The Royals formally launched Hunter Renfroe Wednesday, in accordance with the MLB.com transaction log. This was the anticipated consequence after Kansas Metropolis designated the veteran outfielder for project final week.
Kansas Metropolis’s shocking 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 yr. He made the straightforward determination to not choose 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 can pay Renfroe the rest of his $7.5M wage. There’s an honest probability he’ll want to just accept a minor league deal if he needs to search out one other touchdown spot. If Renfroe logs main league motion anyplace else this yr, his new group 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 hanging out almost 28% of the time in Triple-A. Renfroe is now out of the group solely. Drew Waters is beginning in left discipline, whereas they introduced up 27-year-old rookie John Rave to get a chance in proper discipline.
Prime prospect Jac Caglianone looms in Triple-A and could possibly be up within a few weeks, however the outfield figures to stay the entrance workplace’s prime precedence because the commerce deadline approaches.
