Royals não oferecem contratos para MJ Melendez, Taylor Clarke

The Kansas City Royals opted to not tender 2026 contracts to outfielder MJ Melendez and relief pitcher Taylor Clarke on Friday.

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Both players are now free agents.

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The decision came at Major League Baseball’s non-tender deadline. Teams had until 4 p.m. Central Time on Friday to offer 2026 contracts to their arbitration-eligible players.

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The Royals agreed to terms with Jonathan India to avoid arbitration. The same occurred for right-handed reliever James McArthur.

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Melendez, 26, was selected by the Royals in the second round of the 2017 MLB Draft and became a key prospect in the organization. He made his major-league debut with the Royals in 2022 and lasted four seasons.

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But Melendez appeared in just 23 big-league games in 2025. He batted .083 with five hits in 60 at-bats despite making multiple adjustments at the plate. After giving him a spot on the major-league roster out of spring training, the Royals sent Melendez to Triple-A Omaha for the majority of the season.

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Melendez hit .261 with 20 home runs, 64 RBIs and a .813 OPS with the Storm Chasers.

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The Royals now have an open a 40-man roster spot as Melendez heads to free agency. But it’s the end of an era for the club, too. Melendez was a highly touted prospect who began his pro baseball career as a catcher before moving to the outfield.

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Clarke will join him in hitting the open market. The major-league veteran posted a 3.25 ERA in 51 appearances after returning to the Royals organization.

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KC made a few changes to its bullpen this week, including the addition of reliever Alex Lange on Thursday. It is expected that Lange will compete for a bullpen spot this spring.

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Clarke, meanwhile, enters free agency alongside fellow former Kansas City relievers Hunter Harvey and Sam Long.

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The Royals now have 38 players on their 40-man roster.

Esta história foi publicada originalmente 21 de novembro de 2025 às 17h49.