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Kansas City Royals Lose Player to Texas Rangers Before Opening Day
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- Kansas City Royals Lose Player to Texas Rangers Before Opening Day
The Kansas City Royals have lost a depth piece from their roster just before the season begins, as outfielder Dairon Blanco was claimed off waivers by the Texas Rangers .
Blanco had recently been designated for assignment by Kansas City on March 2 as the club worked to clear roster space following the signing of veteran outfielder Starling Marte . The move ultimately opened the door for another organization to add the speedy outfielder before Opening Day.
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The Royals confirmed the transaction on Sunday, shortly after the claim became official. "OF Dairon Blanco has been claimed off waivers by the Texas Rangers," the Royals wrote on X.
The Rangers created room on their 40‑man roster by transferring left‑handed pitcher Jordan Montgomery to the 60‑day injured list. The move allowed Texas to take a chance on Blanco, a player known for his speed and ability to contribute off the bench.
Blanco took an unconventional path to MLB. The 32‑year‑old arrived in the United States to play baseball in 2018. Originally part of the Athletics organization, he was traded to Kansas City in 2019 in a deal that sent Jake Diekman to Oakland. Blanco eventually made his big‑league debut with the Royals during the 2022 season in a brief five‑game appearance.
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His role grew in the following years. Blanco has appeared in 171 games for the Royals over the last four seasons. Across 284 plate appearances, he collected seven home runs and 34 RBIs while adding 59 stolen bases along with a .257 batting average, .312 on‑base percentage and .728 OPS.
While his offensive production was respectable, much of Blanco's value came from his speed on the bases.
Blanco also showed a notable platoon advantage during his time with Kansas City, performing much better against left‑handed pitching than right‑handers. That skill set could make him an appealing depth option for Texas, which has several left‑handed hitters in its lineup who may benefit from matchup‑based substitutions. For the Royals, the team had likely hoped he would clear waivers, but that was not the case.
Blanco ultimately became expendable in Kansas City after the club reshaped its outfield this offseason. The addition of Marte, along with other roster changes, created a crowded outfield picture that made it difficult for Blanco to secure a consistent role.
Now with the Rangers, Blanco will look to carve out a spot either on the major-league roster or as a depth option in the minors as he continues his big‑league career.
