How the KC Royals will look to bolster their starting rotation, bullpen this offseason

The pitching staff simultaneously represents the biggest area of concern and the biggest area of intrigue for the Kansas City Royals, who are coming off a last-place finish.

Relative to the rest of the clubs in the major leagues, the Royals’ staff may also have the most room for growth this offseason, considering the team’s poor results and inexperience in 2022.

They have no shortage of internal candidates for the rotation and bullpen, though they’ll look to bolster both in the coming weeks. They’ll also make another key addition: a new pitching coach.

Only the Cleveland Guardians’ pitchers had a younger average age than the Royals in 2022. But the Guardians allowed the eighth-fewest runs per game (3.91), while the Royals’ staff allowed the fifth-most (5.0) of any team in the majors.

Youthful or not, the Royals didn’t control the strike zone well enough. The statistics certainly reflect those struggles. They ranked at or near the bottom of the majors in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.02, 30th out of 30), strikeouts per nine innings (7.57, 28th), walks per 9 (3.74, 29th), total walks (590, 29th) and WHIP (1.47, 30th).

They were also near the bottom in opponent’s batting average (.271, 29th) and ERA (4.70, 27th of 30).

But that doesn’t mean the Royals’ staff was, or is, devoid of bright spots.

Dynamic duo

Former top draft pick Brady Singer transformed himself into an ace over the course of the season despite beginning the year in the bullpen. Singer made 24 starts, went 10-5 with a 3.11 ERA once he joined the rotation, and he also became the first Royals pitcher with at least 10 wins since Jason Vargas in 2017.

Veteran six-time All-Star and former Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke returned to the franchise that drafted him and provided a solid presence at age 38. Forearm issues cost him several starts and prompted a pair of visits to the injured list. He went 4-9 with a 3.68 ERA in 26 starts this year.

Greinke is a free agent now. The Royals’ front office has already declared its desire to bring him back, but it will be up to Greinke.

“I’ve enjoyed this season a lot,” Greinke told MLB.com following his final start of the 2022 season. “Love the guys here. We miss (former president of baseball operations) Dayton (Moore), not to make a big deal about that, but there’s a lot of good things here.

“I wouldn’t say there’s over-the-top amount of talent, but there’s a lot of talented players here. Lot of position players and pitchers. They’re great with my kids. They treat the family good. We like the city. A lot of good things in Kansas City.”

Greinke and Singer combined for a 3.38 ERA in 50 starts, and the Royals went 28-22 (.560) in games started by Singer or Greinke (37-75 in other starts).

Taylor’s the central piece in Royals’ outfield, but they have an offseason of options

Bobby Witt Jr. set to anchor Royals’ infield, but questions remain as offseason begins

KC Royals may be exploring options at catcher behind veteran Sal Perez and MJ Melendez

A need to add rotation options

Even if Greinke returns, the Royals want to add established options to their young group. They could look to add one or two experienced pitchers to compete for rotation spots this winter.

Brad Keller, who turned 27 this summer, remains their most experienced young pitcher (105 starts in the majors). While he finished the season in the bullpen, the Royals never fully committed to that experiment. He’ll go into spring training planning to compete for a rotation spot.

Left-hander Daniel Lynch, a former Top 100 prospect, registered career highs for starts (27) and innings (131 2/3) despite blister issues that forced him onto the IL.

Kris Bubic also made 27 starts, but his results varied wildly. Jonathan Heasley (21 starts) also had encouraging moments dispersed among many rocky starts.

Max Castillo, acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays at the trade deadline, and Angel Zerpa also made starts for the Royals. Their group of promising prospects at the upper levels of the minors includes Jackson Kowar, Austin Cox, Drew Parrish and Alec Marsh.

Building around Barlow

Scott Barlow’s durability and versatility are defining features of the Royals’ bullpen. He made a team-high 69 appearances and recorded a team-high 24 saves, but he also led the bullpen in wins (seven), innings pitched (74 1/3), ERA (2.18), strikeouts (77), batters faced (290), WHIP (1.00) and opponents’ OBP (.266).

Barlow ranked among baseball’s top relievers, in wins (tied for fifth), in innings pitched (sixth) and save percentage (85.7%, ninth). Nine times he recorded four outs or more to secure a save, the most of any major-league relief pitcher. He was also the only reliever in the majors with at least 70 innings, 20 saves and five wins.

The Royals would benefit from adding a back-end-quality reliever in order to take pressure off Barlow — someone who can pitch in high-leverage situations. Barlow has been very good in this regard, but the volume of appearances he’s made in recent years is probably unsustainable.

Late-inning options aren’t easy to find, but the Royals will be on the lookout for someone who can help lighten Barlow’s load and deepen their bullpen.

Jake Brentz’s season-ending injury took away a closing option, and Josh Staumont battled injuries (two IL stints) and inconsistency (a 6.45 ERA and 6.9 walks per 9 innings).

Dylan Coleman, acquired in the trade that sent Trevor Rosenthal to the San Diego Padres in 2020, came into his own this year, with 68 appearances and a 2.78 ERA. If there’s a nit to pick here, it’s that his electric repertoire included a high number of walks (4.9 per 9 innings).

Taylor Clarke still has multiple years of club control remaining and is one of the few Royals relievers who doesn’t walk batters frequently. His .039 walks-per-batters-faced rate ranked fifth in club history among pitchers with a minimum of 45 games pitched.

Left-hander Amir Garrett excelled at being dropped into tight spots and stranding inherited runners. His 83.3% stranded rate ranked first in the majors among pitchers with at least 40 inherited runners. That also ranked second in club history behind Jerry Don Gleaton (84%, 1987).

In-season acquisition Anthony Misiewicz, a left-hander, had some impressive outings late in the season. Carlos Hernandez has outstanding raw “stuff” that should translate well to bullpen. He showed promise as a starter but moved to the bullpen in 2022.

2022 ROYALS’ PITCHING

Breakdown of starts: Kris Bubic (27 starts), Daniel Lynch (27 starts), Zack Greinke (26 starts), Brady Singer (24 starts), Brad Keller (22 starts), Jonathan Heasley (21 starts), Carlos Hernández (seven starts), Max Castillo (four starts), Angel Zerpa (two starts), Gabe Speier (one start), Daniel Mengden (one start).

Starters production: fWAR - 5.7 (27th of 30), strikeouts per 9 - 6.91 (28th), walks per 9 - 3.26 (25th), strikeout-to-walk ratio - 2.12-to-1 (29th), ERA - 4.76 (27th), opponent’s batting average - .276 (28th), hard hit percentage (fangraphs) - 32.7% (26th).

Relief appearances: Scott Barlow (69 appearances), Dylan Coleman (68), Amir Garrett (60), Taylor Clarke (47), Jose Cuas (47), Josh Staumont (42), Collin Snider (42), Joel Payamps (29), Carlos Hernández (20), Wyatt Mills (19), Gabie Speier (16), Anthony Misiewicz (15), Luke Weaver (14), Brad Keller (13), Ronald Bolanos (eight), Jake Brentz (eight), Jackson Kowar (seven), Matt Peacock (seven), Arodys Vizcaino (seven), Foster Griffin (five), Daniel Mengden (four), Albert Abreu (four), Max Castillo (one), Kris Bubic (one), Angel Zerpa (one), *Hunter Dozier (one), *Nicky Lopez (one), *Michael A. Taylor (one).

Relievers production: fWAR - 1.8 (23rd), strikeouts per 9 - 8.52 (21st), walks per 9 - 4.44 (30th), strikeout-to-walk ratio - 1.92-to-1 (30th), ERA - 4.66 (27th), opponent’s batting average - .254 (29th), hard hit percentage (per Fangraphs) - 29.5% (19th).

*Dozier, Lopez and Taylor are position players.