The Kansas City Royals have rounded up veteran outfielder Hunter Renfroe (33). This year's annual salary is 7.65 million U.S. dollars, which amounts to 10.5 billion won, but he boldly gave up after showing no signs of rebounding.메이저사이트
Kansas City called up utility fielder Nick Loftin (27) from Triple-A on the 24th (Korea Standard Time) and assigned outfielder Renfroe (DFA). In Kansas City, a small market club, he is the sixth highest-paid player in the team, and he made a quick decision even though it was less than half of the season.
According to MLB.com , Kansas City Manager J.J. Piccolo said, "We respect Renfroe's accomplishments so far. He was a key member of our team last year, and he changed the culture of our team and paved the way for our victory. He always did his best, and we were patient, but we were confident that Loptin's performance in Triple-A would help increase the team's strength."
Renfroe, who made his major league debut with the San Diego Padres in 2016, has played for Kansas City since last year after playing for the Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Angels and Cincinnati Reds. With 192 home runs in 10 seasons, he recorded more than 20 home runs in six consecutive seasons from 2017 to 2023, except for the shortened COVID-19 season in 2020.
He signed a two-year, 13-million-dollar free agent contract with the Kansas City Royals in December 2023, but his performance has declined since then. He missed expectations by posting a batting average of 2229 (88 hits in 385 at-bats) with 15 homers and 52 RBIs in 120 games last year. He suffered injuries including toes, waist and hamstring.
Renfroe, who had a player option in 2025, stayed with the Kansas City Royals on the condition that he would receive an annual salary of 7.65 million U.S. dollars. The team expected a rebound, but the outcome was disastrous. He hit the bottom with a batting average of 182, no homers, four RBIs and an OPS.483 in 35 games this season. He wanted to see if he could revive with a batting average of 316 (six hits in 19 times at bat) in the recent six games, but ended up breaking up with the Kansas City Royals due to DFA.
Kansas City also dealt with veteran reliever Chris Stranton (35) on the 19th and released him on the 23rd when he passed through waivers. Stranton, who signed a two-year, $8 million FA contract with Kansas City in December 2023, has an annual salary of $4.5 million this year, about 6.1 billion won in our money. However, he left the team this season with a sharp decline with a 7.94 WHIP 2.18 hit rate of 377 without winning or losing 12 games (17 innings).
It is not an easy decision for a small market team to select two high-paying players over the course of a week. Still, Piccolo said, "Our goal is to win the district championship this year. Releasing a guaranteed salary player is a difficult decision, but sometimes we have to make the best decision for the team. I think it is the best decision for us at this point in time to have the two players released. Not only now but also when we look at the future. The players who joined the team will stay together for a long time for the future of the team."
The Kansas City Royals is cruising smoothly with 28 wins and 24 losses (winning rate of .538) through Sunday. The team ranks fourth in the American League Central, but ranks third in the AL as a wild card, making it a competitive place in fall baseball. It was a waste to lose his salary in the air, but it was an inevitable decision in terms of team power.
Jonathan Bolan (29), a pitcher who came up with Stranton's release, is supporting the bullpen with one win and a 1.80 ERA in three games (five innings). Loftin, who came up to the position where Renfroe was absent, is also an infielder who has experienced 76 games in two major league seasons, and has shown growth with a batting average of 295 (41 hits in 139 at-bats) in 40 games at Triple-A this season with four homers, 24 RBIs and 12 steals OPS.919.