It is hard to believe that it is already 2024 and that we are less than four months away from pitchers and catchers reporting for spring training. The Royals have been extremely active this offseason, signing many free agents and acquiring others via trade to round out their 40-man roster.
On top of that, they’ve brought in a few guys on minor-league deals that are extremely interesting and could potentially impact the big-league roster in 2024. We will go through three guys who could make the roster from spring training or see their names called to the show soon after the season starts.
DAN ALTAVILLA, RHP
Right-hander Dan Altavilla is one of the most interesting guys the Royals signed to a minor league deal. He hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2021 due to injuries but has had an extremely strong showing in the Dominican Winter League this off-season. Reports are he was reaching 98 mph again with his fastball. He compiled some really good numbers over 10 games, striking out nine over nine innings pitched while giving up two earned runs.
Before Altavilla got injured, he was pretty nasty. He recorded a 4.03 ERA over six big league seasons. His career came to a halt when he got Tommy John surgery in June 2021. Regardless of the TJ, the Boston Red Sox so enough upside in Altavilla to give him a contract two-year minor league contract in March 2022. Altavilla battled injuries but did make his way to High-A with the Sox in the injury recovery process. A strong showing this spring could have Altavilla cracking the opening-day roster for a team still looking for bullpen help, but it is likely that he starts the year in Omaha to show what he’s got. He could provide some much-needed depth down the line.
TYLER DUFFEY, RHP
Duffey comes to the Royals on a minor-league deal as well and has the longest track record of success in the big leagues. He’s compiled a 4.57 ERA in 477 innings over nine years in the big leagues. If anyone has a shot to crack the opening-day roster after a strong spring, it’s him.
He doesn’t have a fastball that will blow you away (averaged 92.5 in 2023 and 92.3 in 2022), but man, are his secondaries a good time. In 2022, he threw his curveball 32% of the time, and it had a 2479 spin rate. He only went to his slider 12.4% of the time, but he induced more Whiff% on that one at 34.9% compared to 28.9% on his slider. He only threw two innings in 2023 with the Chicago Cubs, so it is tough to see how his pitch mix varied that year.
If Duffey can have a strong spring and find his way back to what made him successful in 2019-2021, he could have a decent role in the Royals bullpen. Even if his spring isn’t strong, the Royals would benefit if he decided to accept a minor-league assignment. They struggled to find guys to call up and fill innings. Duffey could be another guy they are able to call upon when they need someone.
SAM LONG, LHP
Outside of 2022, Sam Long has struggled to put up decent numbers in the big league but, nevertheless, is also an intriguing arm. Outside of Will Smith, the Royals don’t have a lefty in the bullpen unless Angel Zerpa and Anthony Veneziano make the roster or if Daniel Lynch is bumped from the rotation to the bullpen. Long could be a possible lefty option for them.
Long isn’t that dominating presence in the bullpen, as he hasn’t posted a strikeout percentage higher than 21.6%. The one thing he does have is a curveball with a high spin rate. He adds to the list of relievers the Royals signed to minor-league deals who have above-league-average spin rates on their curveballs and try to raid the zone. Long is probably the one guy who struggles a bit more with walks.
Unlike Duffey and Altavilla, Long is probably more of a longshot to make the Royals roster, but at the very least presents an interesting look come this spring training. Expect Long to likely accept a minor-league assignment and start the year in Omaha.
MIKE BROSSEAU, 3B
It’s hard to imagine any non-roster invitee bat making the Royals roster given the likes of Dairon Blanco, Nick Loftin, Samad Taylor, Nick Pratto, Tyler Gentry, and Drew Waters being on the 40-man roster, as well as the recent signing of Garrett Hampson to a major-league deal. But anything can happen in the spring regarding breakouts or injuries, and who knows if the Royals are done with potential trades.
The Royals went out and signed Brosseau to a minor-league deal. He has plenty of big-league experience. He’s compiled 647 plate appearances in the major across five years with the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers. He only played 29 games for the Brewers last year as he really struggled to find consistent success. That led him to being outrighted in July and he signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball League. He didn’t do much better there, slashing .191/.218/.287.
Regardless, he has had a few clutch moments for the Rays in the playoffs. Who can forget him taking Aroldis Chapman deep in the 2020 ALDS.
It’ll be interesting to see if Brosseau can have a hot spring to push for a roster spot, but it seems highly unlikely. He does have the advantage of having the ability to play all for infield positions in his corner and could be another utility bat.