The Kansas City Royals are adding some pop to their outfield after agreeing to a two-year, $13-million contract with free-agent slugger Hunter Renfroe, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
The second year of the deal is a $7.5-million player option, a source told Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Renfroe can also reportedly earn $500,000 in performance bonuses in both seasons.
Completion of the agreement is pending a physical, a source told Anne Rogers of MLB.com.
Renfroe hit .233/.297/.416 with 20 homers and 60 RBIs over 140 games split between the Los Angeles Angels and Cincinnati Reds in 2023. The 31-year-old's .713 OPS was the lowest of his career in a 162-game season.
However, Renfroe's bat has power, a skill the Royals desperately need. He's hit at least 20 home runs in each of his six full seasons (excluding 2020), including a pair of 30-homer campaigns in 2019 and '21.
Renfroe is the latest addition to a Royals team actively trying to turn the page following a 106-loss season. In the last week, the team also signed starter Seth Lugo to a three-year, $45-million contract, as well as veteran relievers Will Smith and Chris Stratton.
He'll most likely slot in as the Royals' primary right fielder, a position where they needed help. The team had difficulty finding a permanent option in that spot last season, with converted catcher MJ Melendez seeing the most playing time in the role. Renfroe's solid defense and strong throwing arm should fit well at Kauffman Stadium.
Renfroe is a lifetime .239/.300/.478 hitter with 177 homers and 454 RBIs across parts of eight big-league seasons. Kansas City will mark the well-traveled outfielder's seventh team since 2019.
