3 Royals Players Who Won’t Be on the Roster Next Year

Royals’ general manager J.J. Picollo has been frank in describing this disappointing season as an evaluation year. The organization is looking to the future to determine which young players are part of the team’s core and which ones will be leveraged and potentially traded to other clubs.

Some players, like Bobby Witt Jr. and Maikel Garcia, have proven they belong on the roster long-term. Others have either fallen short in the evaluation process or don’t fit the team’s timeline.

With that in mind, here are the players I don’t expect to be Royals next season.

3 Royals Players Who Won’t Be on the Roster in 2024

Salvador Perez, C

The Royals’ longest-tenured player certainly has the ability to be on the roster. His numbers are in line with his career averages with an OPS of .722 alongside 18 home runs and 49 RBIs, but Kansas City reportedly came close to dealing Perez at the trade deadline and it’s overwhelmingly likely the organization trades him this offseason.

It would obviously be painful for the Royals to move on from Salvy, but he’s the franchise’s best trade chip and Picollo needs to look to the future.

Perez’s stellar bat, strong defense and effusive leadership make him a natural fit for contending teams. The Marlins and White Sox were interested at the trade deadline and he’ll likely have several suitors this offseason as well.

Royals fans want Salvy to retire as a Royal, but it’s in the best interest of the team to utilize his value and restock a weak farm system. He’s toiled on miserable teams long enough – it’s time to trade Salvy before his body and skills start to deteriorate.