Which Royals elected free agency? A look at KC players hitting the open market
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Royals weigh Salvador Perez $13.5M option or extension to shape 2026 roster.
- Multiple Royals, Frazier, Yastrzemski, Maile and Harvey, enter free agency this offseason.
- Randal Grichuk declined $5M mutual option; Lorenzen option was declined Tuesday.
The Major League Baseball offseason is underway. After the Los Angeles Dodgers repeated as World Series champions, all eyes have turned to the upcoming 2026 campaign.
The Kansas City Royals will be busy.
This week, the Royals will make a key decision regarding nine-time All-Star Salvador Perez’s club option for next season. The Royals are expected to bring Perez back for 2026 and can do so at $13.5 million. They could also rework a new contract extension to better help them attack free agency and the trade market.
Speaking of free agency, the Royals have multiple players who hit the open market. The list includes Adam Frazier, Mike Yastrzemski, Luke Maile and Hunter Harvey.
The Royals could re-sign a few of their own free agents. Frazier is beloved in the clubhouse and provided valuable leadership. He has spent two stints in Kansas City and offers positional versatility. He is a left-handed bat at the plate.
Yastrzemski joined the Royals at the trade deadline. He provided a spark atop the batting order and can play multiple outfield positions. The Royals will look for more impact bats this offseason and could turn back to Yastrzemski if needed.
Meanwhile, Maile provided the Royals with a veteran option behind the plate. He filled in well after Freddy Fermin was traded to the San Diego Padres.
The Royals are always looking for a veteran third catcher. Maile could be a candidate to return if he doesn’t find a better deal in free agency. Top prospect Carter Jensen made his MLB debut at that spot in September and could back up Perez in 2026.
Harvey is an interesting case. He arrived to the Royals in a 2024 trade with the Washington Nationals but he hasn’t stayed healthy. Harvey has appeared in just 18 games with the Royals despite posting a 2.20 ERA.
The bullpen is one of the club’s strong points. It’s fair to wonder if Harvey will be considered this offseason if another reliever is added.
On Monday, Royals outfielder Randal Grichuk declined his $5 million mutual option ($3 million buyout) and elected free agency. He was another midseason acquisition who was tabbed to help the offense push toward the playoffs.
Lastly, the Royals declined a mutual option on pitcher Michael Lorenzen. He held a $12 million mutual option with a $1.5 million buyout.
Lorenzen posted a 4.64 ERA in 27 games (26 starts). However, the Royals have overflowing starting pitching depth, and chose to move on from him.
This story was originally published November 3, 2025 at 2:05 PM.
