The Kansas City Royals may not have made splashy, headline-grabbing moves this offseason, but they quietly put together another solid winter to build on their impressive 2024 campaign. Last season, the Royals improved by 30 wins, finishing 86-76 and making the playoffs for the first time in nine years. While they won’t catch anyone by surprise in 2025, Kansas City made strategic moves to stay competitive. They re-signed starting pitcher Michael Wacha, traded Brady Singer to the Cincinnati Reds for leadoff hitter Jonathan India, and bolstered their bullpen by adding 2023 All-Star Carlos Estévez as a potential closer. Combined with a few smaller moves, the Royals are poised to make a run at the AL Central title.
But how do their offseason moves compare to the rest of Major League Baseball? On Thursday, *USA Today*’s Gabe Lacques and Bob Nightengale graded all 30 MLB teams’ offseasons, giving the Royals a solid “B.” The writers noted that adding India and Estévez strengthened the lineup and bullpen for a team that won 86 games and reached the AL Division Series. To earn an “A,” the Royals would have needed to land bigger targets, such as outfielder Anthony Santander, who signed a five-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays after Kansas City offered only three years.
Despite missing out on Santander, the Royals’ “B” grade is still respectable, as only eight teams received higher marks. As the season begins, the focus will shift from offseason grades to the standings, leaving fans to wonder if Kansas City will regret not doing more to capitalize on their momentum.
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