to attract veterans such as Renfroe and Stratton to consider coming to Kansas City in free agency after the Royals lost 106 games in 2023. Unfortunately, the signings of both players produced mixed results in 2024.
Renfroe struggled with injuries in 2024, playing only 120 games, his lowest total in an entire season since 2018 with San Diego. In 424 plate appearances with the Royals, he only hit 15 home runs, the first time he’s been under the 20-HR threshold in a 162-game season since his 2016 rookie season. Furthermore, his 92 wRC+ and -0.1 fWAR left a bit to be desired, and he only played in two games in the postseason.
As for Stratton, he made 57 appearances and pitched 58.1 innings, but struggles with control led to inconsistent results last season. His BB/9 of 5.09 was a career-high, while his 6.79 K/9 and 1.33 K/BB ratio were the lowest marks since his 2016 rookie season with the Giants.
Stratton’s fastball velocity was an issue throughout the season. He only averaged 91.8 MPH on the pitch, a 1.3 MPH decline from 2023 with Texas. The velocity regression could’ve been injury-related, as he ended up on the IL on September 14th due to a right forearm flexor strain. He missed the remainder of the season and did not make an appearance in the postseason.
No surgery has been mentioned for Stratton this offseason, so he should be ready for Spring Training in Surprise, as long as the Royals decide not to trade away or DFA him this offseason.
Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire Imagn Images
