Kansas City Royals: When is the next dominant bullpen coming?

Conclusion

The Kansas City Royals bullpen projects to provide 0.5 WAR total for the 2020 season. This number should be higher if Trevor Rosenthal has indeed returned to his pre-injury All-Star form and Josh Staumont breaks out.

The Royals should look to part ways with Ian Kennedy and his remaining salary at some point this year. Tim Hill is another reliever who has garnered a lot of trade chatter this spring (Yankees interested and A’s interested). These moves could be made with the development of Richard Lovelady (replace Tim Hill) and acquisition of Chance Adams (replace Kennedy’s roster spot).

The Royals should start to trickle in their bullpen prospects as early as 2021. Zuber, Lovelady, and Tillo could begin to take over their roles with Hernandez and Bowlan likely slotted for 2022. The Royals bullpen of the future could project to provide 9.2 WAR, which will put them into the top tier of baseball bullpen value.

Once the bullpen is solidified, the Royals could become potential playoff contenders by the 2025 season when the starting pitching and position prospects are fully matured and ready to coalesce. The future is bright on all fronts for the Kansas City Royals.