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With roster moves looming, who will the KC Royals cut?

Some key Kansas City players will need roster space.

By Mike Gillespie |
/ Peter Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
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Typically at this point in the major league season, KC Royals general manager J.J. Picollo's focus would be on the upcoming July 30 trade deadline. That's especially true this year — instead of contemplating what prospects he can net from contending clubs looking to trade for stretch run help, Picollo finds himself pondering who the Royals can trade to snare playoff race aid of their own.

Of more immediate concern, however, is determining who Kansas City will trim from its 26-man roster to make room for three key players — starting pitcher Michael Wacha, second baseman Michael Massey, and outfielder Hunter Renfroe — when they each return from the Injured List. Rejoining the club doesn't seem far off for any of them.

(What about Kris Bubic, you might ask? Don't be surprised if the Royals, to be safe, seek another, and final, 10-day extension of his pos-Tommy John Surgery rehab assignment. Even if they don't, it seems likely they'll option him to Triple-A Omaha when his second extension expires next week, negating any big league roster move urgency).

Wacha, you'll recall, has been out of action since fracturing a toe May 31, Massey is on his second trip to the IL after back problems struck him again a few days before Wacha went down, and a bone bruise (originally diagnosed as a broken toe) sidelined Renfroe June 10.

The good news is that Wacha was excellent Monday in his first rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League, Massey is 3-for-8 three games into his rehab stint with Omaha, and MLB.com KC beat writer Anne Rogers suggested Tuesday that Renfroe could soon be back.

Who will the Royals move out when those three move back in?

Making room for Michael Massey

This one could be easy. Nick Loftin, who the club recalled from Omaha to take Massey's place, is the most logical choice. He hit his first big league home run Tuesday night against Oakland, is hitting .250 since being called back to KC, and has only a double and that homer to show for his last seven games. To Loftin's credit, he's batting .282 with a .408 OBP this month, but that he's the player filling in for Massey doesn't bode well for him when it's time for Massey to return.

Making room for Hunter Renfroe

Had the Royals been in this injury-related situation a month ago, they might have considered avoiding cutting another player by letting Renfroe go. After all, he was slashing an awful .153/.228/.250 through May 19.

But Renfroe's fortunes at the plate have improved considerably. Suddenly on fire, he's homered three times, doubled seven, driven in 11 runs, and put together an impressive .326/.392/.674 line since May 20. And in June, he's 7-for-18 with six RBI and a 1.254 OPS in six games.

That's the kind if production the club hoped it was getting when it signed Renfroe in December, so there's no chance Picollo lets him go ... at least not until the trade deadline gets closer, if even then.

So, who gets bumped for Renfroe? If Renfroe could return as soon as Rogers suggests, the Royals might be wise to keep third-string catcher Austin Nola, who they recalled from Omaha to back up Freddy Fermin until Salvador Perez's knee recovers sufficiently for him to resume regular duty behind the plate, then send him back down when Renfroe gets back. Kansas City can get by with two catchers when Perez completely shakes his knee issue, which is a better option considering the club probably doesn't want to part ways with Dairon Blanco or Garrett Hampson.

Making room for Michael Wacha

Sending out a pitcher to clear 26-man roster space for another hurler makes the most sense for Kansas City. Wacha will undoubtedly return to the starting rotation, but because the Royals really didn't find a suitable replacement for him in the rota — Daniel Lynch IV didn't get the job done there, Dan Altavilla didn't come through in his one shot as an opener in Wacha's slot, and manager Matt Quatraro took the opportunity Monday's off day provided to skip what would have been Wacha's spot.

Who should Picollo choose to slice from the active roster when Wacha's ready to return?

Unless things change considerably, Carlos Hernández is a prime candidate. The Royals have optioned him once this season, and although his 2.45 ERA is commendable, it covers only 3.2 innings. He pitched 67 times last year, but his 10 losses were simply too many for a reliever.

Altavilla is another option. He's suffered a loss and allowed six runs in the 3.2 innings he's worked since being called up from Omaha 10 days ago. And he left Wednesday night's game at Oakland after appearing to injure his side or back, and seemed to be in quite a bit of pain. Should he require time on the IL, the Royals would be in position to replace him with Wacha, which would allow them to keep Hernández or anyone else they contemplated moving to open space for him.

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