4 key things to watch after KC Royals make 2 big roster cuts

The KC Royals tied the Angels 8-8 Wednesday night. That only-in-spring-training result notwithstanding, they've won 13 Cactus League games and lost 11 with five exhibition games left to play. But only the regular season counts, and that begins March 28 when Opening Day starter Cole Ragans throws the first pitch of the club's 2024 campaign.

Don't think, though, that those five games are meaningless. They're not. The Royals still have questions to answer and issues to resolve before the season begins, and manager Matt Quatraro, his coaches, and general manager J.J. Picollo will rely in part on data points those contests provide to finalize Kansas City's 26-man Opening Day roster.

The Royals took care of some personnel business after Wednesday evening's game, but in the process left open a burning rotation question — who will be their fifth starter?

Who's the final starter after KC cut Daniel Lynch IV and Anthony Veneziano?

The club announced it's sending Lynch and Veneziano to Triple-A Omaha. Lynch was clearly in the running for the fifth rotation spot and, considering his 2.77 ERA in five games, seemed well-positioned to land it. Veneziano wasn't as close — he pitched for the Royals late last season, but had given up seven runs, seven hits, and walked four in 6.1 innings this spring.

The moves probably improve Jordan Lyles' chances to retain his starting job, although Alec Marsh, who's struck out 17 and yielded only three runs (1.93 ERA), and has a 0.86 WHIP, could edge him out. And Lyles, troubled by a back issue this spring, has pitched only twice.

Deciding between Lyles and Marsh, or perhaps a third candidate, won't be easy.

Moving on to three other issues confronting the Royals...

Will the Royals carry three catchers on the roster?

In a certain sense, the immediate answer to this question could be "Yes" because MJ Melendez, the club's presumptive left fielder, was primarily a catcher until a couple of seasons ago. He hasn't caught a regular season game since last April, but could fill in behind the plate in an emergency.

The real question, of course, is whether Kansas City will decide to begin the season with Salvador Perez as its No. 1 catcher and Freddy Fermin as his only backup, an arrangement that seems the most logical and beneficial considering the plethora of players competing for the team's scarce bench spots.

But the Royals also have two big league veteran backstops in camp — Sandy León, who's playing on a minor league contract and a non-roster spring training invitation, and Austin Nola, who the club signed to a major league deal a few days after camp opened. León making the Opening Day roster has been a long shot from the beginning and, barring injuries to Perez and Fermin, isn't going to happen.

Nola has an outside chance, though. He's caught rotation newcomers Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo before, and their mutual familiarity might help, at least in the early stages of the season. But because roster room is at such a premium, and Nola has a minor league option left, look for him at Triple-A Omaha to open the season, with Melendez staying ready to catch if necessary.

Next issue...

Is there a reason not to put Nick Pratto on the Opening Day roster?

Pratto, who hasn't hit nearly as well in the majors as he did in the minors, presents the Royal brain trust with perhaps its most difficult decision of the spring. Simply put, he's forcing the club's hand, and its top decision-makers may have to work hard to justify sending him back to Triple-A.

If that's what they do.

Few, if any, players are making as solid a case to break camp with the big club as Pratto. He hit his third homer of the spring Tuesday night; that and the single he added boosted his Cactus League line to .412/.474/.765. He has more RBI (10) than any other Royal and is tied with Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez for the club home run lead. Spring training numbers, yes, but he's maintained that kind of excellent hitting all spring.

So it is that keeping him off the Opening Day roster won't be easy. His bat is too hot to ignore and suggests he can still be a force at the plate. He's a defensively-gifted first baseman, can hold his own if need be in the outfield corners and can, of course, take his turns at designated hitter.

Will Quatraro and Picollo find a place for him? That's what they have to figure out in the next few days.

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