3 players who are playing their way out of KC Royals' 2025 plans

Don’t blink now, KC Royals fans, but we’ve entered the final quarter of the 2024 MLB season. The past few months have been a rollercoaster at times, but the Royals have consistently surprised the baseball world by emerging as legitimate postseason contenders while building up young stars. With shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. locked up long-term, pitcher Cole Ragans coming into his own, and several free agency success stories, there’s plenty of excitement in Kansas City.

KC Royals roster changes aren't today, but these players have uncertain futures

As the season winds down, the reality is that tough roster decisions are looming. In previous years, these decisions were easier to make—when a team’s record is poor, it’s clear there are more underperforming players on the payroll than standouts. But when a roster is successful and competitive overall, that’s when the real work begins.

No matter how this final stretch of games unfolds, this period is crucial for players' individual stock to rise or fall. The clubhouse is rightly focused on the team’s performance, but let’s take a look at four players whose current play might see them wearing a different uniform in 2025.

All statistics are through Aug. 16, and provided by FanGraphs.

UTL Adam Frazier

When the Royals signed utilityman Adam Frazier to a two-year deal this offseason, the move was met with confusion across the board. Frazier was coming off a career year with the Baltimore Orioles, but he wasn’t seen as an immediate upgrade at any position for the Royals. Now, those who were skeptical of the move appear to have been on the right track.

Frazier has been a net negative in every facet of the game, also posting the first negative fWAR season of his nine-year career. There is still time to turn things around, but the lefty has dug himself a deep hole. His .211/.291/.296 slash line is a career-worst at each metric, while a 65 wRC+ only shows how far he is behind the average batter. He is not an everyday player, but appearing in 80 games with 239 plate appearances is still a hefty workload.

The Georgia native has single-handedly won two games for the Royals with his glove and his bat, demonstrating the talent and experience that can be valuable to Kansas City. However, his inconsistency in 2024 has been a major concern. This inconsistency alone should give the Royals pause when considering whether to pick up Frazier’s 2025 mutual option, worth $8.5 million. The $2.5 million buyout might be a small price to pay to avoid another season of struggles.

That said, Frazier’s performance at the plate has improved this month. He’s slashing .381/.435/.476 in nine August games through Aug. 16, marking his best monthly line of the season. While his overall 2024 campaign has been disappointing, a strong finish could make the decision to bring him back a bit more interesting.

RHP Michael Wacha

A team usually holds all the cards when it comes to roster decisions, but that’s not the case with starting pitcher Michael Wacha. The right-hander has all the leverage regarding his 2025 decision, and it’s possible he could depart Kansas City in favor of a long-term deal with another team.

The long-time St. Louis Cardinals pitcher joined the Royals this offseason, marking his fifth team since 2020. Wacha has steadily rebounded from his final year in St. Louis, improving his production and value with each team. The same holds true in Kansas City, where he has quietly been one of the key factors behind the rotation's improvement.

Wacha is following a similar script to his 2023 season, where he struggled early but delivered an elite second half. As of his Aug. 17 start, Wacha had rebounded to an 8-2 record with a 2.59 ERA across 14 starts, after beginning the season 0-4 with a 7.01 ERA. With late-season fatigue affecting All-Star Seth Lugo, Wacha has stepped up as the dependable, quality starter the team needs. While he may not overpower hitters with velocity, his baffling changeup and constant evolution showcase his competitive nature and ability to adapt.

That dependability, combined with his age of 33, positions Wacha well for one more potential payday. He has a player option for 2025 worth $16 million, but no one would fault him for opting out in pursuit of a multi-year deal with a similar annual value. While losing Wacha would undoubtedly be a blow for Kansas City, this was the gamble they took by offering him that option.