The Royals’ 2027 payroll picture is already taking shape, and the biggest takeaway is simple: there’s money committed in a few key places, but there’s also room for J.J. Picollo to work if ownership is willing to spend.
Kansas City finished 2026 with the 18th-highest luxury tax bill in baseball, per Spotrac.com. That’s a pretty solid spot for a club that ranked 27th in team valuation by Forbes.
But the winter ahead still matters, because the roster is not finished. The infield looks more settled than the rest of the team, while the outfield and pitching staff still need attention.
Here’s how the Royals’ 2027 payroll breaks down, position by position, based on Spotrac.com estimates and positions.
At catcher, Kansas City is sitting at $12.3 million. Salvador Perez’s contract carries an $11.3 million average annual value, which accounts for nearly all of that total. Carter Jensen, entering Year 2 in the majors, is projected to make $1 million in pre-arbitration salary unless he lands a long-term extension.
First base comes in at $5.55 million, with the two-year deal the Pasquatch signed last offseason carrying that AAV. He’ll make $7.1 million this season, but for luxury tax purposes it works out as a $1.5 million savings.
Second base is a lighter hit at $3.15 million. Michael Massey is the lone second baseman listed on the roster heading into 2027, and Spotrac projects him at that salary as he enters his second year of arbitration.
Third base checks in at $11.5 million thanks to Maikel Garcia’s five-year, $57.5 million extension from last offseason. That deal has an AAV of $11.5 million. Garcia is only making $7.26 million this season, but the later years of the contract will bring tax savings.
Shortstop is the priciest infield spot by far at $28.25 million. Bobby Witt Jr.’s extension carries an AAV of $26.25 million, and 2027 is the final year of that agreement, when the luxury tax hit is bigger than the actual salary.
From 2028 on, the Royals would see almost $5 million in savings or more each year. Tyler Tolbert and Nick Loftin are also listed there, and both are in pre-arbitration at $1 million apiece.
The outfield is currently projected at $7.3 million. Kansas City has five outfielders on the 40-man roster, and Kyle Isbel is the only one headed for arbitration, with a projected salary of $3.3 million. John Rave, Issac Collins, Matthew Lugo, and Jac Caglianone are all in pre-arbitration and projected at $1 million each.
Pitching is where the money really starts to stack up. The Royals’ starting pitchers account for $54.67 million, with 12 arms on the 40-man roster listed in that group, including some players fans will know as relievers.
Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha make up most of the total. Lugo is in the final guaranteed year of his deal and carries an AAV of $23 million.
Wacha’s AAV is $17 million. Cole Ragans also has a multi-year deal with an AAV of $4.42 million.
There are also several arbitration and pre-arbitration names in that mix. Randy Dobnak is projected at $2.5 million in arbitration.
Alec Marsh is in his first year of arbitration at $900,000. James McArthur, after receiving Super Two status, is projected at $850,000.
The other six pitchers listed - Luinder Avila, Steven Zobac, Noah Cameron, Ryan Bergert, Ben Kudrna, and Steven Kolek - are all in pre-arbitration at $1 million.
The relief corps is projected at $19.55 million. Seventeen relievers are on the 40-man roster, and 11 of them - Spencer Bivens, Steven Cruz, Jose Cuas, Carlos Duran, Mason Black, Beck Way, Mitch Spence, Connor Thomas, Nolan Hoffman, Connor Seabold, and Easton McGee - are in pre-arbitration at $1 million each.
Daniel Lynch leads the projected earners in the bullpen at $2.4 million in his second year of arbitration. Nick Mears is in his third and final year and is projected at $1.9 million.
Nate Pearson, also in his final year, is projected at $1.35 million. Anthony Gose is in his second year and expected to make $1 million.
Lucas Erceg is in his first year and projected at $1 million, though other estimates suggest he could be worth more. Alex Lange is the final player listed, projected at $900,000 in his second year.
Carlos Estevez’s $13 million club option is not expected to be picked up, so it is not included.
This still isn’t the final version of the Royals’ offseason payroll. More changes are coming, including possible non-tenders to create space for free-agent signings and trade additions. And if any player spends time in the minors, he’ll be paid the minor league salary, which would lower the team’s tax number.
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