KC Royals: 5 sensible 40-man roster cuts for today

The KC Royals can can drop an infielder and an outfielder to free 40-man space.

Although he played more games in the outfield and at designated hitter than he did at any infield position, Kansas lists Ryan O’Hearn as an infielder on its 40-man. So be it, at least for present purposes: whatever he may or may not be position-wise, O’Hearn is a prime candidate to be cut.

The reasons why are clear. He’s losing a war with big league pitching and has nowhere to play.

It wasn’t so long ago, 2018 to be precise, that O’Hearn burst onto the Royal scene with 12 home runs and 30 RBIs, and a .262 average, .353 OBP and 154 OPS+ in 44 games. He clubbed 14 homers the next season, but hit only .195, a dismal average he repeated in 2020. O’Hearn improved this season to .225, but homered only nine times.

Those aren’t the numbers of an everyday major leaguer. O’Hearn isn’t the best choice for Kansas City’s uncertain right field spot and Adalberto Mondesi will cut into whatever DH time the Royals might consider for him. O’Hearn is, in a word, expendable.

Despite an excellent season at Triple-A Omaha, outfielder Edward Olivares is another logical choice to trim from the 40-man. He slashed .313/.397/.559 and hit 15 homers in 66 games for the Storm Chasers, stats that commended him to a solid shot at the majors, but the Royals recalled and then optioned him seven times. He finished with five homers and hit .238, and doesn’t appear to be a fixture in the club’s plans.