The Kansas City Royals declined to tender a contract to veteran third baseman, removing him from the 40-man roster before the non-tender deadline. The player posted 28 home runs last season across four organizations—Toronto, New York (NL), New York (AL), and Kansas City—before landing with the Royals in the final weeks of their playoff push.
The non-tender converts a $4.2 million arbitration projection into zero payroll commitment. The Royals acquired him on waivers in September, used him sparingly in the Wild Card round loss to Baltimore, then opted out. He appeared in 11 games for Kansas City during the regular season, collecting four hits in 27 at-bats. The club already rostered Maikel Garcia at third base through 2029 under team control at pre-arbitration rates.
The move is structural hygiene. The Royals entered the offseason with a $138 million payroll for 2025, third-lowest in the American League. Garcia, age 24, posted a .784 OPS last season and owns the third-base job. The veteran's arbitration number would have bought insurance the club does not need—depth behind a starter who played 155 games and logged 663 plate appearances without injury. The $4.2 million reallocates to bullpen additions or the international signing pool, where Kansas City historically invests late in the offseason cycle.
The player's résumé makes him a plausible spring training invitee for clubs needing right-handed bench power. He clears waivers as a free agent with 1,142 career games and a .233/.302/.415 slash line. Teams assembling veteran-minimum benches—Arizona, Oakland, Miami—will place calls. The Rockies need infield depth and own Coors Field splits that flatter power hitters. The Angels need everything.
Kansas City's arbitration-eligible roster now sits at six players, headlined by Bobby Witt Jr., who projects to a $14.7 million salary in his second arbitration year. The Royals tendered contracts to all six, including relievers who combined for 102 innings last season. General manager J.J. Picollo indicated in November that the club would not non-tender significant contributors, preserving the core that reached October for the first time since 2015.
The non-tender period closed December 2, leaving the Royals with 37 players on the 40-man roster. Three spots remain open for winter acquisitions. The club has not signed a major-league free agent since November 18, when they added a left-handed reliever on a minor-league deal. Picollo's next public appearance is scheduled for the Winter Meetings in Dallas, December 9-12, where Kansas City historically announces bullpen signings and international commitments.
The former third baseman now joins a market saturated with veteran infielders. Seven third basemen with 20-plus home runs in 2024 remain unsigned, including two All-Stars. His agent represents 14 active clients and will likely pivot toward split contracts with opt-outs, the structure that landed him four teams last season. The Royals, meanwhile, can allocate the saved arbitration dollars to pre-arbitration extensions—Garcia becomes extension-eligible in 2026—or carry the payroll slack into July, when contenders overpay for bullpen arms.
Kansas City opens spring training February 12 in Surprise, Arizona. Garcia is the only third baseman on the 40-man roster.
The takeaway
Royals clear $4.2M obligation and roster spot, cementing Garcia at third while preserving payroll flexibility for bullpen and international spend.
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