A promising start by the Royals in 2021 raised hopes that perhaps the timeline for contention was accelerated. A dreadful summer added a dose of reality, but the club has played better down the stretch. With the season winding down, Royals fans will begin to look towards next year with some hope as prospects like Bobby Witt, Jr., MJ Melendez, and Nick Pratto should make their big league debuts. Let’s take a look at what the long-term payroll situation looks like.
The Royals had an Opening Day payroll of around $89 million this year. They have five players eligible for free agency this winter - Wade Davis, Jesse Hahn, Greg Holland, Ervin Santana, and Michael Taylor.