The World Series has ended and with the 2023 MLB season now officially behind us, the Kansas City Royals have some serious work to do. After losing 106 games, they have just three departing free agents — none of whom look to be candidates to return — and many roster questions to answer. Rumors from David Lesky of Inside the Crown seem to point to the Royals getting started early this offseason.

This may or may not come to fruition, but I’ve talked to two separate scouts who have heard the Royals are willing to jump the market this winter. I love that. And it’s sort of funny that I love it because I remember being so upset at the number of times they were quick out of the gates to make moves in previous seasons because they needed to let the market set.

If this is true, it really doesn’t surprise me in the least. The organization is in a small roster crunch ahead of a key November 14 roster deadline. That date is the deadline to set 40-man rosters ahead of this winter’s Rule 5 draft. Any players eligible and not on the 40-man roster could be taken by another team if they see the player as a candidate to stick in the major leagues for the full season.

That caveat at the end matters, and could be the difference for some players’ chances of being poached. Here’s a full list of Rule 5 eligible players in the organization this winter:

Catchers:

Omar Hernandez, Dionmy Salon

Infielders:

CJ Alexander, Kale Emshoff, Aldrin Lucas, Clay Dungan, Lizandro Rodriguez, Jhonny Perdomo, Devin Mann, Morgan McCullough, Tyler Tolbert, Brady McConnell

Outfielders:

Tyler Gentry, John Rave, Tucker Bradley, Jean Ramirez, Darryl Collins, Erick Peña, Roger Leyton, Omar Nuel

Pitchers:

Luinder Avila, Beck Way, Asa Lacy, Rylan Kaufman, A.J Block, Andres Diaz, Will Klein, Christian Chamberlain, Jacob Wallace, Jonah Dipoto, Anderson Paulino, Evan Sisk, Emilio Marquez, T.J. Sikkema, Dante Biasi, Cruz Noriega, Noah Murdock, Samuel Valerio, Chase Wallace

That’s a long list of available talent, which is pretty normal. Among the three dozen or so players that will be eligible, there are really only a handful of minor leaguers who are at risk of being selected this December. Here are the names I’d like to see added to the Royals 40-man roster before November 14.

OF Tyler Gentry

Easily the most obvious name on this list is also the most guaranteed name to be added ahead of the deadline. There’s essentially zero chance the Royals leave Gentry unprotected. If they do, he will without question be taken by someone. One of the best prospects in the system, Gentry started slowly last season, but by the second half, Gentry was looking once again like himself at the plate. He was the organization’s 2022 winner of the George Brett Hitter of the Year Award, and after a strong full season in Triple-A this past season, there’s really zero reason for him to return to the minor leagues again in 2024. He’s a candidate to be the Opening Day left fielder in Kansas City and deserves every chance next Spring to earn that spot.

OF/INF Tyler Tolbert

Gentry was the 2022 winner of the organization’s Hitter of the Year Award, and Tyler Tolbert won that award in 2023. He played a lot of shortstop for most of his minor league career until the second half of this season when he transitioned to playing center field regularly. He started swinging more this season which dropped his walk rate, but his strikeout rate has now dropped in three consecutive seasons to a more palatable 22.1% in 2023.

In all, Tolbert stole 50 bases while hitting 10 home runs and 10 triples this season. That production at the plate would be welcome from a premium position like center field. I’m unsure if we can expect that level of performance once he reaches the major leagues, but there’s very little Dairon Blanco does that the Royals couldn’t get from Tyler Tolbert. Blanco is in his 30s, whereas Tolbert is still just 25 years old.

SIRP Beck Way

Starting Pitcher Beck Way should in no way be protected on the 40-man roster. However, the single-inning relief pitcher version could be worth a shot. Way made 17 starts in 2023, finishing his season with a 6.67 ERA. In the second half, Kansas City shifted him to the Naturals bullpen and the results were night and day. As a starter, Way had a 9.23 ERA with 51 walks and 48 strikeouts. Opponents hit .306 against him in those 17 games.

As a reliever, his ERA was down to 1.93 with 32 strikeouts and just 12 walks. Opponents hit just .153 against him in those 11 appearances. The Royals got Way as part of the return for Andrew Benintendi and his stuff is certainly good enough to become an above-average reliever in the major leagues. It’s possible he would pass through the Rule 5 draft without being selected, simply because teams aren’t confident he could pitch in the major leagues right now. It’s also possible a savvy team like the Rays or Orioles could pick him up because they love the “stuff.”

UTIL Devin Mann

Devin Mann was acquired from the Dodgers in the Ryan Yarbrough trade. He didn’t make his way to Kansas City last season, despite being 26 years old. He will be 27 next season but has played extremely well at basically every level of the minor leagues. I think the Whit Merrifield comparison is overused for just about any Royals minor leaguer who can play multiple positions and sort of hit well, but I think it fits here. Looking ahead to 2024, Mann is probably a bench player on Opening Day if he’s on the major league roster at all. Depth is important, however, and rostering Mann next season could save the Royals down the stretch. He could be a first base backup to Vinnie Pasquantino with the ability to play second, third, and corner outfield as well.

Anyone unlisted is either undeserving of the 40-man at this junction or perhaps they’re a good prospect but highly unlikely to be selected this winter (Luinder Avila). In order to fit any of these guys on the 40-man roster, J.J. Picollo will have some work to do over the next two weeks to open up some space. The team’s 40-man roster currently sits at 41 players, following the addition of 60-day IL players.

There are some ways to trim that number. Josh Taylor and Josh Staumont are both non-tender candidates this winter. Jonathan Heasley, Nate Eaton, and Dairon Blanco are probably in that same boat as well. That’s a pretty clear path to protecting some younger talent with more upside. Now it’s just time for the front office to make the tough decisions needed to improve the roster ahead of 2024.