Catchers
Sam Hart (120 wRC+) continues to be everything the Royals could wish for and while Mike Murphy (48 wRC+) really struggled with the bat the Royals are likely to give him some runway in 2039 to see if that bat can continue to perform like it did in the post season as a useful left handed option.
Infield
Bob Crimi (107 wRC+) came up midseason as a utility first base / outfielder and did enough to earn the starting position with Juan Moreno’s injury. With some growth still to realise he is, free agents aside, the de facto starter for the 2039 Royals at first base. Bobby Witt Jr. played in 47 games, which is a lot closer to what the Stewart expected in 2037 from the legend, and managed to produce at above league average, 110 wRC+. It may even be enough to earn him another year with the Royals, contract demand dependent. That would give him the chance of catching Salvador Perez for second on the Royals HR list although it would also almost guarantee him overtaking Alex Gordon for most career strikeouts!
Edgar Mir (118 wRC+) had a down season by his standards but moves into the top ten for Royal total WAR after this season. He will expect a bounceback season in 2039. TJ Pompey had an okay contract year, stealing 34 bases to go with an almost league average 97 wRC+. He is looking for four years at $20m so the Royals will likely roll the Qualifying Offer dice on him.
Jeremy Rogerson (91 wRC+) didn’t have his best Royal year but stayed healthy and is probably worth the TO at $16m for the fans alone.
Marquis Foggie (72 wRC+) failed to replicate his Platinum Stick 2037 season and bounced around the infield, appearing in 129 games. He is a fan favourite and will return in 239 hoping he has an odd year performance! Jon Basiliere (61 wRC+) struggled with the bat and may have a development lab to try ti secure a roster spot in 2039 with some minor league competition coming.
Outfield
Midseason acquisitions Mike Connelly (147 wRC+) and Juan Soreni (167 wRC+) were exceptional after joining the Royals and, while Soreni will take his $50m/year for four years to free agency, Connelly returns on a league minimum contract.
Drew Burress missed the vast majority of the season so is likely to opt into his $23m player option for 2039 while Jimmy Goodman had the 7th most walks (97) in a Royals season while hitting at a league average 102 wRC+ with elite defence and the Royals will execute that Team Option at $10m. Billy Mumaugh (117 wRC+) had a 4.6 WAR season to move into 5th on the all time Royal list while also stealing 62 bases, good for 4th on the all time list. More randomly he was hit-by-pitch 20 times, 4th all time and he is now only 5 behind Alex Gordon for the all time high for the Royals – any way to get on base!
Enny Mijhail van Dyke (107 wRC+) is into his final year of arbitration and, with the arrival of Mike Connelly, could be a candidate for trade to free up both roster and salary space.
Offseason / Early 2037 Overview
C Sam Hart
1B Bob Crimi
2B Edgat Mir
3B Jeremy Rogerson
SS TBD / Jon Basiliere
LF Billy Mumaugh
CF Drew Burress
RF Jimmy Goodman
DH Mike Connelly
C Mike Murphy
INF Bobby Witt Jr. / TBD
INF TJ Pompey / TBD
INF Marquis Foggie
OF Enny Mijhail van Dyke / TBD
Starters
Curt Bogans (62 FIP-) had an all-time great season for the Royals, pitching in 33 games with a 3.00 ERA. WAR wise, it was the 9th best Royals season, while he struck out a 232 (4th) at a 10.9 K/9 rate (3rd) and a 4.83 K/BB rate (1st).
Ethan Chafin (80 FIP-) made the leap to starting rotation and delivered 2.8 WAR in his injury-interrupted season but with a 2.65 ERA which hints at his potential for more while Min-ho Kim also suffered with injury but put up 2.8 WAR from a 72 FIP-.
Eddie Baquerizo (75 FIP-) had his best season as a Royal with 5 WAR while recording the 8th best K/BB rate, topping his rate from 2037.
The fifth starter was a mix of Brad Demarest (117 FIP-), Chris Wolff (116 FIP-), and B.J. Heaton (71 FIP-) all of whom were more than adequate in the role with Heaton probably holding the inside track for 2039.
The top four pitchers will all return and the Royals will likely give one of their young arms a chance as 6th starter in Spring to see if they can earn a place over Heaton for 2039.
Bullpen
The Royals had the best bullpen in the league with only Edgar Alba of the final pen having a FIP- over 100 or ERA under 100. First year closer Banmei Kataoka recorded 39 saves in 59 appearances while joining two other RP (Jimmy Lininger and David Maciel) in providing over one WAR. This is an aging bullpen, however, with several of the group into arbitration and with a few young arms in the upper minors it would not be a surprise to see some changes over the off season.
Offseason / Early 2037 Overview
SP Curt Bogans
SP Ethan Chafin
SP Min-Ho Kim
SP Eddie Baquerizo
SP B.J. Heaton / TBD
RP Banmei Kataoka
RP Jon Hall
RP TBD
RP TBD
RP TBD
RP TBD
RP TBD
RP TBD