Kansas City Royals DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

The Kansas City Royals and shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. are in agreement on an 11-year, $288.7 million contract extension, the second-largest pre-arbitration extension in MLB history. With three club options attached at the end of the deal, Witt could earn as much as $377.7 million over a 14-year period that would run through the 2037 season. Drafted with the second overall pick of the 2019 MLB Draft, Witt hit .276 with 30 home runs, 49 stolen bases, and an .814 OPS across 158 games in the 2023 season. He also improved his strikeout and walk rates, although he drew free passes just 5.8% of the time a season ago. Witt's elite power and speed combination makes his one of the most attractive fantasy baseball assets heading toward the 2024 season.

Free-agent veteran infielder Adam Frazier signed a guaranteed one-year, $4.5 million deal with the Kansas City Royals on Saturday, according to a source. He'll get $2 million in 2024 and will have an $8.5 million mutual option for the 2025 season that includes a $2.5 million buyout. The 32-year-old veteran will give the rebuilding Royals some veteran leadership on the infield after he slashed .240/.300/.396 with a career-high 13 home runs, 21 doubles, two triples, 60 RBI, 11 stolen bases and 59 runs scored in 141 games with the Baltimore Orioles in 2023. He'll have a much better path to consistent playing time in KC than he did in Baltimore, and he could become the Royals' everyday second baseman over Michael Massey. For fantasy purposes, Frazier lacks power and will reside in a weak lineup, making him nothing more than a middle-infield option in deep mixed or AL-only leagues.

At the moment, Kansas City Royals left-hander William Smith is the team's leading candidate to open the 2024 season as the closer after they signed him to a one-year, $5 million contract early in free agency. Smith, who turns 35 years old in July, has won three straight World Series titles with three different teams. He went 22-for-27 in save chances last year with an expected ERA of 3.35 well below his actual 4.40 ERA. If the Royals trade for a closer or land one in free agency, they could shift the veteran Smith to more of a setup role, thus strengthening the back end of their bullpen. Smith will have fantasy appeal as a closing option if the Royals don't upgrade, but save chances could be few and far between for the rebuilding Royals.

Free-agent right-hander Michael Lorenzen is receiving interest from the Baltimore Orioles as the club remains active in the starting pitching market. Lorenzen split the 2023 season between the Tigers and Phillies, making his first career All-Star appearance. He worked to a solid 3.58 ERA in 18 starts with the Tigers but struggled to a 5.51 ERA in 11 outings (seven starts) following a trade-deadline deal to the Phillies. However, he threw his first-career no-hitter as a member of the Phillies on Aug. 9 against the Washington Nationals. He was demoted to the bullpen for his final four regular-season appearances and was left off of the Phillies' Wild Card roster before making two postseason appearances across the NLDS and NLCS. The 32-year-old sports a career 4.11 ERA in 342 appearances (69 starts) and recently held a showcase for 16 MLB teams on Jan. 23.

Free-agent right-handers Noah Syndergaard and Michael Lorenzen threw bullpen sessions for around 16 MLB teams in California on Tuesday, according to sources. Both players were impressive, with Syndergaard consistently sitting at 93-95 mph. Syndergaard, 31, had a rough 6.50 ERA in 88 2/3 innings with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland Guardians in 2023 and is a candidate to receive a one-year, prove-it deal. He's drawing interest from the Pittsburgh Pirates, among others. Lorenzen, 32, had a 3.58 ERA in 105 2/3 innings with the Detroit Tigers last year and threw a no-hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies after being traded to the National League, but he had a 5.51 ERA in 11 games (seven starts) for the Phils and was moved to the bullpen late in the season.