The Kansas City Royals have locked in right-hander James McArthur through the 2026 season. They agreed on a salary of $810,000 and skipped the arbitration process.
McArthur’s journey hasn’t been straightforward. He went from a promising MLB debut to serious elbow injuries that wiped out his entire 2025 season.
This move shows the Royals still believe McArthur has untapped potential worth gambling on. At this price, the risk feels pretty minor, even after all the recent setbacks.
James McArthur’s Road to the Royals’ New Deal
McArthur debuted in 2023 with a lot of hope. He showed flashes of talent that fans and analysts noticed.
His rookie season ended with a 4.63 ERA over 23 1/3 innings. But if you dig into advanced stats, like a 2.78 FIP and 2.65 SIERA, the numbers paint a more optimistic picture.
Those deeper metrics suggested he pitched better than his ERA showed. Maybe he’s been undervalued all along?
The Sophomore Slump and Injury Setbacks
2024 didn’t go well for McArthur. His strikeout rate dropped, ground balls became rarer, and his ERA rose to 4.92 across 56 2/3 innings.
Things got worse when he was shut down in September with an elbow sprain. The offseason brought even more trouble: surgery to fix a fractured olecranon, where doctors had to insert two screws.
Complications followed. By mid-2025, doctors removed those screws, and McArthur missed the entire 2025 season.
For any pitcher, losing a whole year and dealing with surgeries is a massive setback. It’s tough to predict how well you’ll bounce back after that.
The Arbitration Process and Super Two Status
Despite missing so much time, McArthur reached Super Two status. He racked up two years and 150 days of service time, making him eligible for salary arbitration early.
MLB Trade Rumors projected his arbitration salary at $800,000, just above the league minimum. The Royals had to decide whether to non-tender him or work out a deal now.
Why the Royals Decided to Retain Him
Kansas City chose to keep McArthur, signing him for $810,000 in 2026. It’s a calculated gamble—the money’s not much, and they keep a pitcher who’s shown flashes of real promise.
If McArthur gets healthy and finds his form again, the Royals have a controllable arm who could help the staff. If things don’t work out, the financial loss is barely a blip.
Potential Impact on the Royals’ Rotation
The Royals’ pitching staff has needed improvement for years. Having healthy depth matters, maybe more than people think.
McArthur’s advanced metrics from his debut hint at more ability than the box scores show. The team is clearly hoping those numbers come back if he’s fully recovered.
Key Factors That Will Shape His Comeback
For McArthur to make it back, a few things have to go right:
- He needs to rehab fully from his elbow surgeries, with no lingering pain or structural problems.
- He has to get back his strikeout rate and ability to induce ground balls.
- His mechanics need to stay consistent so injuries don’t crop up again.
- He’ll need the mental toughness to handle big moments after sitting out so long.
All of these will matter if McArthur’s going to become a reliable arm in Kansas City’s bullpen or rotation. There’s hope, but it’s a wait-and-see game for now.
Looking Ahead
Signing James McArthur isn’t just about keeping a guy on the roster. It’s a bold move—sometimes you have to take a risk when the reward could be worth it.
If he bounces back to his form before the injury, he might turn into a key part of the Royals’ pitching staff. The team’s trying to claw its way back into the AL Central conversation, and every solid arm matters.
Spring training in 2026 is going to be a big deal for McArthur. Royals fans and analysts will definitely have their eyes glued to his progress.
Right now, Kansas City’s rolling the dice on recovery, hidden value in those advanced stats, and the hope that this right-hander can fight his way back from a brutal setback.
Here is the source article for this story: Royals, James McArthur Avoid Arbitration
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