Pitching has to be the priority in Kansas City this offseason, and the Royals may have just been handed a clean opening to upgrade the rotation in a major way.
Just days after the World Series ended, the Rays appear ready to listen on Drew Rasmussen, and that should put the Royals on alert. Kansas City needs help on both sides of the pitching staff if it wants to get back to the postseason, and that means working the free-agent market and the trade market with equal urgency.
Rasmussen is coming off the best stretch of his career. In October, he turned into a name everybody noticed, making five playoff starts and logging 28 innings with a 2.20 ERA.
He punched out 31 batters and walked only five. That followed a regular season in which he threw a career-high 172 innings, posted a 2.67 ERA, and led the AL in WHIP at 0.913 and K/BB at 5.44.
The 31-year-old right-hander had his $20 million club option picked up by Tampa Bay, but ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that is part of why the Rays are expected to move him. Rasmussen made $5.75 million last season, with an AAV of $4.25 million, and keeping him on the roster would push Tampa Bay’s payroll above its 2026 level before the club even makes another move.
That kind of payroll jump may not scare most teams after a World Series run. It does for the Rays. Passan said Rasmussen is “at the top of the list” among trade candidates this offseason, and that’s exactly the kind of situation Kansas City should be ready to exploit.
The fit is obvious. Rasmussen would slot ahead of Michael Wacha, Seth Lugo, and Noah Cameron and instantly give the Royals a top four that looks a lot sturdier. Over the last two seasons, those four pitchers all rank in the top 20 of AL starters with more than 300 innings in fWAR.
Rasmussen’s numbers across that span are especially eye-catching. Among AL starters with at least 300 innings over the last two seasons, his 2.71 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and .205 BAA are the best in the league. He also owns the second-lowest FIP and walk rate in that group.
He would be expensive, no question. But this is the kind of aggressive swing Kansas City needs to make if 2027 is going to be a real push.
Rasmussen could give the Royals an Opening Day starter and, just as important, a Game 1 playoff starter they could trust without hesitation. With one year left before free agency, the Royals would also have a window to work on an extension.
At the very least, this is the type of arm Kansas City needs to check in on immediately. The asking price should be the first question. The next one should be whether the Royals can get Rasmussen to stay beyond 2027.
In Other News...
Royals Just Opened The Door To Losing Familiar Depth Pieces
The Royals offseason roster trimming has already started to reshape the organizations depth chart, with a dozen minor league players now reaching free agency after not being added to the 40-man roster following six seasons in the system. Among the familiar names are reliever Alex Lange, along with Scott Alexander, Christian Chamberlain and Grant Gambrell, a group that has spent enough time in the organization to be part of the teams broader pitching and development picture.
For Kansas City, the move is less about one headline departure than the cumulative effect of losing players who have filled out the upper levels of the system and provided insurance when the big-league club needed it. Across baseball, 504 players became minor league free agents this offseason, and the Royals now have to decide which of those familiar pieces are worth trying to keep in the fold and which ones will be moving on to their next opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Have A Cheap Rotation Decision Worth Watching
Randy Dobnak gave the Royals a useful lift in the second half of the season, working his way into the rotation picture with a career-high 74.1 innings and a 3.51 ERA. For a club that always has to balance upside with cost, his appeal is easy to understand: he keeps the ball on the ground, avoids the big mistake ball and leans on a sinker-heavy mix that fits the way Kansas City likes to pitch.
The next question is less about whether Dobnak helped than how the Royals value that help heading into 2027. Projections put his arbitration salary in a range that makes him a relatively cheap arm to keep around, and that kind of price tag usually gives a team room to be patient with a depth starter. Kansas City appears likely to do just that, even if the larger decision on his role is still waiting to be sorted out. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Offseason Plans Leave One Lineup Spot Worth Watching
Michael Masseys breakout season and Nick Loftins steady defensive versatility have given the Royals some real options as they head into the offseason, even as the front office focuses first on the heavier-lifting items on the roster. Rebuilding the bullpen and adding starting pitching are clearly at the top of the list, but Kansas City is not ruling out offense if the market breaks the right way.
The most interesting spot to watch may be second base, where Massey and Loftin each give the club a different kind of fit. Loftins Gold Glove finalist nod only adds to his value, while Masseys emergence gives the Royals reason to think they have more internal depth than they did a year ago. If the Royals do make a move for another bat, this is the kind of position battle that could shape the rest of the lineup construction. [Read more 🡒]