2 players Kansas City should absolutely target this offseason to fix their walk issues

2026 has been a very disappointing season for the Kansas City Royals. After finishing above .500 and third in the AL Central, just five games out of the final wild card spot, in 2025, it seemed like there was something to build off of. The season hasn't gone the way they had hoped, but with a core forming around Bobby Witt Jr., 2027 can be a return to competitiveness.

One of the key things the Royals have struggled with this season is drawing walks. The Royals rank 24th in BB% (walk rate) this season at 8.4%. While that is a major improvement from 2025 (7.2%, 29th), it still falls below the league average 8.9% walk rate. What K.C. hasn't struggled to do is avoid the strikeout, where their 20.7 K% ranks 5th this season. Interestingly, despite being a bottom-ten team in getting the free pass, they still rank 15th in MLB in on-base percentage.

That means what Kansas City should do this offseason is target players who draw a lot of walks, and they shouldn't worry as much about avoiding strikeouts. Getting players who walk a lot can be extremely helpful to an offense. Even when they aren't getting a lot of hits, they are still getting on base, moving the lineup, and putting runners on for the big hitters.

Two players the Royals should target this offseason to improve their walk rate

Brandon Lowe

The longtime Rays second baseman is having one of the best seasons of his career in his first year in Pittsburgh. The lefty was already known as one of the best power-hitting second basemen in baseball, and he hasn't stopped doing that, hitting 29 homers, the third most in his career, and 83 RBIs, the second most. One thing he has really improved this season is drawing walks.

Lowe has already drawn 54 walks this season, his second most in a single season. That equates to a 9.2 BB%, the 9th-best mark among qualified second basemen. Even though Lowe has struck out a lot this season, he would raise the ceiling of the entire offense, not just with the walks, but with his power too. Lowe is a free agent this offseason, but heading into his age-32 season, he should still be a contract the Royals can afford and should want to pursue.

Randy Arozarena

Another former Ray, who has spent the last few seasons in Seattle, the righty outfielder will also be a free agent this offseason and has one of the best walk rates among all outfielders. Arozarena's 10.0 BB% ranks 23rd among all qualified outfielders this season, and his .372 on-base percentage is 7th.

Royals outfielders have been closer to mid-pack with an 8.5 walk rate, but a player like Arozerena would help to boost that. The righty would also be an overall boost to the lineup as well. Next season will also be his age-32 season, and he will be one of the best free agent outfielders coming off a career high in bWAR, but if the Royals are serious about making a push during Bobby Witt's prime, they should target him.

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