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3Bplay · 02-24-2026, 12:40 PM

Team Roster/Records | Statistics | Standings

2026 SEASON PREVIEW
Royals look to return to postseason after one-year absence

By 3BPlay
03/24/2026

2025 Record: 82-80 (3rd, AL Central)
Manager: Matt Quatraro (4th season, 224-262 career win-loss)
ZIPS/Steamer projection: 91-71 (1st, AL Central)

ROSTER BREAKDOWN

ROTATION: L Cole Ragans, L Kris Bubic, R Seth Lugo, R Michael Wacha, L Noah Cameron
BULLPEN: R Stephen Kolek, L Bailey Falter, R Nick Mears, R Alex Lange, R John Schreiber, R Lucas Erceg, L Matt Strahm, R Carlos Estevez (CL)
CATCHERS: R Salvador Perez, L Carter Jensen
INFIELDERS: L Vinnie Pasquantino, R Jonathan India, R Bobby Witt, Jr., R Maikel Garcia, L Josh Rojas
OUTFIELDERS: S Isaac Collins, L Kyle Isbel, L Jac Cagilanone, R Lane Thomas, S Drew Waters
UTILITY: R Nick Loftin

There were a couple of final roster surprises, with the first being Ryan Bergert optioned to Omaha. He pitched pretty well in the spring, but he has multiple options remaining and both JJ Picollo and Matt Quatraro expressed a desire to keep him stretched out. He also could end up as a trade chip if the Royals find a match early in the season for a bat, especially if the offense continues to struggle.

Quatraro mentioned that with the first off-day being between the first and second games of the Minnesota series (March 31st), they will skip Noah Cameron in the rotation, meaning they can use him out of the bullpen 'a couple of times' if needed.

The other was optioning Massey to Omaha, but again, the Royals' brass has consistently noted that they still believe that Massey can be a starter at second base and want to get him consistent PA's, especially with India and Rojas both reaching free agency after this season. Rojas also offers a bit more youth and defensive ability over last year's super-sub in Adam Frazier, and will likely form a platoon at second base with the aforementioned India.

Rojas has also logged over 2,700 career innings at third base, and just over 300 at shortstop, although he hasn't played short in an MLB game since 2021. If Bobby Witt goes down for any reason, or just needs a break, Maikel Garcia is the likely sub with Rojas manning third (or even Loftin).

Speaking of Loftin, he really credits working with infield coach Jose Alguacil and Rusty Kuntz, who is officially retired but still works with the players during the spring, on improving his defense, as it's likely that his versatility is going to keep him on the roster throughout the season. It didn't hurt that he had a great spring at the plate, OPS'ing .945 in 41 PA.

The out-of-options Drew Waters also gets the nod over John Rave, Tyler Tolbert, and Kameron Misner for what was probably the 26th spot. It's difficult to imagine him being more than a defensive sub and pinch-runner; although he does hit righties pretty well, so on a day where Caglianone DH's or plays at first base, Waters is a more-than-capable fill-in in any of the three OF spots.

Additionally, a few days ago the Royals also traded away Dairon Blanco to the Yankees, as he was unlikely to make the roster with a younger version of him already in the organization with Tolbert.

BREAKOUT CANDIDATE

I know some will say Jensen because he's continuing to post insane exit velo's and drawing walks, but Caglianone also hit the ball well in the spring, leading all Royals' hitters with three homeruns (two vs. LHP!) and tied with Salvador Perez with five doubles. If he can carry the spring success forward into the season, it would go a long way towards validating Picollo's decision to not try harder to land the 'big bat' many fans were hoping for.

COMEBACK KID

Going into a free agent year, Jonathan India came in sporting a new look and a different outlook, watching gobs of tape of his AB's from last season. New assistant hitting coach Connor Dawson believes they've 'found some things' that were causing his problems, and the Royals are hoping that turns into increased production. Quatraro also said that he'll be hitting 'near the bottom' of the order most nights, so there won't be as much pressure on him to be the main on-base guy.

OTHER THINGS TO WATCH FOR

The stadium saga is now reaching into its third year, with principal owner John Sherman still 'extremely' optimistic that a new facility will be built downtown by the time the team's lease is up in 2031.

However, I think he's backed himself into a bit of a corner with the state of Kansas turning him down late last year, so the state of Missouri (namely Jackson County, Mo.,) have some leverage if they want to break ground in the near future. And no, he's not moving the team to Nashville (or really anywhere else). Nashville is likely to get a team, but it will be an expansion franchise down the road, not a relocated one.

Rob Manfred has been on record that he wants all current teams that are dealing with stadium issues to get those resolved before expansion can happen, and the Royals fall squarely into that category. With the A's move to Las Vegas in transition, and the Rays getting the Trop fixed back up, the Royals are the only other team that currently has a pending stadium question.

Also, another thing is how progress is made on approving a new CBA. There will 100% be a lockout after December 1st, but will any games be missed? Despite a 99-day lockout in 2022, they managed to get all 162 games in per team that season, moving to double-headers and some strange scheduling quirks for the first handful of weeks to catch up.

Among the most pressing issues will undoubtedly be a salary cap, which the owners and players remain far apart on. Arbitration years and minimum salaries are also on the table, along with adjustments to the draft, even possibly an international draft to do away with the international signing period.

John Schreiber, who is the Royals' player rep to the MLBPA, has been tight-lipped since the union appointed Bruce Meyer as the interim president of the MLBPA after Tony Clark's ouster, only saying that 'he's hit the ground running' early on in the spring.

02-24-2026, 12:40 PM	#11
3Bplay Major Leagues Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 357	2026 Season Preview Team Roster/Records \| Statistics \| Standings 2026 SEASON PREVIEW Royals look to return to postseason after one-year absence By 3BPlay 03/24/2026 2025 Record: 82-80 (3rd, AL Central) Manager: Matt Quatraro (4th season, 224-262 career win-loss) ZIPS/Steamer projection: 91-71 (1st, AL Central) ROSTER BREAKDOWN ROTATION: L Cole Ragans, L Kris Bubic, R Seth Lugo, R Michael Wacha, L Noah Cameron BULLPEN: R Stephen Kolek, L Bailey Falter, R Nick Mears, R Alex Lange, R John Schreiber, R Lucas Erceg, L Matt Strahm, R Carlos Estevez (CL) CATCHERS: R Salvador Perez, L Carter Jensen INFIELDERS: L Vinnie Pasquantino, R Jonathan India, R Bobby Witt, Jr., R Maikel Garcia, L Josh Rojas OUTFIELDERS: S Isaac Collins, L Kyle Isbel, L Jac Cagilanone, R Lane Thomas, S Drew Waters UTILITY: R Nick Loftin There were a couple of final roster surprises, with the first being Ryan Bergert optioned to Omaha. He pitched pretty well in the spring, but he has multiple options remaining and both JJ Picollo and Matt Quatraro expressed a desire to keep him stretched out. He also could end up as a trade chip if the Royals find a match early in the season for a bat, especially if the offense continues to struggle. Quatraro mentioned that with the first off-day being between the first and second games of the Minnesota series (March 31st), they will skip Noah Cameron in the rotation, meaning they can use him out of the bullpen 'a couple of times' if needed. The other was optioning Massey to Omaha, but again, the Royals' brass has consistently noted that they still believe that Massey can be a starter at second base and want to get him consistent PA's, especially with India and Rojas both reaching free agency after this season. Rojas also offers a bit more youth and defensive ability over last year's super-sub in Adam Frazier, and will likely form a platoon at second base with the aforementioned India. Rojas has also logged over 2,700 career innings at third base, and just over 300 at shortstop, although he hasn't played short in an MLB game since 2021. If Bobby Witt goes down for any reason, or just needs a break, Maikel Garcia is the likely sub with Rojas manning third (or even Loftin). Speaking of Loftin, he really credits working with infield coach Jose Alguacil and Rusty Kuntz, who is officially retired but still works with the players during the spring, on improving his defense, as it's likely that his versatility is going to keep him on the roster throughout the season. It didn't hurt that he had a great spring at the plate, OPS'ing .945 in 41 PA. The out-of-options Drew Waters also gets the nod over John Rave, Tyler Tolbert, and Kameron Misner for what was probably the 26th spot. It's difficult to imagine him being more than a defensive sub and pinch-runner; although he does hit righties pretty well, so on a day where Caglianone DH's or plays at first base, Waters is a more-than-capable fill-in in any of the three OF spots. Additionally, a few days ago the Royals also traded away Dairon Blanco to the Yankees, as he was unlikely to make the roster with a younger version of him already in the organization with Tolbert. BREAKOUT CANDIDATE I know some will say Jensen because he's continuing to post insane exit velo's and drawing walks, but Caglianone also hit the ball well in the spring, leading all Royals' hitters with three homeruns (two vs. LHP!) and tied with Salvador Perez with five doubles. If he can carry the spring success forward into the season, it would go a long way towards validating Picollo's decision to not try harder to land the 'big bat' many fans were hoping for. COMEBACK KID Going into a free agent year, Jonathan India came in sporting a new look and a different outlook, watching gobs of tape of his AB's from last season. New assistant hitting coach Connor Dawson believes they've 'found some things' that were causing his problems, and the Royals are hoping that turns into increased production. Quatraro also said that he'll be hitting 'near the bottom' of the order most nights, so there won't be as much pressure on him to be the main on-base guy. OTHER THINGS TO WATCH FOR The stadium saga is now reaching into its third year, with principal owner John Sherman still 'extremely' optimistic that a new facility will be built downtown by the time the team's lease is up in 2031. However, I think he's backed himself into a bit of a corner with the state of Kansas turning him down late last year, so the state of Missouri (namely Jackson County, Mo.,) have some leverage if they want to break ground in the near future. And no, he's not moving the team to Nashville (or really anywhere else). Nashville is likely to get a team, but it will be an expansion franchise down the road, not a relocated one. Rob Manfred has been on record that he wants all current teams that are dealing with stadium issues to get those resolved before expansion can happen, and the Royals fall squarely into that category. With the A's move to Las Vegas in transition, and the Rays getting the Trop fixed back up, the Royals are the only other team that currently has a pending stadium question. Also, another thing is how progress is made on approving a new CBA. There will 100% be a lockout after December 1st, but will any games be missed? Despite a 99-day lockout in 2022, they managed to get all 162 games in per team that season, moving to double-headers and some strange scheduling quirks for the first handful of weeks to catch up. Among the most pressing issues will undoubtedly be a salary cap, which the owners and players remain far apart on. Arbitration years and minimum salaries are also on the table, along with adjustments to the draft, even possibly an international draft to do away with the international signing period. John Schreiber, who is the Royals' player rep to the MLBPA, has been tight-lipped since the union appointed Bruce Meyer as the interim president of the MLBPA after Tony Clark's ouster, only saying that 'he's hit the ground running' early on in the spring.