Imagine having a pitching staff so stacked that it becomes the cornerstone of your team’s success—yet, the decisions on how to manage it could make or break your season. That’s the reality the Kansas City Royals face right now. Over the past two seasons, their pitching staff, particularly the starting rotation, has been the team’s saving grace. Even the bullpen has held its own, proving to be a reliable unit. But here’s where it gets controversial: with a surplus of talented starters and a looming need for offensive firepower, how do you balance keeping your strengths while addressing your weaknesses?
Last season, injuries to key starters like Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, and Kris Bubic forced the Royals to make strategic trades, bolstering a unit that had been under fire. Heading into the 2026 season, the team is spoiled for choice when it comes to potential starters. While I have no insider knowledge and this isn’t a prediction of what will happen, it’s a thought experiment: if I were calling the shots, here’s how I’d structure the Opening Day pitching staff.
Starting Rotation:
Opening Day Starter: Seth Lugo
SP2: Michael Wacha
SP3: Kris Bubic
SP4: Noah Cameron
SP5: Ryan Bergert
Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Cole Ragans. Don’t get me wrong, when healthy, he’s arguably the most talented starter on the roster. But his injury history is a massive red flag. Two Tommy John surgeries and a rotator cuff strain last season have limited his availability. And this is the part most people miss: trading Ragans now, while his value is high, could net the Royals a much-needed offensive piece like Jarren Duran. Yes, it’s tough to let go of a player of his caliber, but with Bobby Witt Jr. in his prime, the Royals need to maximize their window to compete for a title.
I debated trading Ragans or Bubic, as one of them likely needs to go to secure an outfielder. The pitching staff held its own without Ragans last year, but the offense struggled. By trading Ragans, Noah Cameron and Ryan Bergert slide into the rotation, with Stephen Kolek as a solid fallback option—though I see him starting the year in the bullpen.
Bullpen Roles:
Closer: Carlos Estevez
Set-Up Men: Lucas Erceg and Matt Strahm
High/Middle Relief: Nick Mears, John Schreiber, and Stephen Cruz
Long Relief/Mop-Up: Daniel Lynch IV and Stephen Kolek
This setup gives the Royals 13 pitchers for Opening Day, their typical roster size. Notably, Luinder Avila, Mason Black, Bailey Falter, Alex Lange, Alec Marsh, and James McArthur didn’t make my cut, though any of them could earn a spot during Spring Training or later in the season.
Here’s another bold take: the Royals need another left-handed reliever to pair with Strahm, who’s a significant upgrade over Angel Zerpa. Lynch is unreliable in high-leverage situations, so adding someone like free agents Danny Coulombe or Andrew Chafin would be a smart move. This would likely bump Lynch or Cruz off the roster.
This is just my perspective, and running a team is no easy feat. But here’s the question I’ll leave you with: Would you trade Cole Ragans for offensive help, or keep him and hope his health holds up? Let’s debate it in the comments—I want to hear your take on how the Royals should shape their pitching staff this season.
