The Kansas City Royals added an injured pitcher to the organization on a two-year deal.
The Kansas City Royals are taking a long‑term approach with their latest pitching addition, agreeing to terms with a veteran left‑hander whose career has been shaped as much by resilience as by early success. While the move will not impact the 2026 season in the short term, it reflects Kansas City’s willingness to invest in upside beyond this year.
The pitcher in question has battled significant injuries over the past several seasons, limiting what once looked like a highly promising trajectory. Despite that, his track record when healthy and his prior success at the major league level make him an intriguing addition to the organization’s depth chart. “We have agreed to a two‑year minor league contract with LHP John Means,” the Royals wrote on X.
The deal comes with the understanding that Means is unlikely to pitch in 2026 after tearing his Achilles tendon in December. The injury adds to a long list of setbacks that have stalled his career in recent years. Tommy John surgery wiped out most of his 2022 and 2023 seasons. He returned to the mound in 2024 with Baltimore but made just 4 starts before requiring another elbow procedure.
In 2024, his most recent MLB action, Means posted a 2.61 ERA across 20 2/3 innings in 4 starts, striking out 16 batters while showing flashes of the command and changeup that once made him so effective. However, that brief return was cut short by injury, and he has not pitched in the big leagues since.
Means originally broke out as an All‑Star in 2019, finishing that season with a 3.60 ERA over 155 innings. He also earned a second‑place finish in AL Rookie of the Year voting. Means followed that with a strong 2021 campaign, recording a 3.62 ERA in 26 starts. At his best, he paired a low‑velocity fastball with an above‑average changeup and limited hard contact, keeping hitters off balance even without overpowering stuff.
The significance of this move lies in the timeline. Kansas City is not expecting immediate returns. Instead, the Royals are betting that Means can complete his recovery and potentially contribute in 2027. A two‑year minor league deal provides flexibility and reduces financial risk while offering Means stability during rehabilitation.
For a Royals team looking to build sustainable pitching depth, this is a calculated gamble. If Means can regain his health and approach anything close to his prior form, Kansas City could eventually add a proven left‑handed starter without sacrificing major assets.