Lane Thomas and the Kansas City Royals have agreed to a one-year, $5.25 million deal that lands the outfielder in another American League Central clubhouse, a league source told The Athletic Thursday.
This probably isn’t what Thomas was envisioning a year ago, when he embarked on a contract year with the Cleveland Guardians. Instead, it turned into a nightmare of a season, as he appeared in only 39 games and posted a mere .518 OPS when he did play. That cratered his value on the open market, though it was only in July 2024 when Thomas netted the Washington Nationals a well-regarded pitching prospect, Alex Clemmey, from the Guardians in a midseason trade.
Thomas has flashed power during his career, with 28 home runs and 36 doubles in 2023 for Washington. He has also demonstrated plenty of speed, with 32 stolen bases in 2024.
So far, he hasn’t been able to put it all together. And in 2025, when a career year could have landed him a hefty free-agent payday, his body didn’t cooperate. Thomas first missed time after being struck in the wrist with a pitch during Cleveland’s home opener. Then, plantar fasciitis in his right foot pestered him for months. He had a series of starts, stops and setbacks and ultimately underwent surgery in late September. He was given a recovery timeline of three to four months.
The 30-year-old has experience at all three outfield spots but profiles better in the corners. He rates as about a league-average hitter (103 OPS+), but he has distinct splits, with a career .859 OPS against left-handed pitchers and a .670 OPS against righties.
Despite the injuries, Thomas did record a few memorable playoff moments during his stop in Cleveland. A few months after the Guardians acquired him from the Nationals, he slugged a three-run homer in Game 1 of the 2024 AL Division Series and then a grand slam off Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal in a decisive Game 5 to vault Cleveland to the AL Championship Series. His two-out double in the bottom of the ninth of Game 3 of the ALCS set the stage for Jhonkensy Noel’s theatrical game-tying homer off New York Yankees closer Luke Weaver.
The Royals ranked 29th in the majors in OPS by their outfielders (.633), ahead of only Thomas’ old team, coincidentally. Kansas City’s decision-makers haven’t been shy this winter about voicing their desire to add to the outfield around Jac Caglianone, and Thomas’ penchant for raking against lefties could help. The Royals posted a .659 OPS as a team against southpaws last season.
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