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3 Kansas City Royals Pitchers Elect Free Agency
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- 3 Kansas City Royals Pitchers Elect Free Agency
(USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect)
The Kansas City Royals will have some tweaks to make to their roster in the coming days as the World Series comes to an end next Saturday.
As a result, Kansas City has decided to outright five of their pitchers--Alec Marsh, Alex Lange, Mason Black, Connor Seabold and Easton McGee.
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By doing this, the Royals are not including them on their 40-man roster even though they went unclaimed on the waiver wire. Furthermore, they've created space for players they wish to keep and bring off the injured list that is phased out upon the conclusion of the season.
However, this process is also a double-edged sword given that players can choose to elect free agency if they have logged at least three years of service time in the majors.
Determined to prove their worth elsewhere, Marsh, Seabold and McGee have exercised that right.
Since being drafted in 2019, Marsh has struggled to stay on the mound as he last pitched in 2024. He wrapped up that season with a 4.53 ERA and 123 strikeouts through 129 innings of work before a shoulder injury sidelined him and caused him to need surgery in October 2025.
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Seabold was a June acquisition from the Toronto Blue Jays, which unfortunately didn't pan out. In just five innings as a Royal, the 30-year-old surrendered seven hits and five earned runs prior to suffering a lat strain and consequently landing on the injured list.
McGee was also a late-season addition, but from the Milwaukee Brewers who are competing for their first-ever World Series title. After 9 1/3 innings in a Royals uniform, the 28-year-old has given up nine earned runs. McGee will have a chance to turn things around on another team.
Meanwhile, Black doesn't get such an opportunity since he hasn't reached the required service time. He'll have to keep grinding his way through the minors in an effort to land a spot on the main squad next year.
For now, relievers José Cuas and Nate Pearson should continue to receive the bulk of the workload out of the bullpen.
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Cuas posted a 2.31 ERA with 25 strikeouts through 23.1 innings pitched and has been one of the team's most reliable arms since signing a minor league deal with the franchise. Pearson was solid as well, compiling a 4.11 ERA with 41 punchouts and four saves.
It should be interesting to see how the Royals' roster shakes up, but it appears there will be a lot of familiar faces returning next season.
