Royals GM J.J. Picollo Says Roster Core Stays Intact For 2027 Push

The Kansas City Royals will not tear down their roster after a disappointing 2026 season. General manager J.J. Picollo stated on Tuesday in Las Vegas that the team plans to build around its current core rather than trade for prospects. The club finished with a 69-93 record, but leadership believes the pieces to compete in 2027 are already in place. The focus now shifts to fixing a pitching staff that struggled late in the year. Kansas City entered the season with 14 players from its organization named to World Baseball Classic rosters, tied for the fourth-most among MLB organizations. While that was a notable international commitment, Picollo primarily attributed the disappointing season to the team’s slow start and injuries. Why the Team Is Staying the Course Many fans expected a rebuild after missing the playoffs for the second straight year. At the Trade Deadline, veteran starters Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo were retained by the front office instead. They chose not to move these players for new prospects. This decision signals a clear intent to keep the rotation stable for the next few years. Picollo said the organization felt the situation did not require a fresh start. “We didn’t play well early, and then the injury bug hit us,” Picollo said. He added that the team needed to be realistic in their evaluation. The quote continues with a firm stance on the future direction. “We’ve got to be realistic in our evaluation. … [And] we didn’t feel like this is a situation where we’re going to try to start over.” This approach keeps the core of position players together . Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. leads the group and includes Salvador Perez, Maikel Garcia, Jac Caglianone, and Carter Jensen. These players form the foundation for the 2027 and 2028 seasons. Picollo noted that the plan involves forecasting the rotation for those future years. He sees a potential path where Wacha and Lugo remain with the club through 2028. “Some of that is just forecasting what our rotation is going to look like in ’27, ’28. There is potential [that] both of those guys are here through ’28,” Picollo said. The strategy relies on the belief that the position player group is strong enough to carry the team while pitching improves. The front office feels no need to add a whole lot of new talent, but they must make improvements on the margins. Pitching Woes and Injury Setbacks Addressing the pitching staff is the biggest priority for the offseason. The bullpen finished 2026 with a 5.07 ERA, which was the second-highest in the Majors. A 4.58 ERA was posted by the starting rotation, placing it 25th in the league. These numbers show a clear gap that needs to be filled before the next season begins. The team cannot rely on the same staff that allowed so many runs. Injuries played a major role in the depth issues. Cole Ragans, Ryan Bergert, Luinder Avila, and Stephen Kolek all underwent elbow surgery during the season. Midseason in 2027 is when Ragans and Bergert are anticipated to return. Avila and Kolek could return later in the year. Consequently, the organization must acquire depth to cover the period until those arms recover. The rotation must survive without these key pitchers for the first half of next year. The club has already made some moves regarding contracts. They declined closer Carlos Estévez’s $13 million club option. Simultaneously, they activated a $2.5 million option for 2027 regarding right-hander Tony Gonsolin. While recovering from right elbow surgery, Gonsolin arrived with the Royals in August. Against the White Sox on Sept. 22, he recorded one Major League appearance in 2026, surrendering five runs across 2 2/3 innings. Even though the outcomes were poor, Picollo was encouraged by the 32-year-old’s performance. Position Player Ambiguity Jac Caglianone remains a key part of the plan , but his defensive home remains in question. David Lesky of Royals Review noted that there are still holes in Caglianone’s game. Both metrics and the eye test indicated he had become a significantly better right fielder early in the year. However, he struggled when he shifted to first base while Vinnie Pasquantino was hurt. Upon resuming that position, he encountered difficulties in the outfield once more. This positional ambiguity makes him a tougher case for future contracts. To maximize value, the team could use him as a right fielder, yet treating him as a first baseman might reduce costs. The numbers differ significantly for a corner outfielder versus a first baseman. Caglianone has great arm strength, which makes wasting it at first base a shame. But his sprint speed is not great, which limits his range in the outfield. The organization also has young talent rising in the minors. Baseball America ranks Royals prospect Zion Rose as the hottest Arizona Fall League prospect over the past week. Rose was named AFL Hitter of the Week after reaching base 12 times in 20 plate appearances. He stole six bases without being caught. His knack for reaching base and pressuring defenses with his high speed has been particularly notable. In 15 games, Rose recorded a .328/.494/.517 line with two home runs. MLB.com names pitcher Lucas Braun as Kansas City’s 2027 Rookie of the Year candidate . Braun is ready for a shot after spending three years at the upper levels. He has been a very durable starter, topping 140 innings pitched twice in the last two years. He could be a solid inning-eating back-end starter in 2027. Also, the Royals possess a strong defensive infield anchored by Maikel Garcia and Bobby Witt Jr.