{"id":1960520,"date":"2025-08-14T18:10:27","date_gmt":"2025-08-14T18:10:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=1960520"},"modified":"2025-08-14T18:10:27","modified_gmt":"2025-08-14T18:10:27","slug":"the-top-10-royals-seasons-for-newly-acquired-players","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/the-top-10-royals-seasons-for-newly-acquired-players\/","title":{"rendered":"The top 10 Royals seasons for newly-acquired players"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"\">At the trade deadline, the Royals infused their roster with numerous players, among them outfielder Mike Yastrzemski, pitchers Bailey Falter and Ryan Bergert, and the man, the myth, the legend\u2014Adam Frazier.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">Some of those players have performed better as Royals than others in this short time. For example, Young Yaz has posted 0.4 bWAR in only 40 plate appearances. Bergert\u2019s earned 0.3 bWAR in just two starts. Falter, meanwhile, mainly due to his first appearance against the Red Sox, has posted 0.4 wins <em>below<\/em> replacement.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">Around the deadline, I wondered who had the best debut season for the Royals. I went digging into both baseball-reference (bWAR) and FanGraphs (fWAR), though the following list isn\u2019t based entirely on the average of the two. I went through every season from 1970 to 2025 (hey, I didn\u2019t know if Jonathan India would crack the top 10*) and ended up charting stats on 57 different players, which I then whittled down to 10.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">*<em>He did not.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"\">First, some ground rules:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"content-list\">\n<li\/>\n<li>\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"\">No players from the 1969 expansion team.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"\">The player must have played at least one game for at least one other MLB team before playing for the Royals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"\">The player must <em>not<\/em> have previously played for the Royals\u2014The David Cone Rule.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"\">Either the season in which the player was acquired or his first full season with the Royals can count\u2014The Paul Byrd Rule.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"\">The player can\u2019t be Melky Cabrera\u2014The Melky Cabrera Rule.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"\">All right, I\u2019m writing this on an off-day, so let\u2019s get to it:<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading\">No. 10\u2014Amos Otis, 1970<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"content-figure\">\n<div class=\"content-image\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"lightbox-btn\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"lightbox-expand\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Image Lightbox\" class=\"lightbox-overlay\" aria-modal=\"true\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"fig-caption\"\/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"\">Never knew Otis played for any other team than the Royals, but turns out he both began and ended his career elsewhere\u2014with the Mets and Pirates, respectively. But 1970 was his first full season, and he made the most of it with the Sophomore Royals, as he slashed .284\/.353\/.424 for an OPS 15% above league average. Then 23, he made his first All-Star Game as he led the AL in doubles with 36 and swiped 33 bases in just 35 attempts.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading\">No. 9\u2014Gil Meche, 2007<\/h3>\n<p class=\"\">After starting his career with the Mariners, Meche joined the Royals in free agency, and put up two very solid years in 2007 and 2008. His first season in Kansas City, he tied for the league-lead in games started with 34 as he pitched a career-high 216 innings. He made the only All-Star Game of his career despite his 9-13 record as he posted a 3.67 ERA (125 ERA+), 4.02 FIP, and 1.296 WHIP. Opposing hitters were held to a .711 OPS, the second-lowest in Meche\u2019s 10-year career.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading\">No. 8\u2014Tim Belcher, 1996<\/h3>\n<p class=\"\">When Belcher, who won the World Series with the Dodgers in 1988, joined the Royals, it was his sixth team in as many years. His first season in Kansas City ranked as the best of his career, per bWAR, which was 4.8. That season, he finished 15-11 for the 75-86 Royals, with a 3.92 ERA (26% above league-average), 4.68 FIP, and 1.383 WHIP over 35 starts and 238-and-2\/3 innings pitched, both career highs.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading\">No. 7\u2014Paul Byrd, 2002<\/h3>\n<p class=\"\">Byrd came to the Royals in a June 2001 trade with the Phillies, and he left in free agency after 2002, but in his short time here, he pitched quite well. Based on bWAR (5.6), he actually had the best Royals debut season, but his fWAR (3.1) pulled him down to seventh. The line his only full season in Kansas City: 17-11, 3.90 ERA (27% above league-average), 4.47 FIP, 1.147 WHIP with a career-high 129 strikeouts over 33 starts.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"content-figure\">\n<div class=\"content-image\"><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"646\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"standard-img\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/5rrKL4Jx7W061XG8v_GM1w--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0NjtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/sb_nation_articles_115\/5808ad8932a6a4bf2628c4f147145063\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"lightbox-btn\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"lightbox-expand\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Image Lightbox\" class=\"lightbox-overlay\" aria-modal=\"true\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"fig-caption\"\/><\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"heading\">No. 6\u2014James Shields, 2013<\/h3>\n<p class=\"\">Shields headlined the return package in the Wil Myers trade of yore, and he certainly made an immediate impact. While he wasn\u2019t around for the 2015 World Series, Shields helped the Royals get back to winning baseball in 2013. He finished 13-9 with a 3.15 ERA and 3.47 FIP while he pitched a league-high 228-and-2\/3 innings. He also made 34 starts for the first of three consecutive seasons.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading\">No. 5\u2014Bob Johnson, 1970<\/h3>\n<p class=\"\">Our second player from the Royals\u2019 second season, Johnson, who came over from the Mets with Otis in a trade for Joe Foy, posted the best season of his career in his sole season in Kansas City. Before joining the Royals, he\u2019d pitched in only two other games. In 1970, he posted 4.5 bWAR and 4.6 fWAR as he started 26 games, completing 10 of them, while appearing in another 14 games out of the bullpen, finishing seven of them. In total, he went 8-13 with one save with a 3.07 ERA (121 ERA+), 3.11 FIP, 1.215 WHIP, and, by far-and-away, a career-high 206 strikeouts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">Johnson would win the World Series the following season in Pittsburgh, but never again came close to the individual success he enjoyed in 1970.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading\">No. 4\u2014Cole Ragans, 2024<\/h3>\n<p class=\"\">While 2025 may be a bust for Ragans, his first full season in Kansas City was anything but that. Acquired the year before in a trade with the Rangers for Aroldis Chapman, Ragans showed ace-potential in 2024 over 32 starts. He finished 11-9 with a 5.0 bWAR (4.8 fWAR) as he struck out 223 batters in just over 186 innings pitched. His 3.14 ERA was 30% better than league-average, and his FIP was even <em>lower<\/em>, at 2.99. The southpaw, who finished fourth in Cy Young voting, led the American League in strikeouts-per-nine-innings.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading\">No. 3\u2014John Mayberry, 1972<\/h3>\n<p class=\"\">A couple of years ago, someone asked me if Mayberry was still the Royals first baseman. I never did figure out whether the person was joking. I answered, \u201cN\u2014No,\u201d before changing the subject\/walking away.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">Anyway, Mayberry rocked in 1972, despite not making the All-Star Game. He knocked 24 doubles to go with 3 triples and 25 home runs as he drove in an even 100 batters. He also walked (78) more times than he struck out (74) as he slashed .298\/.394\/.507. His .900 OPS was 68% (!) higher than the rest of the league\u2019s. He\u2019d have two more seasons in Kansas City in which he posted higher bWAR than in 1972, but it was quite the debut.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading\">No. 2\u2014Seth Lugo, 2024<\/h3>\n<p class=\"\">Lugo is just one of two players, and the only pitcher, to average 5.0 WAR in his debut season. His bWAR in 2024 came in at 5.4 and his fWAR was 4.6. Do the math, people!<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">And while he might be getting torched right now, Lugo, who joined the Royals before the 2024 season via free agency, sparkled last season. After seven years with the Mets and one with the Padres, Lugo broke out for the Royals, making his first (and so far, only) All-Star Game as he finished 16-9 with a 3.00 ERA (135 ERA+) and a 3.25 FIP. He also struck out a career-high 181 batters over a career-high 206-and-2\/3 innings pitched, which is 60 more than his next season-high. He finished second in Cy Young voting as he helped the Royals reach the playoffs for the first time since 2015.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading\">N0. 1\u2014Jay Bell, 1997<\/h3>\n<p class=\"\">Does this surprise you? It surprised me.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">I remember as a youngster being very excited for the 1997 season as the Royals had acquired a trio of players of whom I\u2019d actually heard, Bell being one of them along with Jeff King (lol) and Chili Davis. In late July of that season, they made a deal to bring in slugging third baseman Dean Palmer from the Rangers. With the<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/kckingdom.com\/2021\/03\/05\/kansas-city-royals-appreciating-kevin-appiers-amazing-1993-season\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:criminally undervalued Kevin Appier leading the rotation;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"> criminally undervalued Kevin Appier leading the rotation<\/a> and Belcher behind him, the Royals were back, baby!<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">They went 67-94.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"content-figure\">\n<div class=\"content-image\"><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"1195\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"standard-img\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/cVJyukPhfZ_k.23u8_Af6A--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTExOTU7Y2Y9d2VicA--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/sb_nation_articles_115\/fa7312ec642f5da75043c30182c3ba14\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"lightbox-btn\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"lightbox-expand\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Image Lightbox\" class=\"lightbox-overlay\" aria-modal=\"true\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"fig-caption\"\/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"\">The l0ngtime Pirate, who\u2019d go on to win a World Series with the Diamondbacks, had one of the best seasons in his 18-year career in 1997. He posted 5.4 WAR according to both FanGraphs and baseball-reference. In 153 games, he slashed .291\/.368\/.461 for an OPS of .829, 15% above league-average, as he collected 28 doubles, three triples, and 21 home runs. He scored 89 runs and drove in 92.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">It\u2019s oddly fitting that the top debut season in Royals history goes to a guy who spent only one year in Kansas City.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">Good on you, Jay Bell.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source sports.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At the trade deadline, the Royals infused their roster with numerous players, among them outfielder Mike Yastrzemski, pitchers Bailey Falter and Ryan Bergert, and the man, the myth, the legend\u2014Adam Frazier. Some of those players have performed better as Royals than others in this short time. For example, Young Yaz has posted 0.4 bWAR in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1960521,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[340896,345064,340898,311239,345060,345065,345061,313841,310650,345068,345062,322264,345066,36187,341113,27155,340897,244474,345067,345063,22091,345069],"class_list":["post-1960520","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-royalty","tag-adam-frazier","tag-aroldis-chapman","tag-bailey-falter","tag-cole-ragans","tag-debut-season","tag-dodgers","tag-james-shields","tag-jonathan-india","tag-kansas-city","tag-mariners","tag-melky-cabrera","tag-mike-yastrzemski","tag-phillies","tag-pittsburgh","tag-red-sox","tag-royals","tag-ryan-bergert","tag-seth-lugo","tag-the-diamondbacks","tag-the-mets","tag-the-royals","tag-wil-myers"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/The-top-10-Royals-seasons-for-newly-acquired-players.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1960520","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1960520"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1960520\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1960521"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1960520"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1960520"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1960520"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}