Talked with new #Royals assistant pitching coach Mike McFerran about his time with Wake Forest, the A's and how excited he is now to join KC. He likes to say he got his PhD in pitching at Wake Forest. Now he's applying it all in pro ball:

The #Royals hired Mike McFerran as asst. pitching coach, replacing Zach Bove. McFerran was the A's pitching performance coach in '24 and Minor League pitching coordinator in '25. Before that, he was the pitching lab coordinator and director of player development at Wake Forest.

Source: The #Royals are finalizing a one-year deal with RHP Alex Lange. Lange, a Lee’s Summit West grad, was DFA’d by the Tigers earlier this week & is under club control through 2028. He spent most of the season on the IL after lat surgery. Notched 26 saves for Detroit in ‘23.

Per source, McArthur's one-year deal is for $810k as he and the club avoid arbitration. McArthur didn’t pitch at all in 2025 after an olecranon (elbow) fracture last offseason and subsequent setbacks, but he was beginning his throwing program by the end of the regular season.

ICYMI: #Royals add two prospects to 40-man roster, protecting them from next month's Rule 5 Draft

Roster news: #Royals have added pitchers Ben Kudrna (No. 7 on MLB Pipeline's club Top 30 list) & Steven Zobac (No. 11) to the 40-man roster, protecting them from the Rule 5 Draft. Among the notable not added: Frank Mozzicato & Gavin Cross, first-round picks in 2021 and '22.

#Royals targeted blend of experience, innovation with hitting coach hires: www.mlb.com/royals/news/...

A standout season for Noah Cameron landed him fourth in Rookie of the Year voting: www.mlb.com/royals/news/...

Kameron Misner provides outfield depth, elite defense for #Royals as they get the offseason started in a trade with the Rays: www.mlb.com/royals/news/...

#Royals restructure leadership team at the top, bringing in Cullen Maxey as president of business operations: "This is a day that helps change our organization and prepares us for the future," CEO/chairman John Sherman said. www.mlb.com/royals/news/...

News: The #Royals are hiring Marcus Thames as a hitting coach, according to sources. Thames is a former big leaguer who has also coached for several organizations, including NYY, MIA, LAA, and most recently, CWS. He joins the KC staff alongside Connor Dawson.

#Royals are back with FanDuel in 2026:

#Royals sign Salvy to new $25 million contract that keeps the captain in Kansas City through 2027: www.mlb.com/news/salvado...

Source: Salvador Perez's new contract with the #Royals is worth a guaranteed $25 million over the two years. There's a signing bonus and some deferred money within the contract, but it essentially works out to $12.5 million a year.

The #Royals placed RHP Kyle Wright on outright waivers, as Jon Heyman first reported... Wright missed the past two seasons following shoulder surgery in '23 + additional injuries this year. One of KC's non-tender candidates due to the injury history as he enters the final year of arb.

Alec Marsh’s surgery last month was a right labral repair, so he’s looking at a long road to recovery, maybe up to a year. Marsh missed all of 2025 with a shoulder injury. A couple more #Royals injury updates can be found here: www.mlb.com/news/royals-...

The #Royals left side of the infield was golden in 2025. Bobby Witt Jr., Maikel Garcia take home AL Gold Gloves at SS and 3B: www.mlb.com/news/bobby-w...

Mail call 📫 Reply here with your #Royals questions and I'll pick a few to answer for an upcoming inbox...

#Royals third base coach Vance Wilson interviewed for San Francisco’s managerial opening this month and is a candidate for the manager’s job in Minnesota, too, according to a source. Twins have him on their interview list.

Mike Jirschele quipped that he didn’t want anyone to bother him when his retirement was announced. That’s totally Jirsch. And totally wasn’t going to happen — his legacy is too great with the #Royals for his phone to stay quiet. “He’s a Royals legend.” www.mlb.com/news/mike-ji...

Eager to continue success on the field, #Royals owner John Sherman discusses payroll, offseason philosophy: www.mlb.com/royals/news/...

News: The #Royals will not bring back assistant hitting coaches Joe Dillon and Keoni DeRenne in 2026. The org will be searching for new voices, thoughts and experience to balance out the staff, general manager J.J. Picollo tells me: www.mlb.com/news/royals-...

The #Royals expressed confidence in their coaching staff yesterday but will continue to evaluate this month and through the offseason what they need to help the staff and the players: www.mlb.com/news/royals-...

#Royals GM JJ Picollo says hitting coach Alec Zumwalt “will return” as the hitting coach in 2026 and “most of the staff” will return as well. Might be tweaks to the staff to help get most out of players.

Year 5 on the #Royals beat challenged me in new ways. I learned a lot. Grew a lot. Thank you to everyone who read and interacted this year. I might go sleep for a week now but the work doesn't stop in the offseason, so we'll have it all covered on MLB.com. Cheers!

Bobby Witt Jr: "Now we’ve got to ask, ‘How motivated can we get because of this year?’ We can’t be satisfied with playing .500. We can’t be satisfied with making the postseason one year. Hopefully it lights a fire under the guys. I’m ready to get to work." www.mlb.com/royals/news/...

Only two #Royals have ever held the title of MLB saves leader in franchise history — Dan Quisenberry and now Carlos Estévez. Clinching the title with his 42nd save last night was fitting for a guy who has meant a lot to the #Royals this year:

Michael Wacha made his 31st start of the season tonight, a new career high for the 13-year veteran pitcher. Been an anchor for the rotation all year. In his season finale, he spun six scoreless innings, allowing just two hits, walking three and striking out five. #Royals

As the final series of 2025 gets underway for the #Royals, thought this quote from Michael Lorenzen -- a vet who has been with several orgs in his career -- last night was good perspective. I asked him what it's been like to pitch for this team the past year-plus.

Vinnie, Salvy, history: First #Royals teammates with 30 HRs, 100 RBIs in a season

Stephen “quality start” Kolek. Kolek ends season without his best stuff, but by still giving the #Royals a quality start, showing again how he can be a part of their future: www.mlb.com/news/stephen...

The Guardians won, tying the Tigers atop the AL Central and owning the tiebreaker. Just wild. That win also officially eliminates the #Royals from postseason contention.

One final day at The K for the 2025 regular season. A #Royals win will keep Toronto from clinching a postseason berth. It'll also stave off elimination for another day. A loss + wins from either Cleveland or Houston today officially eliminates KC from postseason contention.

“It’ll never get old,” Noah Cameron says of the standing ovation he received from 25,000 at Kauffman Stadium last night as he wrapped up his final regular season home start of 2025. And what a 2025 it has been for the rookie: www.mlb.com/news/royals-...

Jensen atop #Royals historic offensive spree in win over Blue Jays:

Leadoff double for Carter Jensen off Max Scherzer. That's fun.

Two more injury updates: --Ryan Bergert's MRI revealed a mild flexor strain, and the #Royals are expecting him be healthy for spring training in 2026. --Seth Lugo (low back strain) is feeling better but has not thrown. A return this year is becoming a "long shot," Quatraro said.

Lucas Erceg is dealing with a mild right shoulder impingement, something he could potentially pitch through if the stakes were greater than they are now. But #Royals are being cautious and don't want to push him, as they need him to be healthy in 2026.

Within this story, #Royals veterans yesterday reminded the clubhouse that these remaining games are still meaningful no matter what the standings look like. Last night’s win showed more of the fight they’d like to see.

Ryan Bergert is expected to be placed on the IL today or soon. Luinder Avila has a locker in the #Royals clubhouse. Not the way Bergert wanted his season to end, but he showed that he’s part of KC’s future with the way he pitched post Deadline. www.mlb.com/news/royals-...

“I love competing with these guys, being on the field with these guys and trying to help this team win.” The #Royals win was decided long after Ragans departed last night, but it sure was nice to see their ace back on the mound: www.mlb.com/news/cole-ra...

Manager Matt Quatraro said that Ryan Bergert felt forearm tightness in his bullpen today, so he’s expected to go on the IL. That’s why Michael Lorenzen only threw an inning tonight — he’ll make Friday’s start.

#Royals center fielder Kyle Isbel is out of the game in the top of the third inning with Tyler Tolbert taking over in center. Not sure why yet but Isbel is sitting in the dugout with a trainer.

Ragans strikes out the side in the first inning. He threw 11 pitches, 10 strikes. Fastball up to 98. That's a pretty good start to his return. #Royals

Cole Ragans' first three pitches in his first big league game since June: 95.7 mph swinging strike 97 mph swinging strike 97.6 mph swinging strike

With Cole Ragans’ return tonight, Michael Lorenzen will head to the bullpen in a piggyback-type role. Ragans isn’t built up fully — likely around 60-70 pitches — so with this being Lorenzen’s normal day to pitch too, #Royals will have him as coverage.

#Royals are down 7-0 in the third inning. Michael Wacha went 2 2/3 innings in his return from the IL.

Great moment from #Royals fans to give Salvador Perez an ovation after 300 career homers. Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh stepped in front of the plate, starter Logan Gilbert stepped off the mound to let Salvy have his moment, and he tipped his helment to the crowd.

Seth Lugo (low back strain) didn’t respond well to his bullpen Monday, so he’ll be shut down a few more days to see if symptoms clear. Thursday’s starter will be Stephen Kolek.

The #Royals will have Michael Wacha return and start the series opener against the Mariners on Tuesday night. Wednesday's starter: Cole Ragans. Thursday is listed as TBA