4 good free agent fits for KC Royals that are somehow still available

The MLB offseason is winding down and spring training camps open in just a few weeks, but it's hard to ignore the holes that still exist in the Kansas City Royals' roster. After starting the winter with a bang by re-signing starter Michael Wacha and acquiring second baseman Jonathan India from the Cincinnati Reds, the Royals' fell quiet, and though they've been more active lately, there are plenty of upgrades that could still be made.

The list of names left on the free agent market continues to shrink each day, but that doesn't mean there aren't still players who would fit the Royals' needs before 2025. With that in mind, here are four free agents that Kansas City should consider adding to the roster before Opening Day.

Carlos Estévez, RHP

After their disappointing performance in 2024, it's hardly a secret that the Royals' bullpen could use significant bolstering before this season. Last year, Kansas City's relief corps ranked 20th in MLB with a 4.13 ERA and last in strikeouts at 463, but still, the team is yet to acquire a high-leverage arm to boost the group's performance or set up closer Lucas Erceg.

The Royals have been linked to a number of relievers this winter — including Kirby Yates before the Dodgers snapped him up earlier this week — but the team is yet to pounce, and the list of available bullpen arms is rapidly shrinking. Fortunately, right-hander Carlos Estévez is one of the few pitchers left on the market, and he could be exactly what the Royals need.

The Athletic listed Estévez as the 28th top free agent of the 2024-25 winter, and coming off a career-best season, it's easy to see why. The 32-year-old started last season with the Los Angeles Angels, and compiled a 2.38 ERA, 0.74 WHIP, 32 strikeouts, and 20 saves in 34 innings of work before being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies at the deadline. Estévez pitched 21 innings for the Phillies before the end of the regular season, posting a 2.57 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 18 strikeouts, and 6 saves.

Admittedly, Estévez may be a regression risk. His ERA between the Angels and Phillies last year was an impressive 2.45, but his career ERA sits at 4.21, and prior to 2024, the lowest ERA he'd managed was 3.47 in 2022. Still, there's no denying that his 2024 campaign was strong, and if he can even come close to those stats again, he'll be a worthy addition to the Royals' bullpen.

Randal Grichuk, OF

Going into the offseason, the Royals knew that improving the offensive production from their outfield needed to be a priority, and yet, no new addition has been made. As a result, Kansas City is set to line up MJ Melendez, Kyle Isbel, and Hunter Renfroe as their everyday outfielders this season, and considering not one of them managed an OPS over .700 in 2024, that's not particularly inspiring news.

With Teoscar Hernández, Anthony Santander, and Jurickson Profar now signed with new teams, the list of free agent outfielders for the Royals to target is rapidly shrinking, but one player worth considering is Randal Grichuk. Going into his 12th season in the majors, Grichuk is looking to join the sixth team of his career, having previously played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Angels, and — most recently — the Arizona Diamondbacks.

After being placed on waivers by the Angels at the end of 2023, Grichuk signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Diamondbacks before the 2024 season to step in as Joc Pederson's platoon partner. Mostly utilized against left-handed pitching, Grichuk proved himself to be one of the season's best platoon outfielders, batting .291/.348/.528 with 12 home runs and 46 RBI in 279 plate appearances, including a .319/.386/.528 line against left-handers.

Considering his impressive stats last year, Grichuk is almost certain to see a significant pay rise this season, but the 33-year-old will still be one of the more affordable outfielders to hit the market this winter. Just Baseball's Ryan Finkelstein predicted Grichuk would secure a one-year, $12 million deal out of free agency, though Spotrac is far more conservative in their projection, putting his market value at two years and $6.6 million.

Mark Canha, OF

Another outfielder worth considering is 35-year-old Mark Canha, who would be by far the most budget-friendly option on this list. In fact, Spotrac projects Canha will land an affordable one-year, $2.5 million contract for 2025, making the veteran an extremely cost-effective target for the Royals.

Of course, you get what you pay for, and Canha isn't as strong at the plate as most other options the Royals have looked into this winter. In 462 plate appearances split between the Detroit Tigers and San Francisco Giants last year, Canha posted a .242/.344/.346 line with 7 home runs and 42 RBI, marking one of the worst offensive seasons of his career. It's worth noting that against left-handed pitchers, Canha's slashline was a far more respectable .275/.380/.394 in 109 plate appearances, meaning that utilizing him in a platoon role would likely be the best way to ensure his reliability moving forward.

Now a free agent, Canha is looking to find his fourth team in less than two years, and the sixth team of his career. With five playoff campaigns under his belt, Canha has a lot of experience that could benefit the Royals' clubhouse, and for a projected payroll hit of just $2.5 million, Kansas City could desperately use the outfield depth, even if he's just used as a platoon bat.

Alex Bregman, 3B

Alex Bregman was ranked 7th on The Athletic's list of the top 50 free agents available this winter, and yet, the Gold Glove Award winner is still on the market with mere weeks until spring training. In 624 plate appearances in 2024, Bregman slashed .260/.315/.453 with 26 home runs and 75 RBI for the Houston Astros, but despite the two-time World Series champion being an obvious offensive upgrade on the Royals' Maikel Garcia at third base, Kansas City has reportedly not shown much interest in his services this winter — if any at all.

"The Royals are not "in" on Bregman," The Athletic's Jim Bowden wrote on November 29. "Their trade for Jonathan India solved their leadoff and infield need. They will not make an offer for Bregman, according to team sources."

Now, a lot has happened since the end of November, and the fact that the Royals were out on Bregman before the Winter Meetings doesn't necessarily mean they're still against the idea of adding him to the roster. Despite a clear goal of adding a middle-of-the-order power bat to the lineup, Kansas City hasn't made a big move to bolster the offense, so it's certainly not out of the question for the team to start reconsidering players they previously ruled out.

The biggest concern with signing Bregman is the cost. The Astros reportedly offered him a six-year, $156 million deal (AAV of $26 million) to return to Houston, and the fact that he turned it down proves he's looking for an even bigger pay day than that would've provided. Just Baseball's Ryan Finkelstein has predicted Bregman will secure a six-year, $168 million contract (AAV of $28 million) this winter, while Spotrac projects his market value will earn him a four-year, $120 million deal (AAV of $30 million).

Anything close to those projections will be out of the Royals' budget, but as spring training draws closer, perhaps Bregman will settle for a shorter deal. Admittedly, even a one- or two-year deal will be a huge hit to the team's payroll, but if Kansas City is serious about winning a championship, Bregman would be a major addition to the roster.