After return to postseason, Royals expect 'target on our backs' in 2025

KANSAS CITY -- Last year at this time, the Royals' front office was in the midst of planning what would end up being a historic offseason in terms of free-agent signings and a complete roster revamp, plus a mega contract extension for their superstar shortstop.

The result was an absolute success. The Royals won 86 games -- a 30-win improvement from 2023 -- and brought playoff baseball back to Kansas City for the first time in nine years.

But there was still disappointment at the end of it. So this October, after an exit in the American League Division Series against the Yankees, the work continues.

The Royals held their end-of-season press conference on Monday morning at Kauffman Stadium. General manager J.J. Picollo and manager Matt Quatraro took questions for nearly 40 minutes and outlined the areas in which the club will need to improve on, as well as the expectations for 2025.

“There’s going to be a little bit more of a target on our backs,” Picollo said of future expectations. “We’re not going to sneak up on anybody next year. They’re going to expect us to be a good team, and with that comes the responsibility of living up to that.”

The offseason to-do list is noticeably shorter than last winter’s, but there are still holes to address.

“We went from an area where there were a lot of things we needed to improve on, and now it’s marginal improvements and continuing to play at a high level consistently,” Quatraro said. “Some of that is mental, some of that is physical. But overall, it’s just continuing to push forward and not be satisfied with where we got this year.”

Perhaps the most important priority for Picollo’s staff will be deepening the lineup. Picollo called the offensive production in 2024 “acceptable,” but it was too up and down, and it needs more consistency. As a team, the Royals slashed .248/.306/.403 this year, with their .710 OPS ranking 14th in MLB and their 4.54 runs per game tied for 12th most in the Majors. The lineup was fueled by their dynamic trio in Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez.

But that production dropped off at the end of the year. In the final month of the season -- with an offense that did not include Pasquantino because of his broken thumb -- the Royals slashed .203/.275/.302. Their .577 OPS ranked last in MLB during that time.

In their six postseason games -- when Pasquantino returned but was not 100% healthy -- the Royals scored 15 runs. Witt, Pasquantino and Perez were largely held quiet, especially in the ALDS.

More slug in the lineup is a target, Picollo said, but focusing on hitters who can get on base will be more important. Specifically, the Royals will look to add a leadoff hitter and a middle-of-the-order bat: Someone who can get on base in front of Witt in the No. 2 spot, and someone who can offer protection for Perez hitting cleanup.

“That leadoff spot, we were circulating guys all year long, trying to find the right person,” Picollo said. “When we got Tommy Pham, he stepped in and did a nice job. But that’s one [spot] that stands out when you evaluate our lineup. Every lineup, and the better lineups that we faced, they’re deep. The more you can push guys down, the better our lineup will be. You start with a leadoff man, and then you try to find somebody in the middle of the lineup, as well. The deeper you get, the more explosive you can be as an offense.”

The Royals will rely on internal improvements as well, especially when it comes to young hitters gaining experience. Both Quatraro and Picollo said they believe more experience will lead to more walks and more on-base opportunities. Picollo stated his desire to stick with infielder Maikel Garcia and outfielder MJ Melendez. Garcia also provides defensive upside, while Melendez has flashed some offensive pop.

Third base and the outfield are two open positions the Royals could fill with hitters that fit their criteria. Outfielder Hunter Renfroe can exercise a $7.5 million player option and return in 2025 after posting a .689 OPS, but Picollo said he has not spoken to Renfroe about that decision.

“The offense from the outfield positions has to get better,” Picollo said. “Generally speaking, when you’re looking at left field, right field, that’s where you’re thinking about power guys. And we know this ballpark doesn’t lend itself to homers, but it does lend itself to slug. So we’ve got to be more productive there. And that’s where being optimistic about some of the guys that we have and looking at the experience they had, I think that’s fine.”

The Royals are open to using free agency and the trade market to fill their holes. Picollo said he has not yet had the payroll discussion with CEO/chairman John Sherman, but he expects a similar flexibility from last offseason, when the Royals committed nearly $110 million in free agency.

“I would suspect it would be very similar,” Picollo said. “Not necessarily in, ‘We’re going to spend $100 million,’ but more so his flexibility, him being open-minded to what our team’s needs are.”