3 players the KC Royals may regret losing this offseason

Edward Olivares

Yes, yes, the Olivares experience was a wild ride during 2023. His defense was atrocious in left field, as he played a career-high 107 games for the Royals. The team wrecked his progression in previous seasons, yo-yoing him from Kansas City to Omaha. 2023 was supposed to be the year he put it all together and took his place as an everyday outfielder.

That was not the case, and Olivares' defensive woes made him expendable this offseason. The Royals traded him to the Pittsburgh Pirates for minor-league utilityman Deivis Nadal in December. That trade also opened up a 40-man roster spot for free-agent reliever Chris Stratton in Kansas City's opening free-agent flurry.

Royals fans shouldn't be mad about the trade, but there is room to wonder what he could have done with another year. The Pirates desperately needed another outfielder, and Olivares should be in the mix for plenty of starts. His bat will certainly keep him in the running. Royals fans did not realize how good his bat was down the season's stretch.

Among Royals with at least 100 plate appearances in the season's second half, Olivares' 138 wRC+ only trailed shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. His .41 BB/K also ranked second in that split, as Olivares recorded a .355 on-base percentage. Olivares was still not average on the field, but his bat looked great and outweighed his shortcomings.

Olivares is earning $1.35 million with the Pirates this year, a palatable financial number. The Royals could have retained him and used the Hunter Renfroe contract money on another position of need. But the move is done. It remains to be seen if Kansas City offloaded Olivares at the right time or if they missed out on more.

Zack Greinke

Despite his less-than-stellar performance in 2023, Zack Greinke's potential return for the 2024 season has left baseball fans eagerly anticipating his fate. While he expressed his desire to continue playing, it remains uncertain if the Royals will give him another opportunity or if he will explore other options.

Greinke remains unsigned this offseason, instead making headlines for respectfully roasting former Minnesota Twins player Trevor Plouffe while on vacation. The 40-year-old starter deserves a break after his 30 appearances in 2023. The elder statesman of Kansas City's rotation regressed slightly but still logged 142⅓ innings with a 4.74 FIP. Greinke is far from his Cy Young form, but he served a valuable role in Kansas City.

Kansas City's pitching staff last season was one of the youngest in franchise history. His ability to be a mentor was one reason why Greinke returned to Kansas City in the first place. He is one of the best Royals pitchers ever and sets a veteran example for Royals players. Free agent acquisitions Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo raise the bar for this rotation while also bringing in two veterans. Their presence and performance may have pushed Greinke out of the Royals' plans.

Despite his age, Greinke's performance in the 2023 season proved that he still has some gas left in the tank. While his numbers may not be as impressive as they once were, his experience and leadership on the mound cannot be overlooked. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Greinke and whether or not he will continue to don a Royals uniform.