New pitcher Matt Strahm believes the team's hunger for postseason success is high.
The Kansas City Royals finished the 2025 season with an 82-80 record, good enough for third place in the AL Central but not quite enough to return to the postseason.
After making a surprising Wild Card run in 2024, the team took a step back last year and watched October baseball from home.
That disappointment, however, might be exactly what this roster needs heading into 2026.
New Royals pitcher Matt Strahm, who was acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies in December, shared his thoughts on the team's mindset at the Royals Rally press conference this past weekend.
"Happy to hear how disappointed the team was in missing the playoffs," Strahm said. "Tells me they're ready to change it."
A Familiar Face Returns to Kansas City
Strahm's journey back to Kansas City reads like a baseball movie come full circle.
The Royals originally drafted him in the 21st round of the 2012 MLB Draft, and he made his big league debut with the club in 2016 before being traded to San Diego in 2017.
After stops with the Padres, Red Sox, and Phillies, the 34-year-old lefty has returned to the organization where it all started.
Over the past three seasons in Philadelphia, Strahm established himself as one of the best left-handed setup men in baseball.
He posted a 2.71 ERA across 188 appearances and earned an All-Star nod in 2024 when he finished with a sparkling 1.87 ERA.
Last season he made 66 appearances and recorded a 2.74 ERA with a career-best 22 holds.
The Royals are counting on that veteran presence to help shore up their bullpen alongside closer Carlos Estevez and setup man Lucas Erceg.
Building a Contender Around Young Stars
The Royals have the foundation in place to compete for a playoff spot in 2026, and they know it.
Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. continues to cement himself as one of baseball's brightest stars, hitting .295 with 23 home runs and leading the league with 184 hits last season.
Third baseman Maikel Garcia won a Gold Glove and signed a five-year extension worth $57.5 million this offseason, keeping the left side of the infield locked up for years to come.
Kansas City also made changes to Kauffman Stadium, bringing the outfield fences in by as much as 10 feet ahead of the 2026 season.
General manager J.J. Picollo hopes the shorter dimensions will help hitters like Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez turn warning track shots into souvenirs.
The Road Back to October
Strahm's words capture exactly what the Royals need heading into the new season.
Missing the playoffs should hurt, and the fact that it bothered the players tells Strahm that this group has the right mindset to push for more.
With a strengthened bullpen, a deep rotation led by Cole Ragans and Seth Lugo, and a core of young talent ready to take the next step, Kansas City believes they have everything they need to get back to October baseball.
The disappointment of 2025 might just be the fuel that drives the Royals in 2026.