By John Mesh
From the Bench
As one of many Kansas City Royals fans disappointed in the team’s 2026 season, what is the plan for the Royals going into 2027 and beyond?
The 2027 season will follow a disappointing 2026 in which the Royals were supposed to compete for an American League Central Division title in what is arguably the weakest division in Major League Baseball.
Injuries are a main reason (and a main excuse) for the Royals’ disappointing 2026 season.
The latest injury is future Hall of Famer and captain Salvador Perez, who is listed as day-to-day with right elbow aggravation.
At one time this season, Kansas City’s entire opening-day infield of first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino, second baseman Jonathan India, all-everything shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., and third baseball Maikel Garcia (the MVP of the World Baseball Classic) was on the Injured List along with centerfielder Kyle Isbel.
Witt and Isbel are back in the lineup. Pasquantino will be back soon. Maybe Garcia is close to coming back.
Michael Massey has taken over at second base and is playing well. Kansas City also has Nick Loftin and Tyler Tolbert playing well at multiple positions.
Jac Caglianone has been playing well in right field and at first base. It looks like Carter Jensen has taken over most of the catching duties, but is slumping a bit at the plate.
Kansas City has nine pitchers on the IL right now. There were 10, but the Royals dealt left-hander Kris Bubic to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
The other injured KC pitchers are:
- Beck Way (RHP): 15-day IL (low back spasms/tightness); throwing progression underway in Arizona.
- Connor Seabold (RHP): 60-day IL (right lat strain); rehabbing in Arizona.
- Nick Mears (RHP): 60-day IL (right shoulder impingement); working through a mound progression.
- Carlos Estévez (RHP, closer): 60-day IL (right rotator cuff strain); targeting a September return.
- Cole Ragans (LHP): 60-day IL (left elbow UCL surgery); out for the remainder of the season.
- Luinder Avila (RHP): 60-day IL (right forearm tightness); underwent Tommy John surgery and out until 2027.
- Stephen Kolek (RHP): 60-day IL (right flexor strain); underwent Tommy John surgery and out until 2027.
- James McArthur (RHP, reliever): 60-day IL (right elbow inflammation/surgery); timeline dependent on recovery.
- Alec Marsh (RHP): 60-day IL (right shoulder surgery); out for the year.
However, injuries are not the entire issue for the Royals’ struggles.
I think the Royals’ problems start with owner John Sherman being unwilling to spend a little more money on free agents, and the front office not pulling the trigger on some deals that could have been made.
However, in 2024 (when they Royals made the playoffs), Sherman signed free agent pitchers Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha. There will be more pitchers like them available for 2027.
According to Spotrac, the Royals’ 2026 adjusted team payroll is $148.9 million, which ranks 18th out of 30 Major League Baseball teams. About $30 million will come off the books (via free agency and 2026 in-season trades) after the season ends.
Kansas City could use another power bat. This has been on top of the wish list in KC for three years.
Plans for the Royals include building a new downtown Kansas City stadium, but Kansas City needs to put a contender on the field to capture fans’ attention.
I think the Royals can build a stadium-filling contender around a nucleus of Witt, Garcia, Pasquantino, Caglianone, and Jensen (plus others excelling in the minor leagues right now).
No one is expecting Sherman to emulate big spenders like the owners of the Dodgers, Yankees, or Mets. But in 2027, Kansas City cannot afford to have another semi-stand-pat offseason.
We will take Sherman at his word that moves will be made to improve the Kansas City Royals for the 2027 season.
Lockout
There’s a possibility that the 2027 season could be lost or delayed because the owners may force a lockout. The main sticking point would center around the owners’ desire for a salary cap. While there are salary caps in other sports, Major League Baseball players have been rightfully stubborn against having a cap.
Owners, some of whom have shelled out outrageous salaries, are in favor of a cap.
John Mesh covers Reno County and area sports for Ad Astra Radio. His email address is ohnjaye@gmail.com. Coaches and athletic/activities directors are welcome to send him their scores, statistics, comments, and other information.