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9 Royals Who Won't Return in 2024

Kansas City should field a very different club next season in hopes of contention
Salvador Perez drilled 23 home runs for the second consecutive year
Salvador Perez drilled 23 home runs for the second consecutive year / Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
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5. Carlos Hernández - P

Hernández is another name the Royals were reportedly shopping ahead of the deadline, showcasing him in a closer role down the stretch in hopes of increasing his value before the offseason.

Things...didn't go too well. Hernández finished with a 5.27 ERA, technically an improvement from the 7.39 mark he posted in 2022, with six blown saves to only four converted saves.

Perhaps a team would be interested in the upside Hernández shows with his 99+ MPH fastball. He did strike out 77 batters in 70 innings pitched, so there's certainly a talented pitcher in there somewhere.

With a cost-controlled contract and over three years of big league experience despite being only 26 years old, Hernández may just need a change of scenery to reach the potential he's shown.

The Royals had the worst bullpen ERA in the American League last year (5.23) and must make drastic improvements to field a competitive club. Kansas City is out of time for Hernández to develop and it's time to move on.