The Royals announced they will not offer major-league contracts to four players, including former Kansas City high school standouts Jason Adam and Bubba Starling, ahead of Friday’s 7 p.m. non-tender deadline.
Also non-tendered were first baseman Samir Duenez and pitcher Andres Machado.
Those players now become free agents, and they can be signed back by the Royals to minor-league contracts.
Adam, 27, a right-handed pitcher, made his major-league debut in 2018, finishing 0-3 with a 6.12 ERA in 31 appearances. The former fifth-round draft pick by Kansas City in 2010 from Blue Valley Northwest High returned to the Royals in 2017 after spending time in the Twins and Padres organizations.