Kansas City Royals DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Free-agent catcher Austin Nola has signed with the Kansas City Royals on a minor-league deal, according to a source. Nola initially signed with the Milwaukee Brewers on a minors deal this offseason, but he was released after Gary Sanchez's deal with the Brewers became official this week. The older brother of Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola, Austin was sent to the minors last year with the San Diego Padres after slashing just .146/.260/.192 with a home run and eight RBI in 52 games played in 2023. In Kansas City this spring, the veteran backstop will likely compete with Freddy Fermin for the backup job behind All-Star Salvador Perez. After Nola's offensive collapse last year, he's well off the fantasy radar and isn't guaranteed a roster spot on Opening Day in KC.

The Kansas City Royals believe that outfielder Kyle Isbel is their best center field option heading into the 2024 season. They are counting on power at the corner-outfield spots from MJ Melendez and Hunter Renfroe. Drew Waters can play all three outfield spots and could easily play into an Opening Day starting spot. While Waters has nice upside, he could benefit from more at-bats to begin the year in the minors as well. Isbel, 26, hasn't hit much so far in the big leagues, but he has an elite glove. At the very least, Isbel should find himself starting in center field for the Royals in 2024 against right-handed pitching. Fantasy managers in mixed leagues can ignore him. In 313 plate appearances last year, Isbel had only five home runs and seven stolen bases.

Kansas City Royals left-hander Kris Bubic (elbow) threw his first bullpen session on Tuesday at spring training since having Tommy John surgery. The 26-year-old southpaw threw around 15 pitches (only fastballs) and felt good the day after with no extra soreness in his elbow. It was the first time he's thrown off a mound since last April. He's scheduled to throw another side session on Friday and will have around nine weeks of bullpens with increasing intensity before he faces hitters. Bubic is currently limited to throwing fastballs off the mound but has started to flip in some breaking balls and offspeed stuff while playing catch. He opted for full UCL reconstruction in April of last year and is targeting the middle of 2024 as a potential return date.

Kansas City Royals right-hander Brady Singer (back) is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut next Wednesday, Feb. 28, against the Seattle Mariners. Singer isn't limited at all at spring training this year despite ending the 2023 season on the injured list with a back strain. The 27-year-old former first-round pick by the Royals in 2018 out of Florida went 8-11 with a career-worst 5.52 ERA (4.29 FIP) and 1.45 WHIP with 49 walks and 133 strikeouts in a career-high 159 2/3 innings over 29 starts in his fourth year in the big leagues. It was a highly disappointing year for the former top prospect just hasn't fooled hitters much and probably needs to add to his arsenal in order to become interesting to fantasy managers in mixed leagues.

Kansas City Royals left-hander Kris Bubic (elbow) is scheduled to throw his first bullpen session of spring training on Tuesday. Bubic is recovery from Tommy John surgery last April and is scheduled for a midseason return in 2024. The 26-year-old southpaw made only three starts for the Royals last year before having surgery, and he went 3-13 with a career-worst 5.58 ERA (4.78 FIP) and 1.69 WHIP with 63 walks and 110 strikeouts over 129 innings and 27 starts in 2022. Bubic won't be a lock for the Royals' starting rotation this summer, either, as long as both Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha are healthy around the All-Star break. Fantasy managers in deep-mixed fantasy leagues should hold off on Bubic until he proves he's healthy in the second half.