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

With plenty of baseball still ahead, the stakes are higher than ever for the KC Royals. Right now, every personnel choice holds more weight—each trade, free-agent signing, and internal promotion could be the key to clinching a postseason spot. As the Royals set their sights on October, every move matters in the drive to return to playoff baseball.

The Royals moved decisively at the trade deadline, but especially before September began. Their last-minute acquisitions of Tommy Pham, Robbie Grossman, and Yuli Gurriel have positioned them as one of the most improved teams post-trade deadline. Royals general manager J.J. Picollo and Kansas City's front office have had more hits than misses on their player additions in the past calendar year. However, that doesn't mean every player should return for Opening Day 2025.

There are months of hot stove rumors and eye-popping contracts ahead, but the Royals have some tough decisions to make. Here are four current players whose time in Kansas City should end when their contracts expire.

Robbie Grossman with the KC Royals is a short-term solution

Grossman was a solid waiver addition before August ended, but there's little indication he'll have a role in 2025 or beyond. In limited opportunities with his new team, he's slashing .333/.500/.333. The California native isn’t known for hitting home runs, but he consistently puts the ball in play and draws plenty of walks. In short, he keeps the line moving.

Grossman can be a valuable bat further down the lineup, but with a healthy Vinnie Pasquantino or another bat-first addition next year, his role starts to feel redundant. He’s a short-term solution for the postseason push, not a long-term answer for 2025.

Will Smith's second KC Royals stint has been forgettable

If there's a no-brainer addition to this list, it has to be veteran reliever Will Smith. When Kansas City brought him back, his projected role as the team’s closer put him squarely in the spotlight. However, consistent early-season struggles quickly pushed him out of that role. The Royals turned to other options while Smith searched for his footing in the bullpen.

Eventually, Smith settled into a middle-innings role, keeping the Royals in games long enough for the closer of the moment to take over. While he had a solid run in that position, he was far from flawless. He posted an impressive 0.96 ERA in June over 10 games and carried that momentum into July. His rebound in this role even had some fans calling for him to be tested in higher-leverage situations to see if the 35-year-old lefty would sink or swim.

Unfortunately, Smith's performance in August took a nosedive. Following his Aug. 25 outing against the Philadelphia Phillies, Kansas City placed him on the 15-day IL with lower back spasms. Whether Royals fans will see him again this season remains uncertain, but the Royals might be better off without him.

While Smith's career since leaving Kansas City in 2013 has been impressive, with World Series rings to show for it, his return to the Royals has been nothing short of a disaster. Every bullpen needs low-leverage arms, but Smith may not even be fit for that role in 2025. That’s a gamble the Royals can’t afford to take next season.

Paul DeJong has the KC Royals best ROI this trade deadline

The right-handed slugger has proven to be one of the best buy-low trade acquisitions at this year’s MLB trade deadline. The Royals gave up only a productive but underdeveloped Low-A reliever to acquire DeJong from the Chicago White Sox. A longtime St. Louis Cardinals player, DeJong went from the league’s worst team to a playoff race overnight, and his performance has reflected that sense of urgency.

Since joining the Royals, the Florida native is slashing .250/.309/.500, with six home runs and a .809 OPS. While he’s prone to striking out frequently, his power tends to show up at the most opportune moments.

The reality is that DeJong's current performance is an outlier, starkly contrasting his play since 2020. From 2020 to 2023, he’s been a below-average hitter, though his 102 wRC+ right now finally mirrors his early years with the Cardinals. There’s a reason the Royals are DeJong’s fifth team since Opening Day 2023—he’s an incredibly volatile hitter with significant swing-and-miss issues.

Batting in the heart of Kansas City’s lineup, DeJong will play a role in any postseason success the Royals find. However, that shouldn’t distort the reality that Kansas City doesn’t need to retain or re-sign him. This offseason gives Picollo and his team a chance to upgrade at third base, DeJong’s primary position since joining the Royals. Settling for a full season of DeJong would be a shortsighted and uninspired move.