Wacha reflects on 'great' first season in KC -- and potential return

KANSAS CITY -- Manager Matt Quatraro gathered his team in the clubhouse Thursday night and thanked the players for all the work they put in during the 2024 season, despite the disappointing ending after their 3-1 loss to the Yankees in Game 4 of the American League Division Series at Kauffman Stadium.

Everyone was aware that it won’t be the same clubhouse next year, even with several key pieces returning.

"Regardless of how a season ends, you've got to appreciate the people that are in that room and how they treated each other, how they treated us as a staff,” Quatraro said. “The things they did for the organization this season were phenomenal. I just thanked them up and down because really that's all there is to it."

The Royals will lose pitchers Will Smith and Michael Lorenzen to free agency, as well as outfielders Tommy Pham and Robbie Grossman, infielders Paul DeJong and Yuli Gurriel, and utility man Garrett Hampson. Adam Frazier has a mutual option that will likely be declined, making him a free agent.

Reliever Chris Stratton holds a $4.5 million player option, while outfielder Hunter Renfroe’s player option is $7.5 million for 2025.

• After first taste of postseason, Royals' young core hungry for more

But the most consequential of those decisions will be Game 4 starter Michael Wacha's $16 million player option. Wacha signed a one-year, $16 million deal this past offseason with the opt-out attached.

Now he has a decision to make. The deadline for players to make option decisions comes just five days after the conclusion of the World Series.

"I haven’t really thought too much about it,” Wacha said. “I’ve expressed to these guys how much I enjoy being here and want to be back. I guess when that time comes we’ll handle it then, but not really thinking too much about it right now."

Wacha could test the market again and look for a new team after switching organizations each of the past five years since he left St. Louis after the 2019 season. Or he could stay with the Royals, who would likely welcome him back into the rotation after he posted a 3.35 ERA in 29 starts (166 2/3 innings) this season and proved to be an influential veteran leader not only for the pitching staff, but the entire team.

"It has been great here in Kansas City,” Wacha said on Wednesday before Game 3. “It's been a lot of fun getting to be in this community over the course of the summer. I feel like they've embraced me and my family. It's been great. ... Just playing in front of this fan base throughout the course of the season has been a lot of fun. They're very supportive and want the best for us. Always cheering us on. That's all you can ask for as a player.”

Wacha allowed five runs in 8 2/3 innings across two starts in the ALDS. He was tasked with helping the Royals force a Game 5 on Thursday, but they fell short, ultimately being charged with two runs in 4 2/3 innings and taking the loss.

"It’s a sucky feeling right now,” Wacha said. “We feel like we should still be playing, still have another game. It’s not a very good feeling right now, but at the same time, there’s a lot of things that we did really well this year, looking back. And I know that once this kind of goes over, you can really evaluate and think back on the season. No reason to hold our heads right now. A lot of stuff to be proud of out of this group of guys, but we all feel like we should still be playing right now."