Royals part ways with MJ Melendez, Taylor Clarke ahead of 2026 season
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Royals non-tendered MJ Melendez and Taylor Clarke, making both free agents.
- Melendez struggled in MLB in 2025, produced at Triple-A and opened a 40-man spot.
- Clarke posted a 3.25 ERA in 51 appearances; Royals adjust with Alex Lange additon.
The Kansas City Royals opted to not tender 2026 contracts to outfielder MJ Melendez and relief pitcher Taylor Clarke on Friday.
Both players are now free agents.
The decision came at Major League Baseball’s non-tender deadline. Teams had until 4 p.m. Central Time on Friday to offer 2026 contracts to their arbitration-eligible players.
The Royals agreed to terms with Jonathan India to avoid arbitration. The same occurred for right-handed reliever James McArthur.
Melendez, 26, was selected by the Royals in the second round of the 2017 MLB Draft and became a key prospect in the organization. He made his major-league debut with the Royals in 2022 and lasted four seasons.
But Melendez appeared in just 23 big-league games in 2025. He batted .083 with five hits in 60 at-bats despite making multiple adjustments at the plate. After giving him a spot on the major-league roster out of spring training, the Royals sent Melendez to Triple-A Omaha for the majority of the season.
Melendez hit .261 with 20 home runs, 64 RBIs and a .813 OPS with the Storm Chasers.
The Royals now have an open a 40-man roster spot as Melendez heads to free agency. But it’s the end of an era for the club, too. Melendez was a highly touted prospect who began his pro baseball career as a catcher before moving to the outfield.
Clarke will join him in hitting the open market. The major-league veteran posted a 3.25 ERA in 51 appearances after returning to the Royals organization.
KC made a few changes to its bullpen this week, including the addition of reliever Alex Lange on Thursday. It is expected that Lange will compete for a bullpen spot this spring.
Clarke, meanwhile, enters free agency alongside fellow former Kansas City relievers Hunter Harvey and Sam Long.
The Royals now have 38 players on their 40-man roster.
This story was originally published November 21, 2025 at 5:49 PM.
