The Royals have sent Drew Waters back to Triple-A Omaha after he cleared outright waivers, and the outfielder now has the right to choose free agency. Kansas City did not say whether he plans to take that route.
Waters is 27 now, and his career has never quite matched the promise he carried when Atlanta once viewed him as a notable prospect. Kansas City acquired him in July 2022 as one of three players in the deal that sent a competitive balance draft pick to Atlanta, but he has not turned that pedigree into consistent production.
From 2022 through 2025, Waters appeared in 208 games for the Royals. The glove was usable, if not a difference-maker, but the bat lagged behind. He struck out in 31.1% of his plate appearances and walked 7.6% of the time, leaving him with a .234/.300/.369 line and an 84 wRC+, which means he was 16% worse than league average at the plate.
His path into 2026 was already crowded. Waters had used up his option years and entered the season out of options, so when he failed to make the Opening Day roster, the Royals designated him for assignment in March.
No other club claimed him then, which sent him to Omaha. Because it was his first outright and he had less than three years of service time, he had to accept the assignment.
The numbers in Triple-A didn’t force a change in his outlook. Waters hit .251/.312/.420 with a 25.2% strikeout rate, an improvement from his big league strikeout issues but still a mark above average. The surface line looks respectable, but with offense up across the minors, it translated to an 85 wRC+.
Kansas City brought him back onto the 40-man roster earlier this week when rosters expanded from 26 to 28, but the move proved temporary. Michael Massey returned from a brief stay on the seven-day concussion IL the next day, and Waters was pushed off again.
Now he’s been outrighted a second time, which gives him the option to become a free agent. If he does, the market would likely be limited to minor league deals. If he stays in Omaha, he could remain there for a few more weeks and, at season’s end, become eligible for seven-year minor league free agency if he’s not added back to the roster.
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