The Royals already knocked out one key little bit of offseason enterprise, re-signing Michael Wacha to a $51MM deal simply earlier than the veteran starter might focus on contracts with different groups. It appears they’ll now flip their consideration to deepening a top-heavy lineup.
Will Sammon and Katie Woo of the Athletic write that the Royals are on the lookout for methods to enhance their on-base expertise, notably out of the leadoff spot. To that finish, Sammon and Woo report that Kansas Metropolis might entertain commerce provides on Kris Bubic or Alec Marsh if they’ll internet lineup assist.
The Kansas Metropolis offense was virtually solely depending on Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez this yr. They have been the one Royals gamers to achieve 20 homers. Of the 9 Ok.C. hitters with 300+ plate appearances, 4 had higher than common seasons by measure of wRC+. First baseman Vinnie Pasquantino and second baseman Michael Massey solely narrowly checked in above common, hitting for energy however with middling on-base marks.
Discovering a dependable table-setter in entrance of Witt and Perez was an enormous problem. Kansas Metropolis gave Maikel Garcia the vast majority of the taking part in time atop the lineup. Garcia stole 27 bases however supplied little or no on the plate. Royals leadoff males had a putrid .228/.270/.334 batting line total. No workforce had a decrease OBP out of the highest spot, whereas solely the White Sox acquired much less slugging output. That left Witt to take lots of at-bats with the bases empty. Ok.C.’s franchise shortstop ranked eighth in MLB in plate appearances with nobody on base. The seven gamers forward of him have been all primarily leadoff hitters (thereby assured to take at the least one at-bat with the bases empty each sport).
Whereas a free agent pursuit of somebody like Jurickson Profar or Gleyber Torres would tackle the leadoff spot, the Royals might accomplish that extra affordably by dealing from their pitching depth. Kansas Metropolis has a wonderful entrance 4 of their rotation. Cole Ragans and Seth Lugo venture as an elite 1-2 tandem. Wacha is again to renew his position as a high quality third starter, whereas righty Brady Singer is a mid-rotation arm in his personal proper. The fifth spot is rather less established.
Marsh held that position for the majority of the ’24 season. The Arizona State product began 25 instances and tossed 129 innings of 4.53 ERA ball. He struck out 22.4% of opponents in opposition to a strong 7.1% stroll charge. Whereas it wasn’t a dominant displaying, Marsh had serviceable numbers for a fifth starter. The Royals nudged him out of the rotation after they acquired Michael Lorenzen on the deadline. With Lorenzen returning to free company, Marsh could possibly be the in-house favourite for that job once more.
He’ll have competitors from former Courageous Kyle Wright. Kansas Metropolis acquired the right-hander final offseason, weeks after Atlanta introduced that the previous fifth total choose underwent shoulder surgical procedure. The Royals stashed him on the injured checklist all yr with a watch in direction of a 2025 return. Whereas it’s tough to financial institution on a pitcher who has missed the vast majority of the final two seasons to damage, Wright posted a 3.19 ERA over 30 begins in 2022. The Royals are certainly to see how his stuff seems in Spring Coaching. That would enhance their willingness to deal Marsh.
Bubic could possibly be within the combine for the fifth starter position as nicely, however he spent this previous season within the bullpen. The Stanford product underwent Tommy John surgical procedure in April ’23. He was sidelined into the start of July this yr. The Royals used him in reduction when he returned. That helped an underperforming bullpen whereas limiting his workload in his first season again.
The transfer was a hit. Bubic posted wonderful numbers over 30 1/3 innings, handing over a 2.67 earned run common whereas punching out greater than 32% of opponents. He acquired swinging strikes at an enormous 14.8% clip whereas averaging a personal-high 93 MPH on his fastball in brief stints. That’s a lot better than the 4.99 ERA he owns throughout 60 profession begins, though he flashed higher velocity and swing-and-miss acumen in a small pattern in ’23 earlier than going below the knife.
Kansas Metropolis’s bullpen stays a weak level. The Royals might want to maintain Bubic as a possible leverage piece. There’d be loads of groups fascinated with plugging him into their bullpens, whereas there are presumably golf equipment that also view him as a rotation goal.
Bubic is below arbitration management for 2 extra seasons. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz initiatives him for a $2.8MM wage. Marsh doesn’t have the identical upside however comes with a for much longer contractual window. He simply surpassed one yr of service and is controllable by means of 2029. He gained’t get to arbitration for one more two seasons and will have enchantment for groups searching for an inexpensive fifth or sixth starter.
