5 indispensable pieces of the Royals future, 2 players on the discard pile

The Kansas City Royals find themselves in an interesting offseason. Most fans and analysts would say this team isn't far from competing in a weak American League Central, but after back-to-back years with winning records, they fell back to well below .500 in 2026.

There certainly are positives to take away from Royals' season, though. A core of players has started to emerge around Bobby Witt Jr., which is highly encouraging. What J.J. Picollo needs to do now is figure out who needs to stick around and who needs to be replaced so Kansas City can get back to the playoffs.

Who are the Royals' indispensable pieces heading into the 2026-27 offseason?

Royals already-established: Bobby Witt Jr., Jac Caglianone, and Carter Jensen

Just to get these players out of the way, because they all should be untouchable this offseason. Witt isn’t going anywhere; everyone knows that. First baseman Jac Caglianone and catcherCarter Jensen put themselves in the spotlight this season.

Trusted veterans: Maikel Garcia and Vinnie Pasquantino

Maikel Garcia will be around him for the foreseeable future after receiving a long-term extension last offseason. Vinnie Pasquantino is in the most precarious spot among the group, but he's shown middle-of-the-order potential and looked good when healthy this season. The Royals need to see a full season of him healthy, with the other four players already mentioned, before they make a decision regarding his future.

Emerging starter: Noah Cameron

Noah Cameron has emerged as a potential top-of-the-rotation arm for the Royals over the last two seasons. An extremely impressive 2025 saw him post a sub-3.00 ERA in 24 starts. While his full season numbers in 2026 weren't as impressive, he had a 3.36 ERA across 15 starts in July, August, and September. With Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo on the downslopes of their careers, Cameron is someone the front office can trust to be a mid-rotation starter, if not better.

Which two Royals players should be on their way out of Kansas City?

Cole Ragans time is up

Lefty Cole Ragans' 2024 season was electric, and it looked like Kansas City had their ace of the future. But injuries have completely derailed his career. Over the last two seasons, Ragans has made 21 starts, hasn't broken 100 innings pitched, and has a 4.73 ERA. While underlying metrics like FIP suggest it hasn't been as bad, it might be time for the Royals to cut bait.

The Royals are in need of an overhaul to the pitching staff. Wacha and Lugo are under contract, so they are guaranteed spots, and Cameron has earned his, but they need to figure out the other two spots.

Betting on Ragans — who won't be back until mid-season due to UCL surgery — to get back to his form isn't what they should be doing. Even though he has a guaranteed contract this season, a team with more flexibility for risk would take on the $7.5 million he is owed in a heartbeat. The Royals don't have that type of flexibility, and shouldn't be relying on him.

Daniel Lynch's tenure as a starting pitcher

Daniel Lynch hasn't worked out as a starter, and the Royals need to keep it that way. In 12 starts in the last two seasons, Lynch has an ERA north of six and has a negative fWAR. In over 100 relief appearances in the last two seasons, his ERA is 2.63, and in 2026 it was 1.96.

The Royals need to fix their bullpen, and Lynch has shown he can handle coming in in relief. It would be one less spot to fill this offseason, so they need to stop trying him as a starter.

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