Royals Eye Offensive Upgrade at Winter Meetings, But Pitching Depth Remains a Delicate Balance
As the Kansas City Royals head into the Winter Meetings in Orlando, the front office isn’t showing all its cards - but we’re starting to get a clear picture of what they’re holding. The focus is squarely on adding an outfield bat, particularly someone who can slot into left field and complement the emerging duo of Jac Caglianone and Kyle Isbel. A right-handed platoon option is also on the radar to bring more balance off the bench.
So far, the Royals’ offseason has been relatively quiet, but that could change quickly. There’s legitimate interest in a few names on the trade market, including Boston’s Jarren Duran and St. Louis utilityman Brendan Donovan - both former All-Stars who check a lot of boxes for Kansas City.
Duran brings speed, pop, and energy to the outfield. He hit .256 with 16 homers and drove in 84 runs last season - production that would provide a much-needed boost to a Royals lineup that scored 84 fewer runs in 2025 compared to the year prior.
Donovan, meanwhile, offers versatility and a steady bat. His .775 OPS and 132 hits in 118 games speak to his ability to grind out quality at-bats and contribute across multiple positions.
Both players are drawing attention from teams across the league, but the Royals may have an edge: they’ve got starting pitching depth to deal from - a valuable currency in today’s market.
Loaded Rotation, But for How Long?
Kansas City’s projected 2026 rotation includes Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Noah Cameron, and Kris Bubic. That’s a solid group with a mix of power arms, experience, and upside.
Behind them, the Royals have young arms like Ryan Bergert, Stephen Kolek, and Bailey Falter - all with big-league starts under their belts. And don’t forget about prospects Luinder Avila and Ben Kudrna, who could turn heads this spring.
On paper, that’s a deep pitching staff. But depth can be fragile - and the Royals know that better than most after a 2025 season riddled with injuries.
Ragans and Bubic both missed time with rotator cuff issues. Lugo dealt with a finger injury and back spasms.
Those setbacks forced the Royals to dip into their reserves, promoting Cameron and acquiring Bergert, Kolek, and Falter at the deadline. It was a sharp contrast from 2024, when the rotation was a clear strength.
That recent history makes any decision to trade from the rotation a calculated risk. General manager J.J. Picollo knows the stakes, and he’s not shying away from the challenge.
“You look at our 40-man roster right now, it’s not very heavy on the position players side,” Picollo said. “So there is going to be plenty of opportunity for guys to help our club and help us throughout 2026.”
Translation: the Royals are open for business - but they’re not going to gut their pitching to chase a bat.
Veterans, Youth, and the Balancing Act Ahead
Another layer to this roster puzzle is the age spread across the rotation. Wacha is entering his 14th season, Lugo his 11th.
Both were stabilizing forces in 2025 - Wacha with a 3.86 ERA over 172 ⅔ innings and Lugo with 145 ⅓ innings of steady work. The Royals rewarded both with multi-year deals, but there’s always the question of how long veteran arms can keep up the grind.
At the other end of the spectrum, you’ve got Cameron, Bergert, and Kolek - all with less than three years of MLB experience. They’ve shown flashes, but relying on them for a full 162-game season is a big ask.
That’s why the Royals are walking a tightrope. They can’t afford to lose too much depth - not with injury risks, veteran workloads to manage, and young arms still developing. But they also need to add thump to a lineup that lagged behind last year.
The front office is well aware that the AL Central isn’t going to wait around. The Tigers and Guardians are already legitimate contenders.
The White Sox are improving, and even in a rebuild, the Twins are no pushover. If the Royals want to stay in the mix - and make a real push for October - they’ll need to find the right deal.
One that upgrades the offense without leaving the rotation exposed.
“We need to figure out how we can be efficient to make good decisions,” Picollo said. “Capitalize on the margins, make smart decisions, develop players and compete to win our division. You know, if we win our division, we are playing in October.”
That’s the mission. And with the Winter Meetings underway, the Royals are officially on the clock.