Royals' J.J. Picollo Sends Clear Message About Kansas City's Offseason Plans

The Kansas City Royals don't have much room for another offseason of missed opportunities, particularly after watching their bullpen turn winnable games into losses throughout 2026.

As general manager J.J. Picollo prepares for his sixth offseason in charge, he understands the urgency around getting things turned back in the right direction.

"We plan to be aggressive in acquisition," Picollo said, via Jaylon Thompson of The Kansas City Star. "I don't want that to be mistaken for aggressive in payroll."

The Royals finished 69-93, with injuries dismantling much of their rotation and the bullpen struggling to protect leads. Picollo specifically pointed to the number of games that slipped away after the sixth inning, a problem that became difficult to ignore as the season unraveled.

The front office now has to find a way to improve the pitching staff without assuming that a more expensive roster automatically means a better one.

One of the first decisions involves Carlos Estévez, whose $13 million club option for 2027 comes with a $2 million buyout. Declining the option would free up roughly $11 million, giving Kansas City additional flexibility to pursue replacements after Estévez managed only one appearance this season because of injury.

Picollo acknowledged the financial implications while recognizing what Estévez contributed during his first season with the Royals.

"You know, I think what Carlos did in '25 was tremendous," Picollo said. "Got hurt this year, but that's $10-11 million off our payroll. So we have to look into ways to be more efficient."

That money could be particularly useful in a bullpen that ranked near the bottom of the league. Kansas City has some pieces worth keeping, including Steven Cruz and Nate Pearson, while Lucas Erceg finished September with five scoreless innings after a difficult season. Picollo expressed optimism about all three, but the Royals still need dependable options around them.

The challenge is finding the right veterans. Kansas City has tried adding established relievers in recent seasons, with mixed results, and Picollo acknowledged how difficult it is to recreate the kind of bullpen that helped carry the Royals to the World Series in 2014 and 2015.

"There's a reason why the 'HDH' from 11 years ago hasn't been repeated since," Picollo said. "I mean, that's very difficult to do."

The Royals may have opportunities to pursue prominent free agents such as Adrian Morejon and David Bednar, though Picollo's comments suggest the club will be weighing value as carefully as talent. Kansas City also has two openings in its projected rotation, with Cole Ragans, Stephen Kolek and Luinder Avila recovering from season-ending surgeries.

That leaves the Royals with decisions beyond the bullpen. Picollo said the club will consider trades if an opportunity emerges to acquire a frontline starter, even if making the deal means moving a valuable player already on the roster.

Kansas City cannot afford to approach the winter with a narrow list of solutions. After a season in which its pitching staff repeatedly let games get away, Picollo's willingness to explore different avenues may matter as much as which players the Royals ultimately acquire.