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👑 January 15-16: International Offers Sent, Season No Longer Theoretical
(OOTP25 Royals Journey – GM/Manager's Dual Log)
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January 15 has a different feel. Not a game day, not a workout day—but a decision day. When I walked into the office this morning, the calendar flipped from planning to execution.

Today marked the first day international amateur free agent offers could be sent, and J.J. Picollo and Jason McLeod had already submitted offers to four prospects we examined during training camp over the off-season. Although their names aren't yet splashed across marquees or ticket stubs, this is where the organization's quiet evolution begins. Phones didn't ring. No media gathered. But behind the scenes, years of scouting notes, cross-checks, and debates finally resulted in action.

Offers went out deliberately. Not aggressively for the sake of noise, not conservatively out of fear—but aligned with the same philosophy we've carried all offseason. The goal wasn't to “win” January 15. It was to trust the work that led here and commit to it. Depth over flash. Projection over polish. Process over impulse.

Figure 1. International Amateur Market — Pending Offers



Perspective: The first wave of international signing offers signals a shift from evaluation to commitment. Each decision represents years of downstream development, reinforcing January 15 as the unofficial beginning of the organization's next competitive cycle.

I shared my interests with both of them yesterday during our preseason kickoff, but I trust them to make the right choices in selecting who will join the Royals organization. I have to do that; otherwise, what am I paying them for? I’m comfortable with the four negotiations we’ve started. They align with my views on our pitching sustainability and long-term batting needs. Over the next few days, we’ll see how we negotiate with international players to meet those needs. I may step in if I see something I’m uncomfortable with, but mostly, I’ll trust their judgment throughout the process.

From the manager’s perspective, it’s easy to focus on the short-term—how a roster fits, how a lineup balances, how a bullpen holds together in May. But days like today demand a broader view. These are not players I’ll see this spring, or maybe even this year. They’re players who might walk into this clubhouse long after the memory of this particular season fades. Still, they’re part of the same responsibility: building something that lasts beyond one lineup card.
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A lingering concern had been on my mind since taking this job last spring: the front office coaching staff, specifically the hitting and pitching coaches, Alec Zumwalt and Brian Sweeney, respectively. I kept both of them on through the 2024 season, but I often wondered whether changing their positions before the season started would have affected the outcome. The limited finances and cumbersome contract buyouts we would have had to endure last March—and nearly did anyway—left me with little choice but to make the one long-term change for scouting by acquiring Jason McLeod. That meant postponing any changes to the rest of the front office, leaving those positions untouched, to assess their worth after at least a season.

After the Day 1 offseason firings of team trainer Kyle Turner and Alec Zumwalt, I initially hesitated to terminate Brian Sweeney. My stance has now shifted, especially since we have a sizable rotation and arms to develop this season. I made an offer of $600K annually over three years to bring Michael Porter out of retirement and coach for the Royals organization.

Figure 2. Coaching Staff Addition — Pitching Infrastructure



Perspective: Porter’s arrival adds experience and authority to a pitching staff built around young arms. His reputation for mechanical influence and veteran trust positions him as a stabilizing presence during a transitional preseason.
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January 16 brought a quieter rhythm with less urgency but more clarity. Nothing needed to be sent today. No switches to flip. No deadlines pressing. Just follow-ups, monitoring, and patience. The kind of patience that only comes after conviction.

I spent part of the day reviewing the major league roster again—not because anything had changed overnight, but because perspective shifts once commitments are made elsewhere.

Figure 3. Organizational Depth: Present vs. Future



Perspective: A full snapshot of the Royals’ present alignment, alongside the prospect-only projection, underscores the central tension entering the preseason: competing now while protecting a thin yet rising farm system. Developmental pressure points are clearly visible across the middle infield and starting rotation pipeline.

I believe we are well-positioned in terms of depth on the 40-man roster. However, when we look beyond that, I notice some gaps and holes that we need to start filling.

Our biggest concern is the middle-infield positions, namely shortstop and second base. Our 30th-place positional strength league ranking of Nick Loftin, for lack of a better term at the moment, supports that for 2B, and with no prospect behind our 4th-place Bobby Witt Jr., we are ranked 27th overall in a four-way tie with the Dodgers, Orioles, and Cardinals. Therefore, we not only have a large gap to fill but are also competing for it.

My other concern this season within the minor league system is the coaching at our Midwest League (A+) Quad City River Bandits and Texas League (AA) Northwest Arkansas Naturals. Their respective records last year of 6th and 5th place were disappointing, and I can only assume they lacked the coaching they needed, especially after I made coaching changes in the rookie clubs. That's my priority now, so I'll review the personnel list to see who might be available for a limited 1-2-year contract, or consider some in-house moves for coaches who have proven their worth and could be promoted. I'll aim to keep that cost low to free up more budget for other areas.
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The waiver and trade wires have already started to fill up with some league fodder they deem not worth keeping. We may find a few gems in those after this IAFA signing period settles down, and we can reassess our status before spring training.

Figure 4. Roster Margins — Waivers, Trades, and Opportunistic Depth



Perspective: The early-season transaction landscape reflects the constant churn at the edges of the roster. January waivers and low-cost trade opportunities offer incremental gains — not headlines, but necessary texture for a club balancing depth and payroll discipline.
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There’s a different kind of excitement now.

Not the reckless optimism that comes with new beginnings, but the grounded confidence that comes from structure. The budgets are set. The roster is defined. The development lanes are clear, and the work has been honest. The expectations—both internal and external—are no longer abstract. You can feel the season leaning toward you, even before the first pitch is thrown.

Soon, the clubhouse will fill. …decisions turn into performances. …preparation turns into competition.

January 15 opened the board, and January 16 confirmed the direction.

And with that, the offseason finally gave way to the season itself.
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👑 FOR THE CROWN — ALWAYS

Kansas City Royals 2025 Preseason | January 2025

⚾ Prepared by: Manager & General Manager — Kansas City Royals Organization