The Royals head into the offseason with questions in more than one place, and the way J.J. Picollo handles them will be under the microscope.
Brian Burrows at Kings of Kauffman argued that Kansas City’s biggest miss last winter was the rotation, and he said that can’t happen again. The Royals had plenty of arms on the roster and under team control, but they were leaning on pitchers who were already known to be injury risks, and that gamble went the wrong way. Burrows also pointed to the lack of major league-ready depth, which left the club exposed when things went sideways.
His broader point was simple: Kansas City can’t keep shopping like a bargain-hunter if it wants a better result. Burrows said the Royals need to use actual resources this winter, whether that means money or prospects, and target proven free agents instead of players looking for a rebound. If they go the trade route, he argued, it should be for players with a real track record rather than names pulled from the bargain bin.
He also walked through the roster from a spending standpoint, noting that the Royals finished the 2026 season with the 18th-highest luxury tax bill in Major League Baseball, per Spotrac.com. That sits in stark contrast to a franchise that ranked 27th in team valuation by Forbes.
Still, there’s plenty left to sort out. The infield appears settled for now, but the outfield and pitching staff need attention, and Picollo’s approach will hinge on how much ownership is ready to spend.
There was also a closer look at Nate Pearson from Philip Ruo at Royals Keep, and the right-hander’s Kansas City stint started with a jolt. In his first 20 appearances, Pearson logged 21 innings, allowed just one earned run, struck out 20, and gave up 11 baserunners, which worked out to a 0.43 ERA and a 2.62 FIP. That surge mattered because the Royals bullpen had been sitting on a 5.30 ERA before he arrived.
Pearson’s turnaround was tied in part to a shift in pitch usage. He leaned more heavily on his fastball and sinker, bumping his fastball from 40.5% to 48.1% and his sinker from 9.5% to 16%, while cutting his slider from 36.1% to 21.6%.
The good start didn’t hold all the way through September. Pearson ran into trouble there, stringing together five straight appearances with at least one earned run. By the end of that stretch, his Royals ERA had climbed to 4.62 and his FIP to 3.77.
Elsewhere, Trey Donovan at SI examined Jac Caglianone’s breakout season.
In Other News...
Jac Caglianones Next Royals Role Just Got A Lot Bigger
Jac Caglianones rapid rise gave the Royals one of the clearest bright spots in their 2026 season, and it came with more than just improved production at the plate. After a uneven 2025, he ended up leading Kansas City in several offensive categories, a sign that his game has started to catch up with the expectations that followed him into the organization. For a club still sorting out its long-term core, that kind of development changes the conversation quickly.
The next question is where he fits best as Kansas City looks ahead to 2027, because his value may now stretch beyond the bat alone. The Royals are weighing his defensive versatility as part of that plan, while the system around him also keeps producing reasons for optimism. Zion Rose earned his own attention with an Arizona Fall League assignment, and Angeibel Gomez continued to stand out despite his age, giving the front office even more to think about as it maps the rosters next step. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Face One Offseason Question After Another Disappointing Season
After a disappointing 2026 season, the Royals are heading into the winter with a clear to-do list, and most of it starts on the mound. The front office is expected to spend much of the offseason looking for ways to upgrade both the rotation and the bullpen, areas that need more stability if Kansas City wants to get back on track.
Joel Penfield laid out some of the possibilities on the "One Royal Way" podcast, pointing to starting pitchers Kevin Gausman, Casey Mize and Shota Imanaga as potential targets, along with bullpen arms Adrian Morejon, Alex Vesia and Jonathan Loisiga. There are other places the Royals could try to patch, too, including a veteran backup catcher and an outfielder such as Randy Arozarena, but the bigger question is how aggressive they plan to be when the market opens. [Read more 🡒]
Travis Kelce Drew A Bigger KC Sports Turnout Than Fans Expected
Travis Kelces presence at the 7th Annual Celebrity Challenge fundraiser gave Kansas City sports fans another reminder of how deeply tied he is to the city beyond football. The event supported Operation Breakthrough, the Kansas City nonprofit that serves children in poverty, and Kelces foundation, 87 and Running, has worked closely with the organization. It also drew a familiar cross-section of local sports figures, with professional athletes from several Kansas City teams showing up for a cause that has become part of the areas broader sports fabric.
What stood out this time was the turnout, which felt bigger than many around town might have expected for a charity event. Kelces draw has long extended beyond the Chiefs, and the way other Kansas City athletes turned out only reinforced how much pull he has across the citys sports scene. For a fundraiser built around community work, the crowd said as much about his standing in Kansas City as any headline could. [Read more 🡒]