Royals GM J.J. Picollo has highlighted an on-base hitter as his top priority this off-season, and for good reason. Royals leadoff hitters batted .228/.270/.334 this year, by far the worst in baseball. Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, and Salvador Perez all need more RBI opportunities from someone that can set the table.
Free agency is now in full swing, and we will see if the Royals spend as lavishly as they did last winter. Which free agents could give the Royals an upgrade in their lineup? Juan Soto and Alex Bregman will be among the top hitters available, but I didn’t list them because (a) it seems unlikely the Royals would spend that much; and (b) you probably already know how good they are.