Kansas City

Royals

Cuas returns to the Royals; the organization he’s had the most MLB success with in his short career. The 31-year-old will need to have a strong spring training if he’s going to join the Kansas City bullpen.

Passan notes that the extension will also have a club option for a sixth season. Garcia was excellent this past season, slashing .286/.351/449 slash along with 16 homers and 23 stolen bases over his 160 games. He also was a deserved Gold Glove Award winner at third base, and he and Bobby Witt Jr. will make up one of the better left sides of an infield for the foreseeable future. The long-term agreement keeps him in Kansas City through his entire prime and into his early 30’s as one of their key building blocks.

Newman will get a chance to win a job with the Royals in spring training. The former first-round pick was atrocious in his limited action with the Angels last year as seen in a slash of .202/.209/.272.

Feinsand adds that the deal includes $1 million in performance-based incentives. Thomas heads to Kansas City following an injury plagued final season in Cleveland where he battled plantar fasciitis, which limited him to just 39 games, before undergoing foot surgery in late September. The 30-year-old outfielder should be a full-go in time for spring training and figures to take over as the club’s starting center fielder. He offers realistic 20-homer, 30-steal upside in an everyday role and projects as a strong bounce-back candidate for fantasy purposes, if he’s put the lingering foot issues to bed.

The ping pong balls came through for the White Sox as they secure the top selection in next year’s MLB Draft after having the highest odds — 27.73 percent — of landing the first overall pick. Chicago hasn’t picked first overall since taking future Hall of Famer Harold Baines in 1977. Their likely prize: UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky is one of the best collegiate shortstop prospects in recent memory and is considered a slam-dunk to be taken first overall. Texas high school shortstop Grady Emerson is widely-regarded as the top prep player in the draft class. The Giants and Royals were the big movers in this year’s lottery, jumping up double-digit spots into the top six overall, while the Rays also made a massive leap, going from seventh to second overall. Here are the full draft lottery results: (1) White Sox, (2) Rays, (3) Twins, (4) Giants, (5) Pirates, (6) Royals, (7) Orioles, (8) Athletics, (9) Braves, (10) Rockies, (11) Nationals, (12) Angels, (13) Cardinals, (14) Marlins, (15) Diamondbacks, (16) Rangers, (17) Astros and (18) Reds.

It doesn’t sound like a serious concern with roughly two-plus months left until the outset of spring training. The 25-year-old third baseman finished as a top-10 fantasy contributor at the hot corner this past season when he batted .286/.351/.449 with 81 runs scored, 16 homers, 74 RBI and 23 steals in 666 plate appearances over 160 games. There should be an official update on his status from the Royals at some point in the near future.

There is nothing in motion right now, but Speier notes that the Royals have specifically stated that nobody on their roster is “off limits.” The Royals have shown a reluctance to deal veterans Seth Lugo and Michal Wacha, and they have said that Ragans would only be dealt if a “big return” was coming their way. However, the Red Sox have the pieces to put together that kind of return. The Royals are looking for a right-handed outfielder, but also reportedly “won’t be tethered to the notion,” which means the Red Sox could put together an offer that includes Jarren Duran, one of Connelly Early or Payton Tolle, and other prospects in order to acquire Ragans. It’s also possible that the Red Sox might be willing to part with Kristian Campbell, who seems best suited for the outfield, but doesn’t really have a place in Boston right now. This is a situation to monitor.

Rodriguez, 25, was impressive enough in the low minors to get added to the Mariners’ 40-man four years ago, but he didn’t develop as hoped and ended up going to Mexico after becoming a minor league free agent last winter. He went on to hit .315/.397/.497 for Aguascalientes, and he’s currently 18-for-38 with three homers in the Dominican Winter League. He’ll likely open up as one of the Royals’ Triple-A outfielders.

Melendez was one of the top hitting prospects in baseball and showed flashes of brilliance in his first couple seasons with Kansas City, but to say things fell over the last couple campaigns is quite the understatement. He’ll likely get a chance with a new org, but on a “prove it” type of deal. Clarke will also likely be org depth for a new org in 2026.

A candidate to be non-tendered on Friday, India will now return to the Royals for a second season. He had a miserable 2025 in his debut with the club, slashing just .233/.323/.346 with nine homers and 45 RBI in 567 plate appearances.