3 tough truths about the 2023 KC Royals fans don't want to hear

The KC Royals return to Kauffman Stadium this weekend to close out a disappointing 2023 season. The team ended the season on a high note, posting their first winning month since April 2021 and the first winning month in the season's second half since 2018.

KC Royals fans, these truths are not easy to acknowledge.

There are several developments that Royals fans should watch for this offseason. Kansas City's front office seems to be all-in on moving forward with a new stadium plan this winter, but that is not what fans are worried most about.

This team could be active on the trade market after October passes and move on from players like catcher Salvador Perez or pitcher Brady Singer. The Royals need to earn fans' trust back with notable additions this offseason and invest more into one of the league's smallest 2024 payrolls. Fans hope that comes via starting rotation help or perhaps a massive extension for shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. We shall have to see.

That is all speculation. Any fan, writer, or talking head can speculate after the season concludes. These are some tough truths that Royals fans need to acknowledge and consider heading into 2024.

Salvy's on-field contributions are average at best.

Let's rip the Band-Aid off here. Perez is a Royals legend and the last remaining link to the 2015 World Championship team. But Perez is declining in several areas of the game, and 2023 saw him reach new lows.

Perez enters the season's final homestand with -.3 wins above replacement. That is a miniscule margin, but is still a far cry from his 3.2 WAR in 2021 and even his ..5 WAR in 2022. If he finishes the season in the negative, this will be the first such time in Perez's career. There is a first for everything, but this is not a favorable one for the smiling Salvy.

I get it. Salvy is a fan favorite, with his infectious positivity and free-swinging pop. But, that is just good will. That should not prevent Royals fans from seeing that this is not the Salvy of previous years, but rather one on the decline, with an enormous contract, and serious health concerns.

Perez has been an atrocious hitter since his historic May performance. Since June 1, Perez has a .632 OPS and 65 wRC+. Remember, 100 wRC+ represents an average MLB hitter. The walks are down, the strikeouts are up in that span as well. Nothing, whether the eye test or stats, shows Salvy is a positive contributor to this Royals squad.

Maikel Garcia's ceiling is closer to Nicky Lopez than Bobby Witt Jr.

There is no rookie from 2023 that I am more skeptical about their long-term prospects than third baseman Maikel Garcia. The 23-year-old infielder made his promotion undeniable and he returned to The Show in early May. Since then, he has played Gold Glove-caliber defense at third, but I cannot see him being a franchise cornerstone like many fans do.

Garcia came up through the minors like many Royals prospects do. He was a glove-first shortstop, reflecting his cousin and former Royal Alcides Escobar. A sudden power surge in 2022 skyrocketed his prospect status. Combine that with inept play at third base earlier this season, fans clamored to see more of the Venezuelan.

Royals fans had their wish answered. Garcia will play more than 120 games in 2023, 100 of them being at third base. the natural shortstop's glove translated nicely to third, considering he leads all American League third basemen with 12 outs above average and a 4% success rate added. He was not too shabby at the plate either, posting a .275 batting average at the top of the Royals lineup.

A Gold Glove-caliber defender, high-contact batter batting leadoff, with decent speed on the basepaths? Who does that remind you of, namely from 2021?

Everything about 2023 Garcia mirrors 2021 Nicky Lopez is too close for my comfort. The style is eerily similar and the production edge still goes to 2021 Lopez. At least Lopez's production at the plate still landed him above league average in 2021, with a 104 wRC+.

Garcia is well below that mark this season, currently sitting at 86 wRC+. That does not make Garcia a bad player considering his work in the field. But, the fact remains that Garcia is not a perfect player and lacks the superstar potential that other Royals have.

Royals fans need to temper their expectations regarding Garcia. He has been a notably worse batter in the season's second half and posted an overall negative win percentage added. The numbers say that Garcia is not a sure thing, and could be a flameout candidate a la Nicky Lopez.