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“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” is an underrated children’s movie and book. I rewatched it this past week with my goddaughter and chuckled more than I was anticipating. One of the simple humor moments is when a citizen sits in a one\u2011seat splash zone for a show, and the entire crowd except him ends up getting soaked in a turn of events. <\/p>\n
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I chortled at the time, but when I think of how Kansas City Royals fans may view this offseason, they may feel splashes are happening all around \u2014 to every team but them, despite their own expectations<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Kansas City came into the offseason with a clear shopping list of needs. While the list is technically complete, the quality of ingredients is lacking at first glance. Adding an outfield bat was first, second, and third on the Royals\u2019 agenda, and their lone free\u2011agent addition there, Lane Thomas<\/a>, requires fans to squint a bit to see the value the front office believes is there.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Royals are really betting on a bounce\u2011back from the former Cleveland Guardians and Washington Nationals outfielder in 2026. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Injuries derailed his 2025 season, which ended after foot surgery in late September. Thomas spent most of the year on the injured list or nursing one ailment or another, limiting him to 39 games, his fewest since his 2019 debut season. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n He wasn\u2019t particularly potent at the plate when he was available, posting a .518 OPS across 142 plate appearances. It was a far cry from the productive stat lines he put up in 2023 and 2024 when he looked like a legitimate everyday contributor.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n But as Thomas works to reestablish himself with the bat in 2026, the Royals will have a need for him to play. The right\u2011handed hitter is primarily a right fielder by trade, but he has experience at all three outfield spots and holds up well in center field. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n That opens him up to supplant several left\u2011handed bats in the Royals\u2019 lineup, such as Kyle Isbel, Jac Caglianone, John Rave, or even Isaac Collins if the matchup deems it necessary given the team\u2019s heavy platoon tendencies.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Thomas is not a Gold Glove contender at any one spot, but his ability to play all three positions will make him a common cog in Kansas City\u2019s lineup. His arm strength is usually among the league\u2019s best and will serve him well wherever he plays. With a subpar track record of reading and reacting to balls, it will be interesting to see how his glove plays in Kansas City\u2019s cavernous outfield.<\/p>\n <\/p>\nThe Royals will likely need Lane Thomas more than fans think<\/h2>\n