The Royals’ 55-74 record tells one story, but the 2026 season has still surfaced a couple of bright spots that matter for what comes next. Bobby Witt Jr. has kept performing at a high level, and Jac Caglianone has broken through as the kind of young slugger who looks ready to become Kansas City’s next star.
Even with those developments, the roster still has clear work ahead of it this offseason. Injuries have dragged the club down all year, and the team still has holes to patch if it wants to get back to being competitive. In that context, a few players have quietly pushed themselves into better positions for 2027.
Noah Cameron is one of them. The starting pitcher followed a strong rookie season that landed him fourth in American League Rookie of the Year voting with high expectations, though his year didn’t begin smoothly.
The turnaround came when he started calling his own pitches, and that change appears to have unlocked the version of Cameron the Royals have needed. He has been Kansas City’s most dominant arm lately, and his last outing - a first career complete-game shutout - put a sharp exclamation point on that stretch.
The timing matters because the Royals’ rotation has been battered again. Cole Ragans, Stephen Kolek and Luinder Avila have all had elbow surgery, leaving their 2027 outlooks uncertain, and the trade of Kris Bubic before this year’s deadline added another layer of instability.
Against that backdrop, Cameron’s recent run has taken on real importance. Over his last 37 2/3 innings, he has posted a 1.19 ERA with 34 strikeouts, a stretch that is making a strong case for a major rotation role next season.
Michael Massey has been building a case of his own, just in a quieter way. The second baseman missed the start of the season after opening on the injured list and didn’t return until early April, but once he got back, he settled in and produced. His line now sits at .278/.311/.447 with 43 RBIs, 11 home runs and 21 doubles, which makes this his best offensive season so far.
His value doesn’t stop at the plate. Massey has also put together a standout defensive season, and Statcast says he has seven outs above average at second base. That puts him in the mix for an American League Gold Glove Award.
For a Royals lineup that has too often run out of steam after the first three or four hitters, Massey’s profile fits a glaring need. He could give Kansas City a dependable bat in the lower half of the order next season while also bringing elite defense at second base.
In Other News...
Royals Fans Just Got A Tough Reminder About Scott Barlow
Scott Barlows return to the Royals organization has ended much the way his 2025 season has gone overall: without much momentum. After signing a minor league deal in early July, Barlow was released by Kansas Citys Triple-A affiliate following a stretch in which he continued to battle both command and velocity, the same issues that have followed him through stops with the Athletics and the Royals top farm team.
For Royals fans, it is a tough reminder of how quickly a once-trusted arm can lose his footing. Barlow still has a path back to a contender, though, since a team in the playoff race could still take a chance on him with another minor league deal before the postseason eligibility deadline. [Read more 🡒]
Royals May Regret Letting This Veteran Arm Get Away
Eli Morgans next stop is within the Yankees system, where the veteran right-hander has signed a minor league deal and will report to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. For Kansas City, it is another reminder of how quickly bullpen depth can disappear in late-season roster churn, especially when a pitcher with major league experience gets through the waiver process and reaches the open market.
Morgan elected free agency after being designated for assignment by the Royals, and New York is bringing him in as extra pitching insurance with the postseason approaching. He has already been used in the majors several times this season, which is exactly the kind of practical experience contenders tend to value this time of year, and it leaves Kansas City wondering whether it let a useful arm slip away. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Suddenly Have A New Infield Problem To Solve
Maikel Garcias latest setback gives the Royals another infield wrinkle to manage, and it comes at a time when they were already trying to keep the lineup and roster moving with as little disruption as possible. Garcia landed back on the Injured List after suffering a hamstring strain while rounding third base, a frustrating turn for a player the club had been counting on to provide stability around the infield.
Matthew Lugo was brought up from Omaha to fill Garcias roster spot, while the Royals also made a pitching shuffle by optioning Carlos Durn and recalling Jose Cuas. For a club trying to stay flexible, the moves make sense on paper, but Garcias absence leaves another question hanging over how Kansas City will piece together the infield in the near term. [Read more 🡒]