4 upcoming KC Royals free agents who have been good but don't need to be re-signed

The KC Royals-Garrett Hampson pairing should be short lived

The Royals needed more veteran reinforcements this offseason, rather than relying solely on internal improvement. That seemed to be the rationale behind Picollo’s decision to sign utilityman Garrett Hampson. His one-year deal wasn’t a major financial commitment, but it was puzzling then—and remains so as the season winds down.

The Long Beach State product had a career year with the Miami Marlins in 2023, posting a .729 OPS over 98 games. The hope was that the 29-year-old had turned a corner after several quiet years with the Colorado Rockies. However, Hampson has largely regressed at the plate. Whether it’s his high strikeout rate or a career-low ISO for a contact-first player, there hasn’t been much to celebrate from his bat.

Yet, for every defensive misplay or TOOTBLAN, there are still moments that remind us Hampson has contributed to Kansas City’s wins this season.

Hampson does provide manager Matt Quatraro with a versatile right-handed bat, capable of playing nearly any position. As of Sept. 7, he’s appeared at every position except catcher. However, many of those appearances have come after pinch-hitting, where he’s struggled significantly, slashing just .100/.182/.150 with a -8 wRC+—yes, negative.

While there isn’t a clear, surefire upgrade over Hampson within the Royals' organization for 2025, the combination of internal options and a deeper free-agent market suggests Kansas City can find an improvement. Hampson’s glove and baserunning are assets, but his bat and occasional mistakes make it unlikely that fans will be advocating for his return next season.

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