Ready for spring

If we think really hard, maybe we can melt the snow

There’s not much that passes for Royals news these days just before camp opens, but we can get through this slow time together.

Let’s get right to it.

The Royals announced their full Spring Training roster on Tuesday. Included along with the players on the 40-man roster are 25 non-roster invitees.

Pitcher
RHP A.J. Causey
RHP Dennis Colleran
RHP Jose Cuas
LHP Chazz Martinez
LHP Frank Mozzicato
RHP Héctor Neris
LHP Helcris Olivárez
RHP Shane Panzini
LHP Hunter Patteson
RHP Aaron Sanchez
Catcher
Jorge Alfaro
Canyon Brown
Omar Hernandez
Elih Marrero
Blake Mitchell
Ramon Ramirez
Luca Tresh
Infielder
Connor Kaiser
Kevin Newman
Josh Rojas
Abraham Toro
Daniel Vazquez
Peyton Wilson
Outfielder
Gavin Cross
Carson Roccaforte

Some random thoughts on the 25 listed above:

You’ll recognize Jose Cuas, who pitched for the Royals for parts of two seasons before getting shipped to the Chicago Cubs for Nelson Velázquez. Cuas has since bounced around to the Blue Jays, Phillies and Atlanta. He last appeared in the majors in 2024. Cuas put up a 3.22 ERA in 22 innings for Atlanta’s Double-A affiliate Columbus in 2025.

Veteran righty Aaron Sanchez is also among those who recieved an invitation. The Royals announced his signing to a minor league contract on Tuesday. He last appeared in the majors in 2022 and didn’t throw a professonal pitch in 2025. According to Robert Murray at Fansided, he would earn $1.5 million if he makes the team with an additional earning power of $1.3 million in incentives. There are also opt-out dates on April 15 and May 15 if he’s not on the big league club. A lot is going to have to go sideways for Sanchez to collect any of that coin.

There are always an outsized number of catchers—somebody has to catch all those bullpens!—so it’s not a surprise to see Blake Mitchell and Ramon Ramirez, the Royals number four and seven prospects according to Baseball America on the list.

Former first round picks Frank Mozzicato and Gavin Cross were both eligible to be selected in last month’s Rule 5 draft. Now they’re heading to big league camp in Surprise.

For me, among the most intriguing names—aside from Mitchell and Ramirez—will be lefty Hunter Patteson and outfielder Carson Roccaforte. Patteson turns 26 in April and has only topped out in Double-A, but saw a velocity jump last season and has what Baseball America calls “advanced pitchability.” Talk to me like that and you have my attention. Roccaforte is a guy who I think could push his way to Kansas City at some point this summer. His profile and work in the minors has me sold.

Anyone I miss who catches your eye?

Stadium news! The Aspiria campus at 119th and Nall in Overland Park is out as an option for the Royals.

“As stated when the Aspiria mortgage was acquired, the investment was made to maintain the site as an option for a new Kansas City Royals stadium,” team spokesman Sam Mellinger said in a statement. “After significant evaluation, we do not believe this site meets our criteria for a stadium. We continue to evaluate opportunities throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area to create a world-class ballpark district. As always, we hear and appreciate the input of our fans throughout the region.”

I’ve long said I’d travel to watch baseball wherever the Royals play in the metro, but I cannot imagine a worse location that the Aspiria campus, so even though the Royals continue to look directionless in their search for a home, I’ll treat this as good news.

This development, along with North Kansas City’s seeming loss of interest, would lead one to believe that the Washington Square Park site next to Union Station is the current frontrunner. As much as a piece of real estate can be a frontrunner in this continued comedy. The story I linked to above about the Royals no longer looking at the Aspiria campus concluded this way:

The Royals lease at Kauffman Stadium runs through Jan. 31, 2031, with two five-year extension options.

I feel like that has to be the coda to every article about this farce going forward.

The cool thing is to take photos of baseball stadiums under snow cover and post to social media. Witness:

I know we’re about two months away, but these photos just drive home how awful winter is.

While the Royals seem to be happy with their roster heading into spring training, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re done. General Manager JJ Picollo was on the Cody and Gold show on Tuesday:

Well, we’re always going to look to improve the roster. You know, I’ll say that over and over and over because you never know when you’re going to have the opportunity to improve the roster. There’s no limitations right now on, you know, making trades, waiver claims, whatever you want to do…

So we have now, from now, you know, really until July 31st, the trade deadline, to continue to try to make this team better. Once you’re locked in after the trade deadline, that’s what you’re going with the rest of the year. But between now and then, we’re going to always look to improve our roster.

Sometimes the most basic things need to be said. Of course the Royals aren’t done, even though it may look like most of the heavy lifting has been done. There will be plenty of movement between today and midseason.

Still, couldn’t they have done more to improve the outfield. Picollo says they’ve elevated the floor with the acquisitions of Lane Thomas and Isaac Collins. I’d feel better if they had done something about the ceiling as well.

The biggest news that I could bring you is that Wednesday is Truck Day. Yes, it is capital-T Truck, capital-D Day. It’s a holiday of sorts. A celebration. The day when the baseball gear is packed and loaded on a semi to depart for a warmer climate. Camp officially opens on February 9th for the players who will be in the World Baseball Classic. Soon there will be baseball.

Have a great Truck Day.