The Royals formally launched Hunter Renfroe Wednesday, in response to the MLB.com transaction log. This was the anticipated final result after Kansas Metropolis designated the veteran outfielder for project final week.
Kansas Metropolis’s stunning two-year free agent funding in Renfroe didn’t work. The Royals assured him $13.5M on a deal that additionally included an opt-out clause after the primary season. Renfroe was coming off a replacement-level .233/.297/.416 displaying between the Angels and Reds in 2023. The Royals hoped for a rebound, however his manufacturing additional tanked in Kansas Metropolis.
Renfroe hit .229/.297/.392 with 15 homers over 120 video games final 12 months. He made the straightforward choice to not decide out. The Royals gave him one other shot because the Opening Day proper fielder. Renfroe batted .182/.241/.242 and not using a single homer throughout 108 journeys to the plate. His organizational tenure concludes with a .219/.286/.362 slash line over 532 plate appearances.
The Royals pays Renfroe the rest of his $7.5M wage. There’s a good likelihood he’ll want to just accept a minor league deal if he needs to seek out one other touchdown spot. If Renfroe logs main league motion anyplace else this 12 months, his new crew will solely pay the prorated portion of the $760K league minimal. That might come off the Royals’ obligations.
Kansas Metropolis has swapped out each their season-opening nook outfielders. Left fielder MJ Melendez stays on the 40-man roster however was optioned final month. He’s hitting .215 whereas placing out practically 28% of the time in Triple-A. Renfroe is now out of the group fully. Drew Waters is beginning in left area, whereas they introduced up 27-year-old rookie John Rave to get a possibility in proper area.
Prime prospect Jac Caglianone looms in Triple-A and may very well be up within a few weeks, however the outfield figures to stay the entrance workplace’s high precedence because the commerce deadline approaches.
