The Kansas City Royals: A Beacon of Hope in Major League Baseball
The Kansas City Royals embody a refreshing narrative in the landscape of Major League Baseball, not merely because they are a small-market team striving for postseason glory, nor solely due to the brilliance of Bobby Witt Jr., one of the sport’s most promising young talents. Rather, the Royals serve as a quintessential example of what every Major League franchise should aspire to achieve: a commitment to improvement and competitiveness.
This past offseason, the Royals made a bold statement by investing nearly $110 million in free agent acquisitions. While these moves were appreciated, they didn’t capture significant national attention, especially when compared to the Texas Rangers’ staggering half-billion dollar spending spree on two players before the 2022 season or the fervent chase for Shohei Ohtani. Coming off a dismal 106-loss season, the Royals recognized the urgent need to enhance their roster quickly. They understood that relying solely on player development and amateur scouting would not suffice; hence, they proactively supplemented their ranks through free agency, bringing in over half a dozen players. Now, with a winning season already secured, they stand on the brink of clinching a postseason berth, potentially as soon as this week.
Is this approach revolutionary? Not particularly. However, in today’s game, it is certainly rare.
“Sometimes you need that slap upside the head, right?” Royals owner John Sherman remarked to the media this spring.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen, but we cannot tolerate something like that again for our fans.”
Every owner in the league has the financial capacity to replicate the Royals’ offseason strategy. They displayed aggressiveness without recklessness, further bolstering their roster at the trade deadline and throughout the last month via the waiver wire. Yet, few teams have embraced this approach.
Despite MLB’s efforts to combat the ongoing issue of tanking, encouraging teams to consistently strive for success remains a significant challenge. J.J. Picollo, the Royals’ executive vice president and general manager, has successfully differentiated his organization from others in the league.
Witt’s stellar season, where he is projected to exceed 10 fWAR, would typically make him a frontrunner for the American League MVP award, were it not for Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees. This follows a spring in which Sherman approved an 11-year, $288.8 million contract extension for the young star, which could eventually total $377 million over 14 years. This deal marks the most lucrative in franchise history. If Kansas City, one of baseball’s smallest markets, can achieve this, why can’t other teams follow suit?
While many teams are downsizing their departments and laying off personnel — with reports indicating that a number of teams made cuts to their scouting and player development divisions last week alone — the Royals have chosen a different path. Over the past two years since Picollo took charge, Kansas City has restructured its scouting departments under new leadership, modernized its operations, and fostered a positive culture.
The Royals have embraced data analytics, adding six new members to their research and development team, including a new director. They have combined this data-driven approach with traditional baseball expertise by hiring individuals with varied backgrounds. Picollo, who was promoted internally following Dayton Moore’s departure, has welcomed external talent, including manager Matt Quatraro, with whom he had no prior relationship. Quatraro has gained recognition for guiding the team’s turnaround, characterized by a curious mindset and a willingness to innovate.
Interestingly, these leaders are not just young Ivy League graduates; both Picollo and Quatraro played minor league baseball and are in their 50s. Perhaps the new market efficiency lies in doing things just a bit differently, zigging while others zag, even if it’s not entirely uncharted territory.
These Royals, despite their successful modernization efforts, excel at the fundamentals. They boast the second-lowest strikeout rate in the league, with only the San Diego Padres performing worse, and they rank among the best defenses, thereby enhancing a competent pitching staff.
From the outset of the last offseason, the Royals had their sights set on pitchers Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha, not because they were the top talents available or possessed dominant stuff, but because they fit specific criteria. Lugo made the All-Star team this year and is in the running for Cy Young consideration, while Wacha has a remarkable record of 9-1 with a 2.67 ERA and a 71-to-20 strikeout-to-walk ratio since July.
At 52-45 at the start of the second half, Picollo and his team did not hesitate to act quickly, unlike many other clubs that hesitated when not leading their divisions. Instead, they doubled down after some of their offseason relief options underperformed. Kansas City acquired Hunter Harvey from Washington two weeks before the trade deadline and also added Oakland’s Lucas Erceg, as well as swingman Michael Lorenzen and infielder Paul DeJong. When first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino was sidelined, Picollo swiftly brought in three players off waivers: Yuli Gurriel, Tommy Pham, and Robbie Grossman, incurring only cash costs. The immediate benefits were evident.
Although not every move has yielded positive results, the Royals front office has maintained a commendably low whiff rate. As they pursue the Baltimore Orioles for the top wild-card spot, Kansas City’s approach has demonstrated its effectiveness. This strategy is not just beneficial for the franchise but serves the interests of baseball as a whole.
The city of Kansas City, which has not seen a playoff team since the 2015 World Series champions, stands to gain immensely from this revitalized organization.
(Top photo of Bobby Witt Jr. celebrating a win with teammates: Jay Biggerstaff / Imagn Images)
