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The Kansas City Royals are working hard to figure out who they should go out and get in order to improve the roster for 2026<\/a>. While quite a bit of the focus from fans and analysts alike has been on the offense, KC’s bullpen needs some work as well.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If the Royals want to really compete for the playoffs next summer, they’re going to need to have at least one lockdown lefty. Two or three would be even better. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n If recent rumors are true and Kris Bubic<\/a> is sticking around, that allows the team to focus solely on the bullpen this winter on the pitching side of things. So what southpaws should they pursue?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Talk a tale of two seasons for reliever Danny Coulombe in 2025. With the Minnesota Twins, he was about as lights out as a pitcher can be, posting a 1.16 ERA in 40 outings. He also had 31 strikeouts in 31 innings.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He was traded to the Texas Rangers at the deadline, and things went south quickly. He ended up with a 5.25 ERA with the AL West team, but he also spent some time on the IL<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If Coulombe is healthy, a return to the AL Central could be just what the doctor and the Royals ordered.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Speaking of coming back to the AL Central, veteran reliever Caleb Thielbar is back on the open market after having the best campaign since his rookie year back in 2017. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n He may not have the personal ties to the Royals<\/a> that he did a few weeks ago, now that his former coach in Zach Bove has moved on to the White Sox<\/a>, but he still remains statistically one of the better left-handed options on the market.<\/p>\n <\/p>\nDanny Coulombe’s return to the AL Central could benefit the Royals<\/h2>\n
Royals could keep mining former Twins with Caleb Thielbar<\/h2>\n