Will Smith official. They DFA Snider finally.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We have signed LHP Will Smith to a one-year contract.<br><br>In a corresponding move, RHP Collin Snider has been designated for assignment.</p>&mdash; Kansas City Royals (@Royals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Royals/status/1734298241955406009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Royals are finalizing a deal with Seth Lugo <a href="https://t.co/Qmbni3Y4MK">pic.twitter.com/Qmbni3Y4MK</a></p>&mdash; Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) <a href="https://twitter.com/TalkinBaseball_/status/1734664672496771247?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Man after all that talk of Stroman and Giolito it's gonna be Lugo and Smith.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Lugo’s contract with the Royals is for three years and $45 million, per source.</p>&mdash; Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) <a href="https://twitter.com/Feinsand/status/1734666397421056019?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Well **** that's half the pay roll isn't it?

Jordan Lyles and Seth Lugo holding it down I see.

They may not be done.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Royals vowed to spend this winter, and Lugo gets one of the biggest free agent deals they&#39;ve given to a pitcher. They&#39;ve got plenty more to do to get competitive and should add at least one more starter in a market full of them. <a href="https://twitter.com/Feinsand?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Feinsand</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/anne__rogers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@anne__rogers</a> were on the news.</p>&mdash; Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1734667306775597382?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Mecreddit still a douche I see.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">And the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Royals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Royals</a> aren&#39;t done. They&#39;re also close to finalizing a deal with right-handed reliever Chris Stratton, source tells <a href="https://t.co/Ivs9s9EIaV">https://t.co/Ivs9s9EIaV</a>. It would be a one-year deal with a player option for 2025, source says.</p>&mdash; Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) <a href="https://twitter.com/anne__rogers/status/1734668854222074232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Stroman left the Cubs with 21 million on the table...he is probably not signing here

I’m ready.

LUGO!!!!

its pronounced Lewgo

Lugo's not a bad get.

He'll pitch better than some guys who are gonna make more than him over the next few years. You're buying 34 through 36 and that's up there a little, but he's a guy who should age okay. Not a lot of miles on his arm, good spin rates, good command.

I think y'all had to pay a bit of a 'rebuilding team' premium to get him; I figured he'd be looking at 2/$25-28 but hell, if he's decent the extra year won't hurt you.

Well, at least they're making an effort. More than we can say the past few years.

Hopefully they're serious about adding one more quality starter. Don't see it being Stroman or Giolito but who knows? Maybe they'll surprise us for once.

A rotation of Ragan, either of the above, Singer, Lugo and maybe Zack back on a one year deal? Not great, but not terrible. At least competitive and gives you chance to win most nights.

And for Gods sake, makes Jordan Lyles expendable (yes, I realize he'll probably still end up in the rotation this year due to his contract and 'innings eater' :facepalm:)

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Zack Greinke&#39;s representatives have communicated to <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MLB</a> teams that he&#39;s preparing to pitch in 2024 and is open to contract talks. <br><br>Greinke, 40, went 2-15 with a 5.06 ERA this year over 142 1/3 innings. <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBNetwork?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MLBNetwork</a></p>&mdash; Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) <a href="https://twitter.com/jonmorosi/status/1734657341184942561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I'm actually kinda curious what Greinke could do in relief for a season or two.

Guy has less stamina than a 14 yr old virgin; asking him to throw 5 innings is just asking too much at this point.

But I'll bet in relief he could get back up to 92/93 mph and still throw enough weird junk up there to get outs for 60 innings.

Lugo is a legit starter if he doesn't fall off the age cliff. The kind of gamble they need to take, and if he's a reliever in year 3, so be it. Welcome back Will Smith, nice get!

Now need one more starter. Sherm must be feeling the stadium motivation.

I think Giolito will be looking for a one-year prove it deal because he could cash in like Kevin Gausman/Robbie Ray/Carlos Rodon did with a big year.

I think a team like the Dodgers would be more appealing to Giolito but the Royals have a great sell, too. Kauffman Stadium and the defense behind him is the type of environment for him to put together a career year.

The White Sox did him no favors with their porous defense last year.

Lyles as a 5th starter is doable. Hopefully Lynch gets healthy and finally shows up to knock him out of that role. I think Lyles combined used as the second guy when they use in the bullpen games would be ideal.

What about the Angels and Guardians? Dude gave up 20 homers in 60 innings for those two squads and neither of them play in launching pads. He also put up a 1.5 WHIP for them. He was actually substantially better for Chicago than anyone else last season; his ERA was actually far lower than his FIP in Chicago.

No, the Chicago defense wasn't the problem.

Giolito was just a bag of smashed assholes last season. Truly, truly awful. And he was awful in 2022 as well.

It's more likely than not that he simply isn't very good.

Loool yeah right. Stfu Royals. U arent signing any of these guys unless its Flaherty

With the amount of arm issues Lynch has had I'd think he's probably a reliever now.

He's definitely on the decline, it may not be reversible, but when I see a 25.7% strikeout percentage, there's still something to work with. He's not that far removed from Cy Young-level pedigree with elite secondaries, namely the changeup.

That's why I am saying he needs to be selective on his next team to restore his stock. The Royals situation is most than just defense and ballpark. Brian Sweeney and the Royals pitching lab did good work last year with Cole Ragans, James McArthur.

He needs to go to a team like the Dodgers, Rays that are on the forefront of pitch development and maximizing sequencing.

And maybe the White Sox defense didn't hurt him as much when he's giving up two HR/9, but they were still bad enough where Chris Getz is adding total zeroes on offense like Paul De Jong at SS, Nicky Lopez at 2B and Max Stassi at C.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Padres made an attempt to keep Seth Lugo, who signed a three-year, $45 million deal with the Royals. Per sources, San Diego actually offered Lugo a four-year deal, but for a lower guarantee than he received from Kansas City.</p>&mdash; Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) <a href="https://twitter.com/Feinsand/status/1734778798590005725?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Really neat idea.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Royals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Royals</a> prospects will face <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Brewers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Brewers</a> prospects in a 7-inning exhibition on Sun. March 17th in Surprise at 3:05p CT, paired with a regular MLB ST game in a doubleheader. <a href="https://t.co/Beu7oXwpYN">https://t.co/Beu7oXwpYN</a></p>&mdash; Jake Eisenberg (@JakeEisenberg_) <a href="https://twitter.com/JakeEisenberg_/status/1735065986007450079?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

It's largely sentimental, but simply put, I wanna see Greinke get his 3000th K in a Royals uniform, if only because our organization is pretty lacking in "all-time" moments like this. So yeah, I wanna see Greinke to return.

And it might actually work well, if he is used correctly. Let him and Lyles piggyback each other every 5th day. Obviously Lyles isn't going anywhere, so he's gotta fit somewhere. Both he and Greinke had issues getting through the order more than twice without either throwing a ton of pitches or getting through the order without blowing up, and forcing the bullpen to pick up way too much slack.

If it was me, I'd let them alternate starts, with the other guy being scheduled to go after 3 or 4 innings from the starter. This would also allow each of them to potentially pick up wins, since neither would exclusively be the guy needing to get the requisite 5 innings to quality for the win.

Outside of that idea, I think Greinke could actually be valuable returning to the bullpen. It might allow him to gas it out a bit more, while knowing he's only gonna pitch for maybe an inning or two at the most, though also needing to be ready to go for potentially a few outings every week.

Oh, and adding Stroman to the rotation would be another decent add, and would probably make this a pretty successful offseason. Though I certainly think there are more moves that could and should be made.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Milwaukee Brewers are acquiring right-hander Taylor Clarke in a trade with the Kansas City Royals, according to sources familiar with the deal.</p>&mdash; Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) <a href="https://twitter.com/ByRobertMurray/status/1735383553419165954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He wasn’t good….

Picollo just confirmed we’re still pursuing Marcus Strowman!

The Brewers have spent the last half-decade creating lock-down relievers from thin air. Their stud setup man last year was also a Royals castoff - Joel Paymps.

Just going back to the well, I guess...

I'm having a hard time forcing the Royals into my schedule.

The love of baseball is still there, but the available hours for me to nerd out on all the details are not quite what they've been.

I'm glad to hear them saying that Lugo is not their last SP move. If they could pair that with another quality arm, the Royals could move into the "interesting" territory for 2024, which would be pretty cool.

For me to be back to "all-in" with baseball, I'd need a big SP signing or a BWJr. extension. Otherwise it's just hard to be interested in the team's trajectory.

The dream offseason that gets me back is...

A. BWJr. Extension
B. #3 Starter
C. Greinke reunion

What I expect is...

A. Decent lotto ticket SP

Are the Royals going to pay him 24 a year? He declined 21 a year so he likely starts at 22.

Man Greinke is washed at this point, unless he's going to be a 1 inning guy.

He needs 21 Ks to get to 3000 Ks so if he does that as a Royal then I'm all in.

This seems like a well thought out and interesting idea. Therefore we expect it to not be considered at all by the Royals.

i remember in like 2013 or 2014 he had some ridiculous streak to start the season of like 20 straight games where he never gave up more than 2 ER.

And I was always just annoyed as hell by the stat because in a bunch of those those games he didn't get a QS because he didn't go 6 innings. And in most of the rest of them he ONLY went 6 innings.

And Greinke was efficient so it's not like he was going out there and throwing 125 pitches or anything. You know they were sitting him at like 100, 105 pitches. He's just never been a guy built to carry a huge workload.

That was a DECADE ago.

Frankly it's amazing to me that the Royals were able to get nearly 300 innings of average(ish) pitching out of him the last 2 seasons.

But seeing a 'blow it all out' season from him out of the bullpen would be pretty damn cool. He'd get to 3K pretty easily.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Royals are finalizing a deal with Hunter Renfroe, per source. It is expected to be a one-year deal with a player option.</p>&mdash; Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) <a href="https://twitter.com/Feinsand/status/1735682753729831378?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

More details.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Royals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Royals</a> have agreed to a one-year, $5.5 million deal with Hunter Renfroe with a $7.5 million player option for 2025, according to a source. Plus $500,000 in performance bonuses each year.</p>&mdash; Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) <a href="https://twitter.com/anne__rogers/status/1735686949485121999?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Strikes out a lot, never gets on base... sounds like a perfect Royal.

His arm plays in RF, but I don't think the rest of his D will at the K

Wacha, 2 years 32 million.

I thot this piece of shit played WR with the raiders

Wtf is this

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Right-handed starter Michael Wacha and the Kansas City Royals are in agreement on a two-year, $32 million contract, a source tells ESPN. He gets an opt-out after the first season.</p>&mdash; Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1735699935129936223?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Royals just signed Michael Wacha. It's a name I've been saying for a few years now.

i don't know baseball, i loosely follow it. Can someone let me know if these are good additions or what.

wHaT The HeLL is HapPEninG@?!

Ragans
Lugo
Wacha
Singer
Lyles/Lynch/whoever

Have a legit solid MLB rotation

Wacha's fun.

When he gets in a rhythm and gets batters into the rocking chair with that fastball/changeup combo, he can really make guys look silly. The curve never developed as much as I thought it should for a guy with an overhand delivery and his height - I really felt like he should develop one oft he better waterfall curves in the game and it just didn't happen for him. His is passable but not a hammer. I think it's because both the change and the curve require so much feel to throw well that it's hard to get two feel pitches really working at the same time.

And ultimately he isn't working at 95 anymore since his stress fracture thing way back when so the curve isn't as useful as it would've been when he could work 95-97 up in the zone then tunnel that curveball off it. Now he uses the fastball more to set up other stuff and combined with the cutter/change, it all works pretty well together.

Solid guy. He and Lugo should be nice adds for you but obviously durability is going to be a real worry there.

Im blown away by all these signings...didnt think they had it in em

Keep going, don't stop.

Yea that's the consolation prize of realizing Stroman is going for 25+ a year and Giolito likely wants a 1 year deal in a good situation so he can go back into FA next year.

Wacha was great last year! 14-4 record

And they still have long term payroll flexibility. Most of the deals are one year

Yesh thats smart. Try to win a little, maybe 75 wins. Get fans engaged. Claim you will sign Bobby Witt under any circumstance then once you get funding for the new stadium...just dont.

Rany said it right, Renfroe is a 32 year old low OBP Corner OF, so Jose Guillen...but it's likely a move they made to trade Melendez.

That's one of the biggest Dayton Moore failures, if they knew Melendez couldn't catch they should have dealt him before he ever made it to the MLB.

Problem with Melendez is that the guy can't hit.

And I cannot figure out why. There are so many things in his profile that scream excellent hitter. I mean he barrels the shit out of the ball, well above average on hard contact, doesn't K horrifying amount (by today's standards), walks a healthy enough amount. The ball jumps off his bat and when he hits them they stay hit.

Hunder the hood he looks like a good hitter. So how come he don't hit good?

Man, the hell if I know. Because I see a guy that should be a hitter and a damn good one. A 4th place, middle of the order, run producer with good wheels. Everything in his offensive profile says you should be able to stick him in LF and have a potential All Star even as an outfielder.

He didn't HAVE to catch to be extremely valuable. But he damn sure had to hit. And he hasn't.

And again, I really don't understand why. Honestly, if the Royals were looking to sell low on him, I'd take them up on it. I think that's the kind of talent the players should be looking to acquire and develop rather than move on from. Teams in Kansas City's position don't need to be moving players who might be very good for players who aren't going to be but are more likely to not be bad. Trading a risky B player for a guaranteed C player doesn't get you guys anywhere.

You need to be trading as many guaranteed C players as you can for those risky B players and hope you hit on half of them. And in the end, maybe Melendez won't be in that half, but if he's not, the fringe prospect you could've gotten for him isn't going to be someone that changes you from an also-ran into a contender.

Wow. Thats gotta be one of the best starting rotations they've had in a long, long time, right?

Ragans, Lugo, and Wacha should be decent regardless, and if Singer can return to form we should be able to find a serviceable 5 in house

One down. Two to go.

Resign Greinke to give Kansas City a historic moment that fans will remember forever. Extend BWJ to show you’re willing to make every bit the investment you’re asking fans to make in the new stadium.

Really glad these guys weren't talking out there asses and show a commitment to winning or at least trying. They did exactly what they said they would when Picollo took over.

Renfroe isn't a needle-mover. But he's not Jose Guillen when it comes to OBP and walks. Over the past 5 years, Renfroe has established pretty well as a league-average walk rate guy (just a shade over 8%). Guillen never had a single season above 8, let alone a 5-year stretch.

Gives them some flexibility to pursue a trade and a league-average floor bat at a decent price. No issue with that one from this seat.

I honestly wonder if they are having discussions with the Marlins...they're open to trading young high end pitching.

Another bullpen arm would be nice to have

DJ,

Cards and Royals both made similar starting acquisitions pitching wise and money which would you rather have -

Lugo and Wacha

or

Lynn and Gibson

Honestly? Lynn and Gibson. 2 years and $24 million combined.

Royals have 5 years and $77 million into Lugo and Wacha.

And nary a one of them are going to make a bit of difference when it comes to winning anything meaningful. The Cardinals will maintain some payroll flexibility going forward while using Lynn and Gibson as bullet catchers this year.

Whatever. Meat for the grinder. Lynn and Gibson are more likely to pitch than Lugo and Wacha. Lugo and Wacha are more likely to pitch well than Lynn and Gibson. But in the end I wouldn't be eager to give any of them the ball in October.

Your mediocrity is better. Mine is cheaper and shorter term. I'm eating bread and water for a week. You're eating bread and water with some butter on it for 2 weeks. I'll take the former over the latter and hope the next weeks' meal is at least a hamburger. And ideally with a new chef in the kitchen.

And one roster space has been cleared, two more to go...
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Royals are trading outfielder Edward Olivares to the Pirates, source tells <a href="https://t.co/Ivs9s9Fg0t">https://t.co/Ivs9s9Fg0t</a>. Opens the 40-man spot for Stratton.</p>&mdash; Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) <a href="https://twitter.com/anne__rogers/status/1735794479590973837?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Royals have to spend big and make a splash or Jackson and clay county ain't giving them shit.

I'm adjusting my give-a-shit meter from 0 to 1!

Moving in the right direction

Sounds like the Royals are pretty much done with roster additions unless something falls in their lap.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">When asked by <a href="https://twitter.com/jaylonthompson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jaylonthompson</a> on whether the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Royals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Royals</a> are done adding, GM J.J. Picollo said this tonight on the Zoom announcing Chris Stratton&#39;s contract.<br><br>(Keep in mind the team hasn&#39;t made official the Wacha or Renfroe deals, i.e. &#39;some things to be finalized&#39;). <a href="https://t.co/nKJK1As1TC">pic.twitter.com/nKJK1As1TC</a></p>&mdash; Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) <a href="https://twitter.com/anne__rogers/status/1735806430123589936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Renfroe has some bop to his bat...I think thats why they thought they needed him
We aint winning this year but if your trying to sell a stadium, yeah, I see it

I think they have acquired renfroe, wacha, and will Smith with plans to move them at the deadline if they are performing and healthy. At least, that's how I look at their contracts.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;Right now if I had to pick an AL Central winner, the Royals would be right there. I think they would be the team I go with.&quot;<br><br>- <a href="https://twitter.com/Anthony_Recker?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Anthony_Recker</a>&#39;s reaction to Kansas City&#39;s recent moves <a href="https://t.co/Vz1Et652Nm">pic.twitter.com/Vz1Et652Nm</a></p>&mdash; MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBNetwork/status/1735804531617796270?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I think we'd need a couple more young guys to step up, especially pitchers. If someone from the group of Singer/Lynch/Marsh can be a consistent starter, and guys like McArthur and McMillon pitch like the strikeout machines they were at the end of the year, the staff will keep them in games.

Getting desperate for that new stadium I see

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Marlins?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Marlins</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Royals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Royals</a> discussed an intriguing pitching-for-hitting trade at the Winter Meetings: <a href="https://t.co/KHcFgBz5w7">https://t.co/KHcFgBz5w7</a> <a href="https://t.co/3mr3yklX22">pic.twitter.com/3mr3yklX22</a></p>&mdash; MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) <a href="https://twitter.com/mlbtraderumors/status/1736011185978298776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Wow.

The Royals could have landed Luzardo in a trade for Pasquatch? Instead opted to sign Wacha.

Gotta think that’s one they may end up regretting. Would have completely remade the starting rotation and have Luzardo and Ragans at the top suddenly gives you an instant legit strong rotation.

I like Vinnie, but don’t know if his value will ever be more than that that you have a legit chance to add a #1 type starter (with 3 years of control left) in a trade.

Yeesh.

I agree. I think I would have pulled the trigger. First base/DH is the easiest position to fill in baseball. Starting pitching isn't.

Rosenthal: Surprising developments spur Royals’ relative free-agent spending spree
By Ken Rosenthal
Dec 15, 2023

The signings of six free agents for a combined $105 million is not something people necessarily expected from the low-revenue, 106-loss Kansas City Royals. But the team’s relative spending spree stems from a series of fresh and surprising developments, according to sources briefed on the club’s thinking.

The continued deterioration of a division the Royals perceive as winnable. An owner, John Sherman, who in one notable circumstance, chose to sign another free agent rather than trade a talented young hitter. And yes, a draft lottery that in its first two years of existence, punished the Royals by assigning them lower positions than they would have received under the old system, which was based solely on won-loss record.

In 2022, the Royals finished with the game’s fifth-worst record and wound up drafting eighth. In ‘23, they finished with the second-worst record and will end up picking sixth. The lower the position, the lower the signing bonus for the first-round pick — and the smaller a team’s overall draft bonus pool.

Frustrated as the Royals are with the lottery, club officials estimate the two-year savings in first-round signing bonuses will be in the range of $5 million. The actual number might end up lower, but the point is this: The lottery, pushed by the Players Association as an anti-tanking measure in the most recent collective-bargaining agreement, is having its desired effect. No longer does finishing with a poor record guarantee a top pick.

Thus, the Royals are effectively getting pushed into free agency. Their farm system is considered one of the worst in the game. They can’t lose their way to one of the top six lottery picks. So, rather than pocket their first-round savings from the past two years, they are reinvesting it into the major-league club.

Their timing makes all the more sense, considering the state of the American League Central. The Detroit Tigers, like the Royals, are trying to revive and showing an increased willingness to spend. But the Chicago White Sox, coming off 101 losses, are entertaining trade offers for their best pitcher, Dylan Cease. The Twins and Guardians, meanwhile, are exercising financial restraint because of uncertainty with their regional sports networks.

The division-wide malaise offers opportunity. And Sherman, who took over in Nov. 2019, evidently is growing impatient, eager for the team’s streak of seven straight losing seasons to end. The fact that the team is seeking public financing for a new ballpark might be part of Sherman’s motivation, too.

Once the Royals knew they could sign free-agent outfielder Hunter Renfroe, who on Friday agreed to a two-year, $13 million deal, they were faced with a difficult choice in their pursuit of another starting pitcher. They could trade first baseman/DH Vinnie Pasquantino to the Marlins for left-hander Jesús Luzardo, a deal sources said was discussed at the winter meetings. Or they could sign right-hander Michael Wacha, a second-tier free agent who was in some demand.

Luzardo, under club control for three more seasons, was intriguing. But Pasquantino, who did not play after June 9 last season because of a torn labrum in his right shoulder that required surgery, is under club control for five more seasons and still holds considerable promise. For a team that last season ranked 23rd in runs scored, trading Pasquantino for Luzardo would have plugged one hole and created another.

The front office consulted Sherman. The owner chose to keep pushing forward. And on Friday, the Royals reached agreement with Wacha on a two-year, $32 million contract. Wacha can opt out after his first season. Right-hander Seth Lugo, who earlier agreed to a three-year, $45 million deal, can opt out after his second.

In 2023, the Royals ranked next-to-last in the majors in ERA, ahead of only the Rockies. But their acquisition of lefty Cole Ragans from the Rangers for reliever Aroldis Chapman proved to be one of the biggest coups of the trade deadline. The additions of Wacha and Lugo should further boost the rotation, reducing the pressure on homegrown pitchers such as Brady Singer and Daniel Lynch.

The free-agent newcomers to the bullpen are Will Smith (one year, $5 million) and Chris Stratton (two years, $8 million). Smith, the first of the pitchers to commit to the Royals, helped persuade Stratton, his teammate with the Rangers last season, to join him. Wacha and Lugo, teammates with the Padres last season, presumably spoke as well.

The six players the Royals signed heard the same message from club officials: A division title is within reach. All six, including infielder Garrett Hampson, who signed a one-year, $2 million deal, bring postseason experience. The plan is for them to be stabilizers, helping younger Royals players settle into their major-league careers.

The team is by no means perfect. Smith, 34, projects as the current closer, but he isn’t the dominant force he once was. The Royals probably could use another late-inning type to help share the closing load. A left-handed hitting infielder would round out the position-player roster, but that is less of a priority. Younger hitters such as Pasquantino, MJ Melendez, Nick Pratto and Kyle Isbel need to take a step forward, or the Royals’ spending might go to waste.

The lineup beyond No. 2 hitter Bobby Witt Jr. will be deeper, with Renfroe, Pasquantino and Sal Perez — the subject of trade discussions at the most recent deadline — hitting somewhere in the middle of the order. Players such as Melendez and Nelson Velázquez, another find at last year’s deadline, could end up toward the bottom. And while the Royals might not mash, they at least have players who can run: Witt, Isbel, Maikel Garcia, Michael Massey, Drew Waters. The defense last season ranked fourth in the majors in Outs Above Average.

The team’s current $111.7 million payroll, as calculated by Fangraphs, would be the Royals’ highest on Opening Day since 2018. The investments could backfire. None of the free agents is a star. But at least the Royals are putting forth the effort. Avoiding the lottery, as they have learned, is a worthy goal.

Yeah, that's a really tough call. Do the Royals still sign Wacha and/or Lugo if they make this trade? Do they make another move for a first baseman?

Again, tough call without knowing more.

I've been thinking for a few years that Vinnie could potentially be basically a Mike Sweeney clone except left-handed, and hopefully without the chronic bad back or other injuries(shoulder). I think Vinnie might have a BIG coming out party this year and explode the way Sweeney did in '99.

If that happens, I think our offense could actually be sneaky good this year, and in the upper half of MLB. If our pitching can even approach mediocrity this year, we could legit have a chance at the Central. It's such a weak division... 85 games could legit get it won. Albeit, that would be a massive, historical leap rarely happening before, so I don't think it's fair to expect that.

Vinnie better turn into our version of Edgar Martinez because if he doesn’t, we’re really gonna regret passing on this trade opportunity.

Again, I like Vinnie, but his base running is awful, he doesn’t offer much defensively so all of his value is tied up in his bat. To be fair, it’s a ‘great’ bat and he has probably the best plate discipline on the team and the Royals DO need another offensive star in the top of that lineup with Witt.

But we need him to perform these next few years (and stay healthy) on an Edgar clip to have a chance to make some noise while Witt is still here. If he doesn’t, we’re gonna miss not having Luzardo at the top of our rotation where we could operate more as a pitching and defense team that uses speed and timely hitting to score runs.

I like Vinnie a lot, seems like a good kid, so hope he rakes this year and shuts me up.

(Really would have been nice to have Luzardo though)