Catchers
A down year with the bat still saw Sam Hart generate over 2 WAR with a 7.6 FRM score. There is no consideration from the Royals to move on from their multi-year starter with another All Star appearance proving he is one of the best in the business. Mike Murphy offered value with the bat whenever he played with a 133 wRC+ and the Royals will work hard with him to try to improve his catching before deciding whether to stick or cash in on a player that should have trade value.
Infield
Bob Crimi (133 wRC+) was an All Star with 30 HRs and 3.5 WAR and will start for the Royals in 2040. Bobby Witt Jr. (71 wRC+) played sparingly and offered little. He has not retired, but the Royals will likely bring him back once more to try to get him that ring.
Edgar Mir (128 wRC+) is a superstar and continues to play great baseball. His 5.9 WAR sits in the Royals top ten seasons again as he had a 20-20 season while driving in over 100 runs.
Losing Jeremy Rogerson was a problem for the Royals although he had failed to light up the diamond in a year he heads for a Team Option. At $16m that is likely too rich for the Royals but it is clear that Marquise Foggie (80 wRC+) is not the solution. Third base is an area the Royals will look to upgrade going into next season.
The midseason acquisitions – Sincere Latin and Bruce Zglinicki – had average seasons with the bat but both offer elite defence to generate over 2 WAR each. They will both be back, one starting with the other likely the infield utility bat.
Outfield
There is a definite logjam in the outfield with Chase Standberry and Jamie Edwards both making the move up to the big leagues during the season. Standberry (112 wRC+) is the only true CF good enough for the Royals and with Billy Mumaugh (117 wRC+, 53 SB) and Jimmy Goodman (118 wRC+, 5.0 WAR) will form the starting trio. Neither Burress nor van Dyke have excessive asks, around $10m for three years, but with Mike Connolly and Jamie Edwards on league minimum it is hard to see either staying with a collective contribution of 1 WAR.
Offseason / Early 2040 Overview
C Sam Hart
1B Bob Crimi
2B Edgar Mir
3B TBC
SS Sincere Latin
LF Billy Mumaugh
CF Chase Standberry
OF Jimmy Goodman
C Mike Murphy / TBC
INF Bobby Witt Jr.
INF Bruce Zglinicki
OF Mike Connolly
OF Jamie Edwards
Starters
The starting rotation had another great year with Curt Bogans adding 5.6 WAR behind a 2.92 ERA, a 4.39 K/BB rate (7th best Royals season), and a 0.97 WHIP (4th all time), Eddie Baquerizo earning an All-Star selection, 4.6 WAR, and a 2.99 ERA while Ethan Chafin struck out more batters (248) than any other Royal in history at a 6th-best 10.3 K/9 on his way to 20 wins and a Royals-best .833 winning record and Min-ho Kim adding the 6th best winning record in his 15-4 record.
At the end of the season Bailey Pinsmail was called up and went 5-2 in his 10 starts, with a 2.77 ERA and a .700 QS percentage.
All five will return next year with Chafin entering his first arbitration year, and the other four on long-term contracts.
Bullpen
The bullpen had several strong performances but also gave up crucial runs and didn’t reach the heights of previous staff as the Royals bedded in some younger arms.
Banemi Kataoka had 3.3 WAR as he posted a 1.05 ERA from 85.2 IP, only allowing 60 hits, 1 HR while the man who took over from his as Closer, Jon Hall, managed 33 saves in 64 appearances for 2.3 WAR until a torn rotator cuff ended his season during the playoffs. Kataoka has an $8.5m Team Option which the Royals are more than likely to pick up.
In the success stories, 2034 International Amateur Bernalldino Caneas had a 3.32 ERA in 38 IP, while returning Royal Eric Cook had a 2.98 ERA in his 49 games.
Drafted players Art Putney and Eric Jones both had similar FIP- (89 to 86) and offered reliable pitching across 50+ IP.
Unfortunately Brad Demarest didn’t acclimatise to the bullpen very well, a 145 FIP- with over 2 HR/9 and 4.5 BB/9 spelling the end of his time as a Royal and Jeremy Miller had a tough 11IP, giving up 4 HRs to end with a 234 FIP-.
Looking to 2040, the Royals might shop at the dear end of the relief market to try to lock down games behind their strong starters.
Offseason / Early 2040 Overview
SP Curt Bogans
SP Min-ho Kim
SP Ethan Chafin
SP Eddie Baquerizo
SP Bailey Pinsmail
RP Banmei Kataoka ($8.5m TO)
RP Jon Hall
RP Bernaldino Caneas
RP Eric Cook (Aribitration)
RP Art Putney
RP Eric Jones
RP TBC
RP TBC