The Kansas City Royals general manager did not hold back when addressing the team's disappointing first half.
The Kansas City Royals general manager did not hold back when addressing the team's disappointing first half.
The Kansas City Royals entered 2026 with playoff expectations after going 86-76 in 2024 and reaching the American League Division Series.
An 82-80 finish in 2025 kept them home in October, but the front office believed this roster had the talent to bounce back.
General manager JJ Picollo built around a core that included Bobby Witt Jr., Cole Ragans, Salvador Perez and Vinnie Pasquantino, but so far none of it has gone to plan.
Kansas City sits at 35-51 through 86 games, dead last in the AL Central and 11 games behind the first-place Chicago White Sox.
Their playoff odds sit at just two percent.
Picollo Does Not Hold Back
Speaking with reporters ahead of Tuesday's homestand opener against the Tampa Bay Rays, Picollo left no room for interpretation.
"We haven't met expectations at all," Picollo said. "That's clear. Just look at our record and know who we have on this roster. ... Nobody's going to feel sorry for us. We need to figure this thing out. Figure out how we can compete at a higher level and bring this thing together."
Kansas City's pitching staff owns a 4.87 ERA that ranks among the worst in the American League.
Ragans landed on the 60-day injured list and is set to undergo left elbow surgery that could sideline him well into 2027.
Closer Carlos Estevez went down after just one appearance this season, and the bullpen has been short on reliable arms ever since.
On offense, Perez has been one of the team's most disappointing performers, hitting just .201 with a .569 OPS while hitting the ball hard far less often than he has throughout his career.
Pasquantino is on the injured list as well after hitting .224 before going down.
Witt has been the one constant, hitting .294 with a .846 OPS while playing at an MVP level again.
Jac Caglianone has come on strong with 14 home runs and a .806 OPS, giving the lineup at least one other bat that scares opposing pitchers.
Buy, Sell or Hold at the Deadline
With the August 3 trade deadline about a month away, Picollo said the front office has not committed to a direction yet.
Impending free agents like Kris Bubic, Lane Thomas and Starling Marte will draw interest from contenders, and relievers Daniel Lynch IV and Alex Lange could bring back solid returns too.
The tougher question is whether Kansas City moves starters Michael Wacha or Seth Lugo, both of whom are under contract through 2027.
Picollo also noted that this year's evaluation bleeds into next season, and the front office needs to use the remaining three months to figure out who belongs on the roster going forward.
Before 2026, the Royals were expected to compete in the AL Central and push for a postseason spot.
Instead, Picollo is left balancing the present with the future and trying to figure out which pieces will still be part of the plan when Kansas City is ready to win again.
