Which KC Royals are on the bubble for final roster spots out of spring training?

The Kansas City Royals have some important decisions to make.

Spring training is winding down and several players in camp are on the proverbial bubble for roster spots.

The Royals added depth in multiple areas this offseason. They signed veteran free-agent starting pitchers Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha to bolster their rotation, and Will Smith, Chris Stratton, John Schreiber and Nick Anderson to fortify their bullpen.

KC made other free-agent moves as well, signing Hunter Renfroe to bring power to the lineup and Garrett Hampson and Adam Frazier as quality bench depth.

The offseason frenzy creates a scarcity of roster spots. The Royals must decide which players best fit their plans for opening day and beyond.

Manager Matt Quatraro has acknowledged the team will evaluate every option on the table.

“We’re going to have to make a decision,” he said, “and all they can do is control going out there and putting their best foot forward.”

So which players are on the bubble entering the final week of spring training? Here’s the rundown:

Fifth starter for Royals’ rotation

The Royals will carry 13 pitchers on their 26-man roster. Their starting rotation will consist of Lugo, Wacha, Cole Ragans and Brady Singer.

Ragans, who was named the Royals’ opening day starter on Sunday, is slated to lead the rotation. But the fifth spot in the rotation is up for grabs. The Royals can choose from a list that includes Jordan Lyles, Alec Marsh, Daniel Lynch IV, Angel Zerpa and Anthony Veneziano.

Jordan Lyles: Entering his 14th MLB season, Lyles can be an innings-eater in a starting role, as illustrated by his 177 2/3 pitched last season. But other stats from 2023 — notably, his 6-17 record and 6.28 ERA in 31 starts — were troubling.

The Royals know what they have in Lyles. He’ll take the baseball every fifth day and try to help save the bullpen, as needed. But he’s been slowed by back tightness since getting hurt during a “B” game earlier this month. He has appeared in just two spring games, allowing four home runs to the Cubs in his most recent start.

It’s possible Lyles starts out in the bullpen, which would be a familiar assignment — he has made 108 relief appearances in his career.

Alec Marsh: Marsh burst onto the scene last season after making his major-league debut against the L.A. Dodgers last June. He surrendered two home runs to Dodgers star Mookie Betts that day but then began to find his rhythm. He got better with each start and flashed potential down the stretch, finishing with a 5.69 ERA in 17 games (eight starts).

And Marsh has pitched with confidence this spring. He’s built a 1.93 ERA in 14 Cactus League innings while limiting opponents to a .163 batting average. He has struck out 17 and walked just four.

“He is light-years ahead of where he was last year,” KC pitching coach Brian Sweeney said. “I’m so impressed with the energy he has brought and the development that he made at the big-league level last year. It’s been really fun to see him do his thing.”

Marsh is pushing for the fifth-starter spot but is also a candidate for a relief role.

Daniel Lynch IV: Lynch continues to impress, too. He has recovered from a shoulder injury that sidelined him for significant time last season.

Lynch posted a 4.64 ERA in nine starts prior to the injury. This offseason, he pitched in the Arizona Fall League and Dominican Winter League before heading to spring training. In five spring appearances across 13 innings, he’s forged a solid 2.77 ERA — but he has never pitched out of a major-league bullpen.

KC could opt to give him consistent starts in Triple-A.

Angel Zerpa/Anthony Veneziano: The Royals like how Zerpa and Veneziano have performed. Both can pitch in multiple roles, and that makes them valuable.

Zerpa has rebounded from last season’s knee and shoulder injuries. He posted a 4.85 ERA in 15 games in 2023. This spring, he’s refined his secondary pitches and has thrown well when called upon.

Veneziano, too, received a taste of big-league action last season. He appeared in two games with the Royals after making 25 starts in the minors. The Royals have utilized him in a relief role this spring.

Zerpa and Veneziano are also bullpen candidates. Zerpa likely holds the edge for a relief role, given his success last season. But Veneziano has done enough to be among the first regular-season call-ups if he doesn’t make the initial roster as KC breaks camp.

Bullpen shuffle

Smith, Stratton, Schreiber, Anderson and James McArthur are locks for the bullpen. That leaves three spots to fill before KC’s regular-season opener against the Minnesota Twins.

There are some caveats here. Reliever Carlos Hernandez is recovering from shoulder soreness. He has played catch in recent days but could begin the season on the injured list.

The Royals could decide to use a spot on a long-relief option. This brings Zerpa, Marsh and Veneziano into the discussion. Each pitched out of the bullpen last season as either a bulk reliever or opener.

Other bullpen options include Matt Sauer, Jake Brentz, Josh Taylor and Sam Long. They are all in consideration for these final spots.

Matt Sauer: Sauer has the clearest path to earning a spot. He must remain on the Royals’ 26-man active roster as a Rule 5 Draft pick. If he doesn’t make the team, he will be offered back to the New York Yankees.

The Royals see potential in Sauer. However, he has never pitched above Double-A and is essentially developing at the big-league level. He’s posted a 2.25 ERA in eight innings, with 10 strikeouts and three walks.

Jake Brentz/Josh Taylor: Both are looking to rebound from injuries. Brentz missed much of the past two seasons due to Tommy John surgery and a lat strain. He finally returned to the mound this spring and has been trying to knock off the rust. But he was forced to leave Sunday’s spring training game against the Brewers with a hamstring injury.

Taylor, meanwhile, is coming off back surgery. Doctors repaired a herniated disc in his lower back last season. He has plenty of MLB experience and this spring has struck out six batters in in six innings. Like Brentz, Taylor may need a strong final week to solidify a roster spot.

Sam Long: Once a longshot to make the roster, Long is a non-roster invitee who has pitched his way into the discussion during spring camp. He has been electric in 7 1/3 innings, holding opposing batters to a .192 average and striking out 13 while allowing five hits and one run.

The Royals have certainly been impressed. Long has given them something to think about.

Building out the bench

The Royals have one final bench spot remaining. The decision who gets it could hinge on whether KC keeps Drew Waters, Dairon Blanco, Nick Loftin and Nick Pratto, among others.

It’s certain the bench will consist of Hampson, Frazier and backup catcher Freddy Fermin. The final spot will come down to a list of factors that includes positional versatility and roster needs.

Drew Waters/Dairon Blanco: Each brings something different to the table. Waters has the potential to develop into a full-time starter in the majors, but he’s still putting it all together at the plate. He’s hitting .308 this spring but has struck out 11 times.

Blanco boasts speed. The Royals value late-inning adjustments, and Blanco can be a pinch-runner off the bench. He returned to action on Sunday as a pinch-runner against the Brewers — a good sign for his odds of making the team.

Nick Loftin/Nick Pratto: This could be the toughest decision of all. Loftin has a superior eye at the plate and is the Royals’ No. 2-ranked prospect. And he was plenty impressive after making his MLB debut last season.

Pratto, meanwhile, is finally healthy. Last season, he dealt with groin and hip injuries that zapped his power and aggressiveness at the plate. This spring, he’s hitting a blistering .387 with two homers and nine RBIs.

Like Loftin, Pratto has hit his way into the discussion. The question now is where each would be better served: getting regular at-bats in Triple-A, or being a lighting rod off the bench at the big-league level?