While it wasn't the earth-shattering move Royals fans may've hoped for, there's still some real reason to be intrigued by Kansas City's latest free agent signing.
On Thursday evening, the Royals announced that they'd signed former Detroit Tigers closer Alex Lange to a one-year, $900K contract to add to their bullpen depth.
Now, it's understandable why fans still might have some reservations about the 30-year-old right-hander. After all, between injuries and lengthy demotions to Triple-A Toledo, Lange only managed to pitch 19.2 innings in the last two seasons.
However, even amidst the underperformance, there's one key stat that could be a real difference maker in believing Lange can return to form in 2026.