Retirements
- Anthony Gose retired from professional baseball.
- Andrew McCutchen retired from professional baseball.
- Carlos Santana retired from professional baseball.
- J.D. Martinez retired from professional baseball.
- Paul Goldschmidt retired from professional baseball.
- Jake Diekman retired from professional baseball.
- Derek Holland retired from professional baseball.
- Kenta Maeda retired from professional baseball.
Extensions & Free Agents
Ahead of arbitration, the Royals signed a 4-year extension with 3B
Maikel Garcia worth a total of $25,460,000. The 2016 International Free Agent is a contact bat with above average speed and a defensive profile that allows him to play across the infield.
As in 2024, arbitration and expiring contracts saw the Royals retain the core of the team although with some high-profile contributors amongst the departures:
SP
David Buchanan, free-agent.
• 12 G | 45.2 IP | 95 ERA+ | 0.3 WAR
SP
Matthew Boyd, free-agent.
• 33 GS | 192.2 IP | 99 ERA+ | 3.2 WAR
RP
Michael Wacha, free-agent.
• 37 G (6 GS) | 69 IP | 90 ERA+ | -0.2 WAR
RP
Hunter Harvey, free-agent.
• 45 G | 49.2 IP | 88 ERA+ | -0.3 WAR
RP
Alex Wood, free-agent.
• 59 G | 46 IP | 85 ERA+ | -0.5 WAR
RP
Alex Young not offered arbitration, free agent.
• 13 G | 21.1 IP | 171 ERA+ | 0.6 WAR
CL
Brooks Raley, free-agent.
• 59 G | 64 IP | 181 ERA+ | 1.4 WAR
C
Salvador Perez, free-agent.
• 150 G | 572 PA | 64 OPS+ | -1.8 WAR | .216 / .255 / .352 / 17 HR
RF
Hunter Renfroe, free-agent.
• 113 G | 359 PA | 108 OPS+ | 0.7 WAR | .238 / .312 / .461 / 18 HR
C
Jake Rogers not offered arbitration, free agent.
• 125 G | 448 PA | 67 OPS+ | 1.3 WAR | .185 / .254 / .365 / 20 HR
The big decision from the Royals was to let legend Salvador Perez walk. After a historic season in 2024, Perez had a huge regression in 2025 which lost him the starting Catcher job. A painful decision for the heart, this looks like a sensible decision by the front office.
Highlight contract extensions around the league included:
Tampa Bay Rays: SP
Shane McClanahan 5 years $158,200,000.
Baltimore Orioles: SP
Kyle Bradish 5 years $137,800,000.
Milwaukee Brewers: C
William Contreras 8 year $320,400,000.
Highlight free agent deals included:
New York Yankees: SP
Framber Valdez 2 years $58,000,000.
St. Louis Cardinals: 3B
Kou Okamoto 4 years $116,000,000.
San Francisco Giants: SP
Tyler Mahle 5 years $86,000,000.
Atlanta Braves: RF
Kyle Tucker 2 year $42,400,000.
Toronto Blue Jays: RP
Devin Williams 2 year $48,800,000.
Washington Nationals: SP
German Marquez 5 years $82,000,000.
Toronto Blue Jays: SP
Eduardo Rodriguez 5 years $165,000,000.
Cincinnati Reds: SP
Brandon Woodruff 5 years $177,500,000.
Hall of Fame
On January 21,
Adrian Beltre 78.7% (2nd year) was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Prospects
The Top 20 prospects list was updated on Opening Day. Kansas City did not have a player on the list.
