A position-by-position comparison of the Royals if the offseason ended today

The calendar has just now turned to 2026, and while the offseason is technically still ongoing, it sure seems like the Kansas City Royals’ roster is pretty close to being set barring a gigantic trade that seems less likely by the day.

Some positions will be similar. Some will be different. So let’s take an early stab at what each position group will look like compared to last year, a phrase that I can finally say in earnest. Players listed have accrued roughly 50 or more innings at the position.

The league, the Royals, and fans alike still see Salvy as a catcher. But Salvy is walking down the well-trodden path of older catchers: he’s catching less and less. In 2023, Salvy started a game at first base or as the designated hitter in 35% of his games. But in both 2024 and 2025, that figure was about 41%.

So while Perez remains the undisputed starting catcher for the Royals, it’s entirely possible that he spends half of his playing time doing things other than being behind the dish. Carter Jensen’s success is really the key behind that happening. I also think there’s a decent chance the Royals carry a third catcher for a good chunk of the season; that could be Tresh, but it could be a vet like Luke Maile, too.

Caglianone actually didn’t play much first base last year (only 25 innings), and I don’t think that he’ll get much time there this year, either. Vinnie has it covered from the left side of the plate, and as already mentioned Salvy could end up playing first even more than last year.

Technically speaking, India had the most innings at second base among all Royals last year. But Massey was the one at second on Opening Day, and the Royals do really seem to like Massey there even if it is a factor in his recurrent back injuries.

India’s defensive time at third base and the outfield could generously be called “adventurous” last year, and the Royals have already indicated that plopping him at second and calling it a day. I expect Massey to be the defensive replacement in close games, and his left-handed bat could make an appearance as a pinch-hitter for India.

Garcia just won a Gold Glove at third base. Can he play effectively elsewhere? Yes. But there’s no reason for him not to be there, especially considering that the Royals don’t really have a backup third baseman on the roster, at least not really.

Why Massey as the backup, then? I think Massey’s clearest path to sticking on this Royals roster is as a utility player. He looked comfortable in the outfield last year, and while his arm isn’t great at third base, he’d be rangy enough. Massey’s outlook as a utility guy with some pop is a totally different one than as a starting player.

Witt also won a Gold Glove. He’s the best shortstop in baseball. His backup is Garcia, who probably could win a Gold Glove at short, too. No change.

That’s right: Kansas City had 13 players play at least 10 innings in left field last year, with nine of them playing at least 83 innings. Rave started the most games out of anyone at…26. What a bloodbath.

Collins has played all around the diamond, and he could make appearances in the infield and outfield this season. But he played the vast majority of time at left field for the Brewers last year, and as a switch-hitter, he is poised to take the starting job with minimal platoon tomfoolery.

I just don’t think many of the Royals’ 2025 left fielders will play much, or at all, this season. The vets are gone, and if Waters, Rave, or Loftin would have become difference makers, it would have happened already.

Isbel is an excellent defensive center fielder who has been a bit overexposed due to Kansas City’s lack of outfield depth around him. Thomas is the perfect complement to Isbel as a competent center fielder who hits lefties. Matt Quatraro ought to play this as a by-the-books platoon situation, and it should result in better overall production.

Right field was also a mess last year, in no small part because the Royals also didn’t have anyone who could field the position adequately. Cags, Renfroe, Grichuk, and Canha were all quite bad.

Will Cags be a bad fielder this season? Almost assuredly, yeah, let’s be honest. But if he was simply less bad and if his bat was good, you’d take it. When Cags isn’t playing in the outfield, it seems like it’ll be a smorgasbord of players, just like it was last year. I suspect the Royals would also be interested in platooning Thomas with Cags, but that makes way less sense than platooning him with Isbel and Thomas can only play one position at a time.

Potential Opening Day roster

If the offseason ended today and the Royals carried 13 position players, I think this is what the Opening Day roster would look like:

If the Royals don’t carry Tresh or another third catcher, they’ll probably carry another outfielder, and should the Royals acquire somebody before Spring Training that’s where the roster spot would come from. If they stick with what they’ve got, it could be Kameron Misner, or it could be John Rave or Nick Loftin–it just depends on the health of everyone else and what the Royals think they’d need.

Should the Royals stick with what they’ve got, at least on the position player side? I think they probably can. Acquiring another outfielder would be the only other move that would help, because they’re set throughout the infield and at catcher. We’ll see what happens in the coming weeks.