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Royals Cut Ties With Strahm, Velazquez in Sudden Roster Shakeup
Royals Bring Back Bobby Witt Jr., Say Goodbye to Strahm and Velazquez
What Happened Today?
The Kansas City Royals made several roster moves on Monday. Here’s the simple version:
- Bobby Witt Jr. is back! He’s been healed up and removed from the injured list.
- José Cuas got called up from the minor leagues (Triple-A Omaha).
- Matt Strahm and Andrew Velazquez were removed from the team’s 40-man roster (this is called "designated for assignment" or DFA).
Who’s Coming Back? (The Good News)
Bobby Witt Jr. Returns
- Who he is: The Royals’ superstar shortstop and one of the best young players in baseball
- Why he was out: He had a minor injury that put him on the 10-day injured list
- What this means: The team gets their best hitter and fielder back in the lineup immediately
José Cuas Gets Another Chance
- Who he is: A right-handed relief pitcher
- Where he was: Playing for the Omaha Storm Chasers (the Royals’ Triple-A team)
- What this means: The bullpen gets a fresh arm who already knows the organization
Who’s Leaving? (The Tough Decisions)
Matt Strahm: A Trade That Didn’t Work Out
The Trade Details
Last offseason, the Royals made a trade with the Philadelphia Phillies:
- Royals gave up: Jonathan Bowlan (a young right-handed pitcher with team control through 2031)
- Royals got: Matt Strahm (a 34-year-old left-handed pitcher in the final year of his contract, making $7.5 million)
The hope: Strahm had a good track record and the Royals thought he could fix his velocity drop from the previous year. They wanted him to be a reliable late-inning reliever.
Why It Didn’t Work
Instead of helping, Strahm struggled badly. Meanwhile, Jonathan Bowlan (the pitcher they traded away) has been pitching well as a quality late-inning reliever.
The Numbers Tell the Story
| Stat | Strahm’s 2026 Season | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| ERA | 7.32 | Very high – means lots of runs allowed |
| Strikeout Rate | 18.6% | Career low – not missing bats |
| Walk Rate | 8.7% | Too many free passes |
| Avg Fastball | 91.2 mph | Down from 92.2 mph last year (already career low) |
| Swinging-Strike Rate | 10% | Below league average for first time in full season |
| Home Runs Allowed | 3.03 per 9 innings | Extremely high – balls leaving the park often |
The really bad stretch: Over his last 22 innings, Strahm allowed 24 runs and 10 home runs (4.09 HR/9).
IMPORTANT POINT
The Royals are out of playoff contention this year. They can’t trade Strahm anymore (trade deadline passed). They’re cutting him loose now to give innings to pitchers who might be part of the team’s future.
Andrew Velazquez: A Short Stay
His Brief Time with the Team
- Age: 32
- Why he was called up: Temporary replacement when Witt got hurt
- Performance: 1 hit in 15 at-bats (.067 average), 1 stolen base
- History: First MLB action since 2023
- Career stats: .186/.240/.287 in 639 plate appearances over 7 seasons
Translation: He was never meant to stay long – just a fill-in until Witt returned.
What Happens Next?
For Matt Strahm
- Waivers: Other teams have a chance to claim him (and his remaining $2.246 million salary)
- Reality check: No team will pick up that contract for a struggling pitcher
- Free agency: He’ll clear waivers and become a free agent
- Fresh start: Can sign with any team for the rest of the season
For Andrew Velazquez
- Waivers: Likely to clear (no team will claim him)
- Two choices:
- Accept assignment back to Triple-A Omaha for the last 2 months
- Become a free agent and look for another minor league deal elsewhere
For the Royals’ Bullpen
- Innings previously given to Strahm will go to other relievers
- Focus shifts to pitchers who could be around beyond 2026
- Part of building for the future rather than this lost season
Summary
| Move | Player | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Activated | Bobby Witt Jr. | Back on roster | Healthy from minor injury |
| Recalled | José Cuas | Called up from minors | Bullpen depth needed |
| DFA’d | Matt Strahm | Removed from roster | Terrible season (7.32 ERA), trade failed |
| DFA’d | Andrew Velazquez | Removed from roster | Temporary fill-in no longer needed |
Big picture: The Royals admitted a trade mistake (giving up Bowlan for Strahm), cut their losses, and are now focusing on 2027 and beyond while getting their superstar back on the field.
FAQ
1. What does "designated for assignment" (DFA) mean in simple terms?
It means the team removes the player from their 40-man roster. They have 7 days to either trade the player, put them on waivers (where other teams can claim them), or release them. It’s essentially "you’re off the team, but we have a week to figure out the paperwork."
2. Why did the Royals trade for Strahm if he’s doing so poorly?
They thought he would bounce back. Strahm had a good track record before last year, and the Royals believed his velocity drop was fixable. They were wrong – sometimes trades don’t work out, even when they make sense at the time.
3. Can the Royals trade Strahm now that the trade deadline has passed?
No. The MLB trade deadline was July 31st. After that, players can only move through waivers, not trades. Since Strahm is playing poorly and has $2.246M left on his contract, no team will claim him on waivers.
4. What happened to Jonathan Bowlan (the pitcher traded for Strahm)?
Bowlan stayed with the Phillies organization and has been pitching well as a late-inning reliever. He’s also under team control through 2031 (meaning the Phillies have his rights for a long time at reasonable cost). This makes the trade look even worse for Kansas City in hindsight.
5. Will Bobby Witt Jr. play in the next game?
Almost certainly yes. He was only out with a minor injury on the 10-day IL. Since he’s been reinstated, he’s expected to be in the starting lineup immediately. He’s the team’s best player and they need him on the field.
