KC Royals weigh options for Renfroe, Stratton, Frazier. They plan to keep 2 of 3
.jpg "The Kansas City Royals trio of (left to right) Chris Stratton, Adam Frazier and Hunter Renfroe starred together in college at Mississippi State.")
The Kansas City Royals are taking care of a few housekeeping items as the 2025 offseason begins.
On Sunday, they announced a new three-year contract for veteran right-handed pitcher Michael Wacha. The deal ensures Wacha, a staple in KC’s starting rotation this year, will remain with the organization.
The Royals and other teams are approaching a Major League Baseball deadline for exercising contract options.
Wacha held a $16 million player option for the 2025 season. With the new contract, he is slated to make $18 million annually, with a club option for 2028.
Other near-term decisions pertaining to the Royals’ roster loom. Veterans Hunter Renfroe, Chris Stratton and Adam Frazier — all of whom joined KC last offseason — hold various options in their respective contracts for 2025.
Renfroe and Stratton could decide to test the free-agency market. Frazier, meanwhile, holds a mutual option with the Royals that they don’t plan to exercise, according to general manager J.J. Picollo
All contract options must be exercised by Monday, five days after the conclusion of the 2024 World Series won by the L.A. Dodgers. The Royals made it to the playoffs this year before losing to the other World Series team, the New York Yankees, in an American League Division Series.
Picollo offered insight into looming roster decisions during a Monday news conference at Kauffman Stadium.
“(Chris) Stratton and Hunter (Renfroe), we expect to pick up their options,” the GM said. “And with Adam (Frazier), we don’t expect to pick up the option.”
Renfroe holds a $7.5 million player option for 2025. He’ll return to the Royals after hitting .229 with 15 home runs and 52 RBIs as an everyday right fielder in the starting lineup.
Renfroe had nine outfield assists in 105 starts this season but dealt with injuries and struggled to provide consistent offense. Particularly concerning were his .297 on-base percentage and .689 OPS (on-base plus slugging) — his lowest marks since the COVID-shortened 2020 season.
Stratton is slated to exercise his $4.5 million player option for 2025. He struggled with walks in 2024 and, like Renfroe, encountered some injuries.
Stratton finished the 2024 season with a 4-3 record and 5.55 ERA in 57 relief appearances. He did not pitch in the postseason after being sidelined with a right-forearm flexor strain in September.
Stratton will be vying for a spot in the bullpen for 2025. The Royals value his veteran leadership and are hopeful he can return to the form he showed in 2023 with his previous club, the Texas Rangers.
Frazier, meanwhile, played in 2024 on a one-year contract worth $8.5 million, with a $2.5 million buyout. He hit .202 with four home runs, 22 RBIs and 53 hits overall — for a 0.3 WAR — in 104 games with the Royals.
Frazier now joins fellow 2024 Royals Tommy Pham, Robbie Grossman, Yuli Gurriel, Garrett Hampson, Paul DeJong, Michael Lorenzen, Will Smith and Josh Taylor as free agents.
