4 pitchers KC Royals should target if they lose Michael Wacha

KC Royals could focus on getting Michael Wacha back out of free agency

If Wacha declines his player option for 2025 and becomes a free agent, that doesn't necessarily mean the end of the road for a reunion with the Royals. Kansas City can still attempt to re-sign the star pitcher, though it will almost certainly cost them a substantial amount more than the $16 million player option would have.

Wacha made 29 regular-season starts for the Royals this year, posting a 13-8 record with a 3.35 ERA and 145 strikeouts in 166.2 innings. He made two starts during Kansas City's playoff campaign — one in the Wild Card series against the Baltimore Orioles and one in the ALDS against the New York Yankees — where he didn't fare quite so well, accumulating a 5.19 ERA in 8.2 innings.

There's no question that the Royals would be ecstatic to see Wacha back in the rotation next season, and general manager J. J. Picollo remains optimistic that it's a very real possibility.

"We would like to have him back," Picollo told the Kansas City Star's Jaylon Thompson on Monday. "There is no question, we would like to have him back... I do believe that Michael and his wife enjoy being in Kansas City and that’s always an advantage. He had a very good experience here. I think he and (Royals pitching coach) Brian Sweeney got along great. So there are reasons to be optimistic."

"But he pitched very well this year and he is going to have opportunities with other clubs, so we will work on that," Picollo continued. "Luckily, we have a few weeks to sit down with Michael and his representation and try to see how we can work something out."