Matt Strahm’s 2026 is already being defined by a right knee that never let him get right.
According to Robert Murray of FanSided, the left-handed reliever recently had surgery on that knee, though the exact procedure wasn’t specified. Murray also reported that Strahm had been trying to catch on with a new team, but now he’ll turn his attention to recovery and eventually finding another free-agent deal. He is expected to be fully healthy in 2027.
The injury issues were part of the story all season. Murray noted that Strahm’s knee had been bothering him for months and was the reason he backed out of pitching in the World Baseball Classic. He tried to work through it for Kansas City, knowing surgery would be needed after the season.
That gamble never paid off. The Royals brought Strahm in from the Phillies over the offseason to give their bullpen a veteran lefty, but the results in his return to Kansas City were ugly. Through his first 17 appearances by the middle of May, he carried a 3.86 ERA, though the warning signs were already there: a jump in home runs, an 84.3% strand rate, and opponents hitting .256 on balls in play all suggested trouble ahead.
The trouble arrived in mid-May, when Strahm landed on the 15-day injured list on May 16th with right knee inflammation. He missed the minimum amount of time, but the short break did nothing to steady him once he returned. Activated at the end of May, he made 24 more appearances and was hit hard over the final stretch.
In 19 1/3 innings after the injury, Strahm gave up 22 earned runs on 25 hits, including nine home runs. That pushed his season ERA to 7.32, which ranked third-worst among relievers with at least 30 innings pitched. His -1.3 fWAR was the worst mark of any reliever.
Kansas City eventually moved on, designating Strahm for assignment on August 4th and later releasing him instead of outrighting him to Triple-A Omaha, a move he would have had the right to reject. He is still owed the full $7.5MM guarantee, but after a season like this, free agency won’t bring anything close to that number.
Even so, the door isn’t shut. A club looking for a cheap bullpen lottery ticket could take a shot on Strahm in 2027, maybe on a minor league deal, and hope the farther he gets from the knee surgery, the more his old form starts to show again.
That’s not just blind optimism, either. Just last year with the Phillies, he posted a 2.74 ERA and a 27.3% strikeout rate, proof that better health could still make a rebound possible.
In Other News...
Royals Fans Just Got An Awkward Reminder About That Deadline Trade
Bailey Falters run with Atlanta has already taken a sharp turn, and it offers Royals fans an awkward little reminder of how quickly a deadline move can age. The left-hander, acquired from Kansas City before the 2026 trade deadline, had recently given the Braves scoreless innings, but Atlanta designated him for assignment and brought right-hander Owen Murphy up from Triple-A to fill the roster spot.
For the Royals, it is the kind of update that can make a front-office move feel a lot farther in the rearview mirror than it did in the moment. Falter still figures to clear waivers and get outrighted to Triple-A Gwinnett, where he would likely accept the assignment because of his guaranteed salary, but the larger question is what his brief Atlanta stint says about a deal Kansas City had every reason to believe would matter more than it has so far. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Trade Looks A Lot Tougher After Kris Bubic Twist
Kris Bubics deadline move out of Kansas City already looked like a useful add for the Dodgers, but the latest update gives it a more interesting wrinkle for Royals observers. Bubic has been on a minor league rehab assignment because of elbow soreness, and Los Angeles is now bringing him back from Triple-A Oklahoma City with plans to activate him after the series opener against the Reds.
What makes it matter for the Royals is the role the Dodgers appear to have in mind. Instead of stretching him back out, Bubic is expected to work out of the bullpen for the rest of the regular season, a reminder that this deal was never just about a fresh start elsewhere. For Kansas City, it adds another layer to a trade that may be judged not only by what it brought back, but by how much Bubic still has left to offer once he is finally back on a major league mound. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Face One Offseason Pressure Point Fans Can't Ignore
After a season defined by offensive frustration, bullpen instability and too many injuries to count as isolated bad luck, the Royals are already staring at a winter full of roster decisions. Several impending free agents are gone, arbitration cases are coming due and the front office has to sort through which parts of the current core are worth carrying into next year, all while trying to answer for a disappointing finish that left plenty of room for second-guessing.
The one encouraging sign for Kansas City is that John Sherman has made it clear the club intends to keep payroll steady or even push it higher, which at least gives the Royals some room to act instead of simply trimming around the edges. Still, the bigger backdrop makes every move feel more complicated, with the sport heading toward possible labor unrest and renewed salary cap talk that could change the way teams plan for the future before Kansas City even gets its next roster in place. [Read more 🡒]