Notable Additions: Hunter Renfroe, Will Smith, John Schreiber
Notable Losses: Brad Keller, Jackson Kowar, Edward Olivares
You probably didn’t expect to see them this high after going 56-106, did you? Well, here they are. I understand why you may think they are too high, but this team can be better than 56 wins. They made a lot of moves that can make them a respectable threat in the AL Central race. So, what do the 2024 Royals look like?
Projected Starters
C: Salvador Perez
1B: Vinnie Pasquantino
2B: Michael Massey
3B: Maikel Garcia
SS: Bobby Witt Jr
LF: MJ Melendez
CF: Kyle Isbel
RF: Hunter Renfroe
DH: Nelson Velasquez
Starting with their hitting, last season, they ranked 24th in OPS and 26th in home runs as a team. Bobby Witt Jr was the only player with an OPS above .800 and was one of two players with 20 or more home runs. The other is Salvador Perez. Bobby Witt Jr was also the only returning qualified player with a WRC+ above 100. These guys could not hit well. The Royals have Bobby Witt Jr, Salvador Perez, a healthy Vinnie Pasquantino, and Hunter Renfroe this year. I like the potential of the rest of this young lineup, but overall, I can’t give them more than a 5/10 for now.
Projected Starting Rotation
Cole Ragans
Brady Singer
Michael Wacha
Seth Lugo
Jordan Lyles
Last season, the Royals ranked 28th in ERA as a team. They had a rotating door of starters, and none were good—except for one guy. More on him later. The Royals went out and signed Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo, who should both provide solid production. I refuse to believe Brady Singer will be that bad again, considering his FIP was one point lower than his ERA. And Jordan Lyles is Jordan Lyles. Overall, I give the Royals rotation a 4/10.
The Royals bullpen has improved significantly since 2023. James MacArthur’s FIP was 2 points lower than his ERA in 2023. Will Smith and John Schreiber were great additions and John McMillion could be a huge strikeout guy. The Royals invested in some veterans and are trusting some promising younger guys to improve last year’s disaster. For their efforts, I give them a 5/10.
Sock’s 2 X-Factors
Bobby Witt Jr: Fresh off his 11-year/288 million dollar extension, there is no other man I’d rather have leading the Royals into battle. Last season, Witt hit .276/.319/.495 with 30 home runs and a 115 WRC+. Bobby has elite speed on the bases and elite defense. One place I’d like to see him improve is his walk percentage. He does not walk a lot, but he can still rake. Royals fans should excited to have him around for a while.
Cole Ragans: Acquired by the Royals as a part of the Aroldis Chapman trade, Cole Ragans looks to be the ace of the future in Kansas City. Before being traded to the Royals, he had a 5.32 ERA with a 1.45 WHIP, 7.1 K/9, and a 5.05 FIP. In his 12 games with Kansas City, he had a 2.64 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 2.49 FIP, and 11.2 K/9. His fastball hit 97 MPH in 2023, up 5 MPH from 2022. He has excellent breaking stuff and is developing a killer curveball along with his fastball. He should eclipse 200 strikeouts this year and be in contention for the AL Cy Young.
Sleeper: Vinnie Pasquantino: Pasquantino was due for a breakout year in 2023 before injuring his right shoulder. In 133 games across two seasons, Pasquantino hit .272/.355/.444 with 19 home runs and a 122 WRC+. He can hit .280 or better with 30 or more home runs throughout an entire season.
Prospects to Look Forward To
Blake Mitchell: Drafted 8th overall in the 2023 MLB Draft, Blake Mitchell is projected to be Salvador Perez’s replacement. At 19 years old, he has a great swing and great instincts at the plate. He is not very fast, but he has a rocket arm and should be able to provide above-average defense or better at the major league level.
Cayden Wallace: Selected in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft, Cayden Wallace is the perfect simple prospect. He plays good defense, has solid power, and has good plate instincts. He has a great arm, so he should have no problem being a big-league third-baseman. He is 22 years old, and if he has a hot start in the minors, he may see big-league playing time this season.
GM For a Day:
At 26, I think you could get a good long-term deal for Vinnie Pasquantino. Something around 7 years/85 million could be good for both parties. The Royals pay a guy they believe in, and Vinnie takes guaranteed money for playing two half seasons.
Projected Finish: 76-86, 2nd in the AL Central, 10th in the AL
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