Kansas City Royals general manager J.J. Picollo is at it again. Two winters after so successfully retooling his club's roster and one removed from some fine-tuning that didn't quite pay the dividends everyone had hoped for, he's hard at the task of making the Royals a serious contender again.
Already added to the fold for 2026 are promising outfielders Lane Thomas and Isaac Collins and All-Star reliever Matt Strahm. And the lucrative contract extension recently bestowed upon Maikel Garcia is a boost.
But issues remain. Trade and free agent rumors, the fruition of which could resolve problems posed by KC's frustrating offense and second base uncertainty, continue to bombard the club.