On Monday, Royals outfielder Hunter Renfroe and reliever Chris Stratton both exercised their player options, and right-handed pitcher Kyle Wright was reinstated from the 60-day injured list.
Renfroe earned $5.5 million last season and will make $7.5 million next season. The 32-year-old outfielder is hoping to recover from a disappointing year, where he batted just .229 with 15 home runs and 18 doubles.
He spent a lot of time on the bench during the stretch when Kansas City was securing a wild-card playoff spot.
Stratton, who made $3.5 million last season, will earn $4.5 million next season. He is also looking to bounce back after finishing the season with a 5.55 ERA and struggling with his control before being placed on the injured list due to a right forearm flexor strain.
Wright was traded to the Royals from the Braves last year, with the understanding that he would miss the entire season while recovering from shoulder surgery.
The Royals’ hope is that the 29-year-old right-hander, who won 21 games with a 3.19 ERA in 2022, will be ready for spring training and compete for a spot in the starting rotation.
The Royals had previously decided not to pick up their mutual option on utility player Adam Frazier, choosing to pay him a $2.5 million buyout instead of bringing him back on an $8.5 million deal for next season. Frazier struggled at the plate, hitting just .202 in his single season with Kansas City.
