Another year at the top of most of the rankings for the Royals with Home Runs (and baserunning) the only statistics outside the Top 6, although with Extra-Base hits sitting at 6th, a lack of power was certainly at play for the Royals, rather than just the Kauffman Stadium dimensions which suppress HRs to .845.
Catcher
There will be a Catcher discussion this off season for the first time since 2035 when Sam Hart made his debut. Hart (84 wRC+) was a below average hitter this past season as his average dropped by 50 points and his OPS 80 points. Not only that but his defense dropped from a 65 to a 55. Mike Murphy (116 wRC+) continued to offer a strong catcher bat but his defense will never make him the Royals everyday starter.
The Royals are likely to shop Hart around to get his salary off the books but could start 2042 with him in a back up role which would spell the end of Murphy’s time in Kansas City.
Infield
Bob Crimi had an interrupted season due to injury but was very good, post season excepting, when he was fit. A 148 wRC+ with a .945 OPS means the Royals will be starting the season with him at 1B, injury allowing. Jorge Calvo was league average (97 wRC+) while offering stronger defense than Crimi. The switch hitter has one option year left and some potential to realise and so will likely be retained, especially with Crimi’s injury challenges.
Edgar Mir (99 wRC+) had the worst hitting season of his career and the Royals will be hoping it was simply a blip and expect him to bounce back in 2042. Andres Raygoza had his first time in the big leagues at the end of the season and struggled but at 22 still has two option years left and some potential so will be in the mix for 2042.
Estanislau Covete (143 wRC+) couldn’t have wished for a better rookie season as the 22-year old led the team in RBIs (129) and HRs (33). His SLG .567 was the 5th best Royals rate of all time, with the 3rd best RBI total of all time. The Royals only gripe that he was a below average defender, something they will hope to help in the off season. This was the biggest risk the Royals took, moving on from Mike Campney, so a comparison is worthwhile. Campney injured his hip and missed 4 months, finishing with a .266/.333/.489 and is now fragile, making the Royals feel pretty happy about their decision. For Campney, a World Series ring will means he feels happy about the outcome as well!
Bob Morrison was the everyday shortstop and was above average with the glove and below average with the bat with Tony Thompson a better glove and a worse bat. Ideally one of these players would be an utility infield so a starting SS is something the Royals could explore.
Outfield
Starting with the clear success story as Billy Mumaugh (124 wRC+) was voted an All Star and provided elite defense at RF. After a 4.9 WAR season the Royals will execute the final TO of his contract at $18m.
Chase Standberry (105 wRC+) was another success with the bat and glove (1.069 EFF) in CF, filling in for Natalino Villa during the latter’s injury problems. Villa (94 wRC+) was slightly below average with the bat but stole 34 bases and his 1.083 efficiency meant he contributed more WAR than Standberry in fewer games. Both will be back in 2042.
The final corner outfield spot, in addition to DH/5th OF is where the Royals will spend their thinking time. Mike Connolly (110 wRC+) and Jamie Edwards (108 wRC+) are very similar walk-generating, above average contact, average power bats, and the Royals may not have the capacity to carry both. Connolly has the better body of work but is into his arbitration years while the numbers would say that Edwards is the better defender and is on a league minimum contract. The Royals can afford Connolly so it may be a case of testing the market for both.
There is the chance that both may be moved on with two prospects excelling at AAA and both spending some time in the Major Leagues this year – 4th overall prospect in Bobby Nickelberry and Chris Slate.
Offseason / Early 2042 Overview
C Zach Herr
1B Bob Crimi
2B Edgar Mir
3B Estanislau Covete
SS TBC
LF Billy Mumaugh
CF Natalino Villa
RF Bobby Nickelberry
DH Gilberto Matos
C Mike Murphy
IF Bob Morrison / Tony Thompson
IF TBC
OF Jamie Edwards / Mike Connolly / Chris Slate
Starters
The five main starters for the Royals all returned a FIP- under 90 and only Bailey Pinsmail having an ERA+ below 122.
Eddie Baquerizo (74 FIP-) led the team in WAR with 5.0, as well as wins (17-5). Curt Bogans had a down season with a 3.70 ERA, his strikes down from 9.2 to 8.6/9. However, he had two disastrous starts to end the season, giving up 16 H and 9 R in 12.1 IP. Both players have a TO at $8m which the Royals will execute, although with stronger conviction for Eddie than Curt.
Ethan Chafin (82 FIP-) had over 4 WAR despite missing a couple of matches due to injury. A 1.06 WHIP was the best amongst the starters, with another year of over 10 K/9, and a 4.48 K/BB rate, the 7th best of all time. He enters his final year of arbitration in 2042.
Dan Carrig had a record-breaking rookie season for the Royals, pitching over 200 innings, with a 3.59 ERA. No Royal has ever struck out as many batters in a season as Carrig did, his 262 K 14 more than Chafin’s best season in 2038, and at a record 11.6 K/9. He also recorded the 4th best K/BB rate of 4.52 in a Royals season.
Bailey Pinsmail had an injury-hit season and was somewhat overshadowed by Carrig. However, he still put up almost 3 WAR (2.9), and was a little unluck with an ERA 1.34 above his FIP.
Ben Lane started 8 games and will have a battle to break into the rotation in 2042.
Bullpen
Three pitchers in the bullpen provided over 2 WAR, with Dan Nichols (68 FIP-) and Tsuguo Abe (76) both pitching over 100 innings. Closer Nate Avis had a 96% success rate in saves, racking up 24. All of the bullpen kept a FIP- under 100. Nichols head to Free Agency and is looking for four years at $10m so the Royals will let him hit FA although would be happy to bring him back if the price was right.
Bernalldino Caneas, Eric Jones, and Art Putney all head into their first year of arbitration and will be back next year while Jon Hall enters his second year and the Royals may listen to offers for him.
The bullpen, therefore, is likely to look very similar in 2042 although there will no doubt be some young pitchers from AAA looking to break into the lineup.
Offseason / Early 2042 Overview
SP Eddie Baquerizo
SP Ethan Chafin
SP Dan Carrig
SP Curt Bogans
SP Bailey Pinsmail
RP Nate Avis
RP Tsuguo Abe
RP Joe Manley
RP Art Putney
RP Eric Jones
RP Bernalldino Caneas
RP Flossy Giordano
RP TBC
RP TBC