Royals set for 2023 Winter Meetings. Here’s a look at starters who could be available

The Kansas City Royals didn’t waste any time diving into a busy offseason, swinging separate deals with the Atlanta Braves that netted pitchers Nick Anderson and Kyle Wright.

Anderson is expected to be a veteran presence in the bullpen. Meanwhile, Wright will likely miss the 2024 season after shoulder surgery. The Royals hope Wright can regain his 2022 form — when he won 21 games — and earn a future role in the starting rotation.

KC will now turn to the upcoming 2023 Winter Meetings. Royals general manager J.J. Picollo highlighted three objectives earlier this offseason: acquiring starting pitching and relief help, and finding another impact bat.

The Winter Meetings will be held in Nashville, Tennessee. The four-day event is slated for Dec. 3-6, and MLB personnel from every team will be in attendance.

Historically, the Winter Meetings are where many offseason deals are made, and the Royals will get a chance to gauge both the free-agent and trade markets.

Over the next couple weeks, The Star will offer a closer look at potential free-agent targets. We begin our focus on available starting pitchers.

Unlikely options

There are several top starters available this offseason. Fans will clamor for American League MVP Shohei Othani and National League Cy Young winner Blake Snell.

Other high-end starters include Sonny Gray, Eduardo Rodriguez, Jordan Montgomery and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Tampa Bay Rays ace Tyler Glasnow and Chicago White Sox star Dylan Cease are reportedly drawing interest as trade candidates.

These pitchers will generate a hefty salary or top prospects. It’s still unknown what the Royals’ payroll will be for the 2024 season. Picollo said the Royals had around $30 million coming off the books earlier this offseason.

The Royals will likely sit out the high-end arms race this offseason, but there will be top pitching talent available for some teams.

Possible, but still unlikely

The Royals could decide to splurge on proven starters this offseason. Picollo stated the 2024 starting rotation will include Cole Ragans, Brady Singer and Jordan Lyles. There are two spots available to upgrade the position.

There are a couple free-agent pitchers that fit the bill. One name that could make sense is Marcus Stroman. Stroman went 10-9 and posted a 3.95 ERA with the Chicago Cubs last season. He was a 2023 NL All-Star after a dominant first half. However, a hip injury sidelined him in August and he struggled down the stretch.

Stroman excelled at inducing ground balls and limiting home runs against opposing teams. He allowed nine home runs last season and had a 57.1% ground ball rate, per Fangraphs.

The Royals improved their defense in 2023. Royals infielders Bobby Witt Jr., Maikel Garcia and Michael Massey made strides under infield coach José Alguacil. Also, Kauffman Stadium pairs well with contact pitchers.

Stroman will be 33 years old next season. He is likely to seek an expensive, short-term deal. If the Royals want to spend big on a top starter, Stroman is a good option.

Other names to consider include Martin Perez, James Paxton and Wade Miley. Each pitcher has thrived as mid-rotation starters in their careers.

Perez had a down year for the World Series champions Texas Rangers. He posted a 4.45 ERA in 35 games (20 starts). However, he is two years removed from a 2022 All-Star selection.

Both Paxton and Miley are established veterans. They were productive last season despite some injury concerns. Paxton dealt with knee inflammation but had several quality starts. Miley had a 3.14 ERA in 120 1/3 innings last season.

Realistic options

If the Royals are going to add starting pitching, it will likely be short-term, high-reward deals. KC could follow a similar blueprint from the in-state rival St. Louis Cardinals.

The Cardinals signed free agents Kyle Gibson and Lance Lynn to one-year deals with a club option for the 2025 season. Gibson signed for $12 million and Lynn reportedly signed for approximately $11 million.

A few names to watch are Seth Lugo, Jack Flaherty and Lucas Giolito.

The Royals reportedly had interest in Lugo last offseason. He offers a lot of flexibility having also been a reliever in his career. Lugo spent the 2023 campaign with the San Diego Padres and was a full-time starter.

Lugo, 34, posted a 3.57 ERA in 26 starts and struck out 140 batters. He registered a 2.8 WAR (wins above replacement) and held opponents to a .248 batting average.

Flaherty has struggled his last few years. He is far removed from his 2019 campaign where he posted a 2.75 ERA. Last season, he spent time with two teams and didn’t make the Baltimore Orioles’ postseason roster.

Flaherty had a 6.75 ERA with the Orioles in nine games. He began the year with the Cardinals after dealing with a shoulder injury in 2022. The Royals could take a flier on Flaherty and help him regain his form.

Royals pitching coaches Brian Sweeney and Zach Bove helped several pitchers figure out their mechanics. Notably, Ragans and reliever James McArthur were dynamic after they arrived in midseason trades. Flaherty is 28 years old and young enough to rebound in a new environment.

Giolito also falls in a similar category. It was a tough season as he pitched for three teams during the year. Giolito posted a 4.88 ERA and allowed 41 home runs.

There were a mix of ugly performances. However, Giolito still logged 184 1/3 innings and 33 starts. He also turned in a 12-strikeout performance against the Rangers in September.

Giolito is similar to Lyles. He will take the baseball and eat innings every five days. There is value in that for a young Royals team. If Giolito can rediscover his All-Star form from 2019-21, he could be a solid bounce-back candidate.

The Royals will explore all their options as the 2023 offseason unfolds. The Winter Meetings offer a chance to gauge the free-agent market and set plans in motion for the upcoming months.