The Kansas City Royals were one of three American League Central teams to make the postseason in 2024, along with the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Cavaliers.
After sweeping the Baltimore Orioles in the wild card series, the Royals fell to the eventual American League champion New York Yankees in the American League Division Series.
The Royals made the postseason for the first time since winning the World Series in 2015, and they will look to keep that momentum going in 2025.
With the offseason now underway, the Royals have already signed one of their veteran pitchers for the next three seasons.
The Royals have signed right-hander Michael Wacha to a three-year club option through 2028, according to MLB on ‘X’.
Royals signed RHP Michael Wacha to a three-year club option through 2028. pic.twitter.com/QwYe24J1yU
— MLB (@MLB) November 3, 2024
Wacha had a stellar first season with the Royals as he started 29 games with a 13-8 record and a 3.35 earned run average with 145 strikeouts in 166.2 innings.
The 33-year-old starting pitcher has now played for six different teams, all of them just one year apart from the St. Louis Cardinals, where he played for seven seasons.
Wacha started two games against the Yankees in the ALDS, where he went 8.2 innings, allowing 10 hits, five earned runs and four walks while striking out five.
The Royals finished in second place in the AL Central and will look to challenge the Rangers for their first AL Central title since 2015 as they prepare for next season.
Although the Royals have only made four playoff appearances since 1985, three of those ended in World Series appearances.
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The Royals join the Elite Club at the start of the 2024 MLB season