Having been appointed GM and Manager, owner John Sherman wasted no time in explaining what he expected from Stewart for his $370,000 per year.
Owner Goals
Having broadly matched preseason predictions (79-83) in finishing 76-86, the first goal for next season would appear to need some shrewd work in trades and free agency to achieve.
Finishing 11th in the American League in Runs Scored needs to improve so that is a baseball-appropriate request; an All Star would be great but it’s unlikely with our financial situation.
Building the farm is a much more realistic route to long term success and, while trades will be important, developing drafted players and international amateurs is the preference.
Reaching the playoffs in 3 years is not unrealistic and is one more year of patience than the previous manager was afforded so there should be no complaints from the new staff.
Finances
The Royals have uninterested, small market, disloyal fans in 2026 according to OOTP. Financially, that translates into the 27th budget, and the definition of a small market team.
A controlling owner will likely lead to some frustrating changes to financial distribution but the hope is to increase the scouting and development budgets to $15m and $20m respectively.
The planned increase in ticket prices is bold but not something to influence this year – tracking attendance, and finances in general, will allow a more educated decision for 2028.
Personnel
Looking through the club personnel was a whelming experience. Mediocrity abounded across the
levels and so a mass clear out was required.
The total cost was $15m to buy out all the contracts but the Major League performance and Minor League development will be worth it.
Replacing the Scouting Director will mean a slow start to Free Agency with time needed for the new Director to get up to speed.
Justin Cowan’s highly favour tools approach will give us higher ceilings but lower floors – with a bare farm this was not an easy decision but longer-term stars will be what makes this club successful. His legendary international scouting should help Sherman’s wish to improve out international finds.
Minor Leagues
The cupboard is almost empty in the Royals farm. The Minor League set up look like this:
AAA Omaha International 6th West 74-75 record
AA Northwest Arkansas Texas 5th North 64-73 record
A+ Quad Cities Northwest 3rd West 67-65 record
A Columbia Carolina 3rd South 71-61 record
R Kansas City (ACL) Arizona 1st West 34-15 record
R KC (DSL) Stewart Dominican 4th Northwest 31-29 record
R KC (DSL) Glass Dominican 4th North 34-26 record
With a single Top 100 prospect in the
system, and only six Top 200 ranked players, there is a lot of work to do in building a sustainable conveyor belt of talent.
The concerning column in the
Royals Prospect Pipeline is 'ETA' with 8/10 prospects not expected to hit the Major League until 2029.
Major League Roster (40 man)
The team seems to have made solid contact with a lot of hits coupled with rarely striking out underpinning a strong average. However, that underscores the lack of power hitters and a failure to draw walks across the team.
On the pitching side, a strong zone rating with high strikeouts shows a flexible staff that can record outs on the ground and through the air – the rest of the statistical make-up of the year leaves a lot to be desired.
Bats
Catchers
Rodolfo Duran R Bat | 50 Contact | 55 Gap | 45 Power | 45 Eye | 55/55/65 C Defence
Kale Emshoff R | 45 | 50 | 45 | 40 | 45/45/45
Ivan Herrera R | 50 | 45 | 40 | 60 | 65/60/55
Jesus Rodriguez R | 50 | 45 | 40 | 50 | 55/55/60
Herrera (.195 AVE / .273 OBP /.311 SLG / 57 wRC+) really struggled at the plate in 2026 but has the ratings to suggest he can bounce back and the strongest defensive profile at the ball club.
Rodriguez (.235/.329/.309/80) backed up in 2026 but
Rodolfo Duran will have a chance to win the back-up spot in Spring Training.
Emshoff is not good enough and will be DFA.
Infielders
1B José Miranda R | 60 | 50 | 50 | 45 | 45/55/55/45 Infield Defence
1B Malcom Nunez R | 55 | 45 | 50 | 50 | 40/35/55/35
1B Robert Perez Jr. R | 45 | 50 | 65 | 50 | 30/30/35/25
2B Nick Loftin R | 60 | 45 | 40 | 50 | 55/60/50/55
2B Josh Smith L | 50 | 50 | 45 | 55 | 55/55/60/55
3B Maikel Garcia R | 60 | 50 | 35 | 50 | 65/65/60/65
3B Charles Leblanc R | 50 | 50 | 45 | 55 | 40/55/65/45
3B Kevin Made R | 50 | 65 | 40 | 45 | 55/65/70/60
SS Bobby Witt Jr. R | 60 | 60 | 55 | 50 | 70/70/70/70
The Infield almost picks itself with
Nick Loftin an All Star at 2B,
Maikel Garcia on a long-term contract at 3B, and superstar
Bobby Witt Jr. at SS.
Perez’s (.233/.308/.453/106) power (30 HRs) makes him a front runner for the 1B position although his defence is as close to unplayable as you get so he may slide into the DH position.
José Miranda (.294/.334/.471/115) had a good year, although a power hitter to challenge him in Spring Training would be desirable.
Kevin Made (.298/.386/.439/129) will play around the infield as a back up in 2026 and aim to force the club’s hand for a starting role while
Smith (.244/.324/.403/100) did enough to stick as the 6th infielder, especially as the only left hander in the group.
Nunez and
Leblanc have no future with the Kansas City Royals.
Outfielders
LF Tyler Gentry R | 50 | 45 | 40 | 55 | 55/50/55 Outfield Defence
LF Steven Kwan L | 65 | 45 | 40 | 55 | 50/65/50
LF River Town L | 50 | 45 | 40 | 55 | 50/55/50
CF Seth Brown L | 45 | 55 | 60 | 45 | 55/55/50
CF Jazz Chisholm Jr. L | 50 | 50 | 55 | 50 | 65/65/60
CF Kyle Isbel L | 50 | 50 | 40 | 45 | 65/65/50
RF David Dahl L | 50 | 60 | 45 | 45 | 55/60/60
RF Estevan Florial L | 45 | 60 | 50 | 50 | 55/60/75
A glut of outfielders on the 40-man roster is going to have to be cleared. The outfield for the Royals is a challenge with the size of the ballpark meaning all three outfielders need to have extra range to cover the grass.
Steven Kwan (.297/.372/.416/117) is a multi-Gold Glove winner who struggled defensively in 2026 but has enough credit to earn another year at LF.
Estevan Florial (.266/.338/.436/112) was claimed off waivers during the season from Cleveland and has the glove to play RF, as well as a bit of development potential.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. (.293/.344/.528/134) is a fragile free agent who posted a -11.9 ZR in 2026. He is eligible for a QO, with a salary demand of 7 years, $18m. Letting him walk for free seems naïve, a difficult decision to make.
Kyle Isbel (.193/.228/.270/31) was a guaranteed out at the plate but provided elite defence with 2.67 RNG and a 14.6 ZR. 2027 would be his 2nd year of arbitration, it seems unlikely he will be offered if Chisholm is offered a QO.
David Dahl is a free agent who will not be offered a QO or a contract extension.
None of
Gentry,
Town, or
Brown have the defensive profile that fits the Royal long term although if Brown (.220/.229/.402/64) can raise that OBP a tick his power would be a welcome addition to the team.
Review
C
Starter: Ivan Herrera
Back up: Rodolfo Duran OR Jesus Rodriguez
INFIELD
1B José Miranda
2B Nick Loftin
3B Maikel Garcia
SS Bobby Witt Jr.
INF Kevin Made
INF Josh Smith
DH Robert Perez Jr.
OUTFIELD
LF Steven Kwan
CF Jazz Chisholm Jr (QO)
RF Estevan Florial
OF Seth Brown | Free Agent
Arms
POS Name T | STU | MOV | CON | PIT | STM | VELO | P1/P2/P3/P4/P5/P6
SP Mason Barnett R | 50 | 55 | 50 | 4 | 60 | 93-95 | 60/50/55/55
SP Carlos Hernandez R | 60 | 50 | 50 | 4 | 50 | 97-99 | 75/65/70/65
SP Freddy Peralta R | 55 | 50 | 50 | 4 | 50 | 94-96 | 65/60/70/60 FAQO
BSP Jose Urquidy R | 40 | 50 | 65 | 5 | 60 | 94-96 | 50/45/35/45/35 FA
SP Anthony Veneziano L | 45 | 50 | 50 | 3 | 50 | 87-89 | 45/60/50
RP* Julian Aguiar R | 45 | 50 | 60 | 3 | 40 | 91-93 | 45/50/50
RP* Dylan Bundy R | 40 | 50 | 65 | 4 | 55 | 89-91 | 45/45/45/45 FAQO
RP* Zach Eflin R | 45 | 50 | 60 | 6 | 55 | 91-93 | 45/45/40/45/45/45 FA
RP Hunter Greene R | 60 | 45 | 45 | 3 | 55 | 98-100 | 75/60/75 ARB
RP DJ Herz L | 70 | 55 | 35 | 3 | 45 | 93-95 | 65/60/70
RP John McMillon R | 70 |55 | 40 | 2 | 35 | 98-100 | 80/80
RP* Michael Wacha R | 45 | 50 | 50 | 5 | 65 | 92-94 | 45/40/45/45/45 FAQO
RP* Brandon Williamson L | 50 | 50 | 50 | 5 | 45 | 92-94 | 50/45/45/55/50
CL Scott Effross R | 50 | 55 | 65 | 3 | 30 | 91-93 | 50/55/55
RP Yonny Chirinos R | 40 | 50 | 55 | 3 | 45 | 93-95 | 40/45/40 FO
RP Stephen Nogosek R | 50 | 55 | 45 | 4 | 25 | 94-96 | 55/45/45/45 ARB
RP Liu Fuenmayor L | 45 | 55 | 45 | 2 | 30 | 92-94 | 50/45
SP* Bailey Ober R | 50 | 45 | 55 | 4 | 55 | 92-94 | 55/55/55/55 ARB
BSP* Ryan Pepiot R | 55 | 50 | 45 | 3 | 50 | 94-96 | 60/55/60
Starters
The Royals rotation in 2026 was a solid group who would all be strong 4th or 5th starters but lacked an ace to carry a staff.
Barnett (16 GS/ 85.1 IP / 4.03 FIP / 17.8% K-BB / 118 ERA+) and
Hernandez (33 / 180.1 / 3.85 / 14.7% / 107) were both solid and will return next year.
Freddy Peralta (33 / 173.2 / 3.96 / 18% / 108) and
Jose Urquidy (32 / 187.2 / 4.27 / 13.4% / 115) are both out of contract and it is likely only one will be retained. Peralta has the better K:BB rate, as well as the lower FIP which makes him the frontrunner for a new contract. Urquidy is also listed as a Borderline Starter, not a role to back on a longer term contract for a 32 year old.
Veneziano (16 / 81.2 / 4.37 / 12.2% / 94) ended the season as a starter, but struggled to offer anything above replacement value, much like
Eflin,
Williamson and
Bundy, who all took turns in the starting rotation. His one remaining option year will likely be used to start him in AAA in 2027.
Bailey Ober missed the whole season with injury and will have the chance to start in the rotation in 2027, leaving one space to be filled in the offseason, through promotion or free agency.
Relievers
The heat throwers –
Greene (16 G / 36.2 / 5.10 / 16% / 78),
Herz (45 / 51.1 / 4.03 / 11.8% / 80) and
McMillon (51 / 79.1 / 3.10 / 21.7% / 137) – will all be back despite Greene and Hertz’s challenges in 2026.
Effross (61 / 65.2 / 3.13 / 14.6% / 145) will return fresh off his 41 save season with the hope he will continue to exceed his ratings.
Aguiar (53 / 86.2 / 4.52 / 15.2% / 100) gave league average returns and at league minimum offers a safe arm.
Williamson and
Eflin both struggled as starters, with Williamson also struggling in a relief role. Eflin is a Free Agent and will not return, Williamson has one more option year so will likely be retained but on a short lease.
Of the relievers not to throw a big league pitch,
Chirinos is a free agent who will not be offered a contract, while
Nogosek is out of options and will not be offered arbitration.
Fuenmayor has not pitched about AA and his ratings don’t suggest he is ready for a major league role but
Pepiot showed enough in Omaha (23 / 85.1 / 5.26 / 11.9 / 99) to at least have a shot at a middle relief spot.
Review
SP Mason Barnett
SP Carlos Hernandez
SP Freddy Peralta
SP Bailey Ober
SP Promotion / Free Agency
RP Julian Aguiar
RP Hunter Greene
RP DJ Herz
RP John McMillon
RP Brandon Williamson
RP Scott Effross
RP Ryan Pepiot
RP Promotion / Free Agency
Next, the offseason as Stewart prepares for his first season in MLB…