3 positions the Royals need to invest in during free agency

The 2023 season has not been kind to KC Royals fans or the team, for that matter. The team remains on pace for the worst season record in team history, while the team's makeup harkens back to the mid-2000s Royals teams. Kauffman Stadium looks more and more empty as the season comes to a close. There is no clearer way to say this: this stinks.

The KC Royals need to buck the spending stigma and buy more talent in 2024.

At least the Royals have plenty of issues to address ahead of next season. There are many more if the team actually wants to improve. Zack Greinke may not be back, Salvador Perez could be moved this winter, and many more players could be departing Kansas City. That is a lot of coulds that might be shoulds.

The Royals get some leeway for their 2023 performance. There were never high expectations this season, and the front office consistently called this an evaluation season. Well, this season's evaluation needs to cause change ahead of next season. That change should be primarily on the personnel side, rather than the coaching or front office staff. Coaching can only help so much, and the Royals have been operating with a talent deficiency for years now. For every Bobby Witt Jr., there is a Hunter Dozier or a Matt Beaty.

The Royals need to be active buyers this upcoming offseason if they want to regain the fanbase's attention and trust. The Royals increased their free agent spending last year, but that netted them two players they traded, including the maligned Jordan Lyles. That free agency group was not indicative of a team looking to win more games but rather one to simply maintain the status quo.

All that being said, there are three positions the Royals need to spend resources on this offseason. It doesn't have to be top-tier talent, but more talent nonetheless.

Starting pitching

The Royals needed starting pitching help, which seems like a broken record. That goes for multiple other teams, so it seems Kansas City gets priced out of the market quickly. They need to up their budget this year and get some clear help in the rotation's upper half.

Cole Ragans has been sensational since coming to Kansas City and could be the team's Opening Day starter next year. But, outside of him, the rotation consists of underwhelming options or question marks. Greinke will likely not return, everyone knows Lyle's results, plus the Royals should explore trading Brady Singer this offseason. That leaves guys like Alec Marsh and Angel Zerpa in line for starts. They are both young and have intriguing tools, but they are negatives in Kansas City's rotation.

There are plenty of good-news prospects in the Royals minor leagues. Players like Ben Kudrna, Frank Mozzicato, and Chandler Champlain could all contribute to the rotation in 2024 or 2025, but they should not be relied upon to start the season. The Royals have glaring holes as to who their second or third arm in the rotation will be, and the farm system cannot provide that help yet.

Like every offseason, there are some very good arms available on the open market. Shohei Ohtani will likely fetch the largest contract in MLB history, while Marcus Stroman and Julio Urias will be big fish for contenders. Could Kansas City use one of those three or any other top-tier pitchers? Only a sadist would say no. But the Royals pursuit of any top pitchers is unlikely. That doesn't mean they can't help the rotation greatly.

Pitchers like Jordan Montgomery and Seth Lugo may not be headline targets, but they still improve the Royals' rotation greatly. Both are in line for multiyear deals that should be well within the Royals' price range. Plus, there are pitchers out there who need to rehab their image and could join Kansas City on a team-friendly deal. Lucas Giolito and German Marquez come to mind as pitchers with injury woes or uncharacteristically poor performances that decrease a pitcher's value.

Realistic free agency options: Frankie Montas, Jordan Montgomery, German Marquez

Left outfielder

The emergence of Nelson Velazquez should have fans feeling good about the Royals outfield in 2024. The future could well look like this:

LF - Nelson Velazquez
CF - Kyle Isbel
RF - Drew Waters.

That looks like a great group. But Royals fans saw how much Isbel and Waters suffering injuries held this team back. The Royals should learn that lesson by adding a quality fourth outfielder, preferably one in left field.

Players like MJ Melendez, Nick Pratto, and Edward Olivares saw extensive work out in left field. But none of those players were average fielders. That weakness hurt the Royals pitching staff greatly, as evident by the team's difference between their ERA and FIP. The .48 difference does not sound like much, but it is the third-largest in all of MLB. For all the great defenders the Royals have on the roster, there are some of the league's worst as well.

The Royals can avoid making another veteran flier miss, as they did with Franmil Reyes and Jackie Bradley Jr., by signing a glove-first, consistent batter. Players like Eddie Rosario and Travis Jankowski could come from contending teams and be dependable leaders in the outfield. Plus, they both have above-average defensive abilities and bats that play well in Kauffman Stadium.

Hi, Jacob here with a crazier idea. I really like Kevin Kiermaier coming to Kansas City. He would really push Isbel in center field and provide some solid competition. But he could just bring his glove to center and push Isbel to the left, or vice versa. It may not be likely, but it fills the outfield with above-average gloves and playable bats.

Realistic free agency options: Travis Jankowski, Eddie Rosario, Kevin Kiermaier