The Kansas City Royals missed the playoffs in 2025 and finished with an 82-80 record. This marked the first time since the 2014 and 2015 seasons the Royals had a winning record in back-to-back campaigns. With the Royals looking to get back to the postseason for the second time in three years, what moves did Royals General Manager J.J. Picollo make during the offseason to improve the team?
On November 4th, the first major move of the offseason was signing franchise legend Salvador Perez to a two-year, $25 million contract that will keep Perez in Kansas City until 2027.
On November 11th, the Royals traded minor league pitcher Logan Martin to the Giants for 25-year-old pitcher Mason Black. Black has a 6.47 ERA in 40.1 innings so far in his major league career.
On November 20th, The Royals signed 30-year-old right-handed reliever Alex Lange to a major league contract. Lange, who went to high school in Lee’s Summit, was injured for most of the 2025 season, but had a 3.70 ERA for the Tigers from 2021-2024. Lange figures to be a factor in the Royals bullpen.
On December 11th, the Royals signed free agent outfield Lane Thomas to a 1-year, $5.25 million contract. Thomas is a 30-year-old outfielder who hit .160 with a .518 OPS last year with the Cleveland Guardians. The Royals are hoping Thomas bounces back to closer to his career averages after a rough 2025 season.
On December 12th, the Royals signed another one of their home-grown players by giving INF Maikel Garcia a five-year contract worth $57.5 million. Garcia had a breakout campaign in 2025 which saw him make the all-star team, win a gold glove, and finish the season with a .286 batting average and 16 home runs. Garcia figures to be the Royals long-term answer at third base.
On December 13th, the Royals made arguably their biggest move of the offseason by trading reliever Angel Zerpa to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for outfielder Isaac Collins and reliever Nick Mears. Collins comes to the Royals after finishing fourth in rookie of the year voting in 2025 and hit .263/.368/.411/.779 with nine home runs and 16 stolen bases. Collins could start in left field for the Royals for the next several seasons, while Mears is another solid arm in Manager Matt Quatraro’s bullpen.
On December 19th, the Royals traded minor league pitcher Jonathan Bowlan to the Phillies for pitcher Matt Strahm. Strahm, now 32 years old, finished last season with a 2.74 ERA for the Phillies and pitched for the Royals from 2016-2017 before having a breakout season with the Padres in 2018. Royals fans are likely happy to see Strahm get another chance in Kansas City.
Other minor transactions made during the 2025-2026 offseason include trading for former Mizzou outfielder Kameron Misner, releasing pitchers Sam Long and Kyle Wright, and non-tendering outfielder M.J. Melendez and relief pitcher Taylor Clarke.