The Kansas City Royals have been quietly laying the groundwork for a more aggressive offseason push-and now, it looks like it’s time to turn those ambitions into action.
After a relatively quiet showing at the Winter Meetings, Kansas City has started checking off key items on their offseason checklist. The first major move came Friday, when the Royals addressed a clear need in their bullpen by trading for veteran lefty Matt Strahm-one of the more reliable back-end left-handed relievers in the game. That’s a savvy pickup for a team that’s trying to solidify its late-inning options while building a more competitive roster.
But the Royals aren’t stopping there. According to reports, they’re still looking to add a bat-ideally targeting versatile hitters like Boston’s Jarren Duran or St.
Louis’ Brendan Donovan. Both players would represent a significant upgrade and bring the kind of positional flexibility and offensive spark that Kansas City’s lineup could use.
However, the clock may be ticking a little louder now. On Monday, two potential fallback options came off the board.
The A’s swung a trade for Jeff McNeil, and the Mariners signed Rob Refsnyder-both players who had been loosely connected to the Royals as possible outfield or utility fits. With those names no longer available, Kansas City’s margin for error has shrunk, and the pressure to land one of their top targets has only increased.
Let’s unpack what this means.
The Royals have already made some solid, if unspectacular, moves. Signing Lane Thomas gives them a reliable veteran presence in the outfield, and acquiring Isaac Collins from the Brewers adds depth.
Those additions help raise the floor of the roster. But they don’t necessarily raise the ceiling.
That’s where players like Duran and Donovan come in.
Duran brings elite speed, improving bat-to-ball skills, and the ability to play all three outfield spots. Donovan, meanwhile, offers on-base ability, positional versatility-he can play second, third, and both corner outfield spots-and a left-handed bat that would help balance the lineup. Both players would fit seamlessly into what the Royals are trying to build: a younger, more athletic, more dynamic roster.
The missed opportunities with McNeil and Refsnyder aren’t catastrophic, but they do highlight the narrowing path forward. McNeil, while not the same player who won a batting title in 2022, still posted a .243/.335/.411 slash line with a 111 wRC+ in 2025. He also brings value as a contact hitter who can play both second base and the outfield-two areas where the Royals still have questions.
Refsnyder, on the other hand, was one of the better right-handed platoon bats available. In 209 plate appearances for the Red Sox last season, he slashed .269/.354/.484 with nine home runs, 30 RBI, and a 128 wRC+. He’s a lefty-masher who could’ve paired nicely in a corner outfield platoon, even with Thomas now in the mix.
Again, these weren’t headline-grabbing targets, but they were solid fallback options-players who could plug holes if the Royals struck out on their bigger swings. Now that those options are gone, the pressure is on to land one of the marquee names they’ve been circling.
This is the point in the offseason where ambition has to meet execution. The Royals have made it clear they want to be more competitive in 2026.
That means taking calculated risks, spending where necessary, and not settling for middle-of-the-road solutions. They’ve built a foundation-but now it’s time to go get the difference-makers.
Whether it’s Duran, Donovan, or another high-upside bat, the Royals' next move will say a lot about how serious they are about turning the corner. The fallback plans are drying up. The time to swing big is now.