J.J. Picollo: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Features

Every offseason, Kansas City Royals general manager J.J. Picollo picks up the phone and tries to convince 29 other front offices that his prospects are worth more than they think.

Kansas City Royals News / Royals Review / October 28

The Royals can’t spend their way to a better bullpen

There is no doubt that one of the biggest weaknesses for the Royals in 2026 was the bullpen. Royals relievers had a 5.07 ERA overall, second-worst in baseball, with 26 blown saves and a league-worst 6.65 ERA in the ninth inning.

Kansas City Royals News / Royals Review / October 20

Playing Picollo Part 2: Painful trades

Last time, we reset the roster for the offseason. That was the easy part: cutting a bunch of guys we didn’t need anymore and bringing home our 60-day-IL journeymen.

Milwaukee Brewers News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'NL Cy Young-winners' quiz

How many of the National League Cy Young Award winners since 1967 can you name in seven minutes?

The 'MLB all-time strikeout leaders' quiz

The 'MLB wins-leaders since 2000' quiz

The 'All-Star Game starting pitchers' quiz

Kansas City Royals News / Royals Review / October 20

Kansas City Royals News: JJ Picollo has work to do

The KC Star and MLB mothership had no new articles on the Royals today. The top of the Rumblings today is a blog roundup. Brian Burrows at Kings of Kauffman criticized JJ Picollo’s approach to the 25-26 offseason.

Athletics News / Yardbarker

The offseason needs for every MLB team

Another MLB season is in the books. The pending lockout is hanging over the heads of players and ownership, but there could be a mad rush of moves prior to December.

Kansas City Royals News / Royals Review / October 1

Picollo says Royals plan to be “aggressive” in acquisitions after disappointing season

After a disappointing 93-loss season, Royals president of baseball operations J.J. Picollo said the team plans to be “aggressive in acquisitions.” But that aggressiveness, he cautioned, should not be confused with a willingness to spend aggressively on the payroll.

Kansas City Royals News / Athlon Sports / March 30

Royals’ J.J. Picollo Shares Carlos Estevez Injury Update Before Twins Game

The Kansas City Royals were already hoping that Monday would bring better news on their closer, Carlos Estevez. Instead, things appear to be heading in the wrong direction. Royals general manager J.J.

Kansas City Royals News / Kansas City Royals on SI / March 20

Royals Boss Sounds Off on Carlos Estévez Amid Velocity Concerns

Perhaps no position is more volatile in Major League Baseball than the closer role, so Kansas City Royals fans understandably have their guard up. For

Kansas City Royals News / Kansas City Royals on SI / February 16

Royals’ Reunion Hopes End as Former All-Star Joins Angels in Free Agency

The Kansas City Royals and general manager J.J. Picollo were active this offseason in preparation for the 2026 season. The Royals made several moves through trades, free-agent signings and contract extensions to address areas of need from last year.

MLB News / Kansas City Royals on SI / February 13

Royals GM Sounds Off on Dodgers Before Looming CBA Fight

The Kansas City Royals are a team that operates in a smaller market. They don't have the same financial resources as teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox.

Kansas City Royals News / Kansas City Royals on SI / February 1

Royals Could Turn to Seasoned Veteran to Bolster Bullpen Ahead of Spring Training

The Kansas City Royals are gearing up for spring training, which is right around the corner. General manager J.J. Picollo has been busy with both trades and signings this offseason, working to address the voids that emerged in 2025 as Kansas City positions itself for a playoff push in 2026.

Athletics News / Yardbarker

25 MLB prospects who will make an impact in 2027

The 2026 MLB season was driven by top performances from young players, and the crop of young talent in the minors has never been greater. These 25 prospects could emerge as top MLB players in 2027.

Kansas City Royals News / MLB on ClutchPoints / January 26

Royals make sneaky move on World Series champion pitcher

Like all small-market MLB executives, Kansas City Royals general manager J.J. Picollo is forced to get creative during the offseason. He has not made a huge free agency signing or blockbuster trade, but KC’s front-office leader has completed multiple under-the-radar moves that could push the team closer toward a playoffs return.

Kansas City Royals News / Kansas City Royals on SI / January 21

One Move Royals Should Make Before Spring Training

Kansas City Royals general manager J.J. Picollo has been busy this offseason. After missing the playoffs by five games last year, the club enters the 2026 season with clear areas to address.

Click here to get Yardbarker's Quiz of the Day emailed to you!

The 'NL Cy Young-winners' quiz

The '35 passing TD NFL seasons' quiz

The 'Last 30-rush game by NFL team' quiz

The '150-Rec.-Yard NFL teammates' quiz

Kansas City Royals News / Field Level Media / January 13

Royals announce new outfield dimensions at Kauffman Stadium

The Kansas City Royals are bringing the outfield fences a little closer to home plate at Kauffman Stadium, the team announced on Tuesday. Per the team-provided diagram, the left- and right-field corners will be pulled in 9 feet to 347 and 344 feet, respectively.

Kansas City Royals News / Kansas City Royals on SI / December 15

Royals' J.J. Picollo Sounds Triumphant After Unexpected Brewers Trade

J.J. Picollo was in the right place at the right time. On Saturday, Picollo and the Kansas City Royals acquired outfielder Isaac Collins and right-handed pitcher Nick Mears from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for left-handed pitcher Angel Zerpa.

Kansas City Royals News / MLB on ClutchPoints / November 13, 2025

Looming Bobby Witt Jr. opt outs draw JJ Picollo contention take

The Kansas City Royals are coming off a disappointing season. After reaching the playoffs for the first time in eight years in 2024, the Royals fell short in 2025.

Kansas City Royals News / Yardbarker / November 12, 2025

Royals GM details hopes, potential 2026 plan for Caglianone

Royals GM details hopes, potential 2026 plan for Jac Caglianone

Major League Baseball got its first taste of Jac Caglianone last season. Now Kansas City Royals general manager J.J. Piccolo is hoping for a longer, more improved look from the regarded prospect in 2026.

Caglianone is prime bounce-back candidate for Royals in 2026

The offseason needs for every MLB team

The '2024 MLB home run leaders' quiz

Kansas City Royals News / MLB Trade Rumors / September 30, 2025

Royals GM: 'Safe to say' Perez will return to Royals in 2026

Royals GM: 'Safe to say' Salvador Perez will return to Royals in 2026

Perez, 35, has played all 15 of his big-league seasons with Kansas City and is a franchise icon.

Kansas City Royals News / Kansas City Royals on SI / July 8, 2025

Royals GM J.J. Picollo's Trade Deadline Message Shows Need For Urgency In KC

Every game the Kansas City Royals play for the rest of July means just a little bit more. Though it's been a disappointing season so far, the Royals aren't buried in the American League Wild Card race.

Kansas City Royals News / MLB Trade Rumors / June 26, 2025

Royals GM addresses trade deadline approach

The Royals dropped their fifth straight game last night, falling 4-0 to the Rays. They’re now 38-43, dropping into fourth place in the AL Central behind a Twins club that has also struggled mightily over the past couple weeks.

Kansas City Royals News / Kansas City Royals on SI / June 26, 2025

J.J. Picollo's Latest Trade Deadline Comments Show Royals Have No Direction

It's hard to pick a direction when the team you run is showing few, if any, signs of life. That's the predicament in which Kansas City Royals general manager J.J.

Kansas City Royals News / Kansas City Royals on SI / February 18, 2025

Royals Extend GM J.J. Picollo Through 2030, Exercise Option On Manager Matt Quatraro

The Kansas City Royals have found a formula they like, and they're sticking to it. The Royals are coming off a 2024 season in which they won 86 games, a 30-win improvement over 2023, and made the playoffs for the first time in nine years.

Kansas City Royals News / Athlon Sports / February 17, 2025

Royals Announce Major Front Office Moves After Breakout Season

The Kansas City Royals are coming off the biggest win improvement in the 2024 MLB season and looking to continue their momentum. After winning just 56 games in 2023, Kansas City won 86 in '24, a 30-win improvement that was 11 better than any team in baseball and second-best in franchise history.

Kansas City Royals News / MLB Trade Rumors / February 17, 2025

Royals Extend GM J.J. Picollo, Exercise 2026 Option On Manager Matt Quatraro

The Royals have signed general manager J.J. Picollo to an extension that runs through the 2030 season and contains a 2031 club option, per a team announcement.

Kansas City Royals News / MLB Trade Rumors / February 8, 2025

Royals GM discusses team's offseason pursuits, outfield mix

After making the playoffs for the first time since they won the World Series back in 2015, the Royals entered this winter with heightened expectations.

Derek Falvey discusses Twins' payroll, future moves, trade market

Dodgers GM discusses potentially reuniting with Enrique Hernandez

Looking back at the greatest MLB teams of the 00s

The '2024 MLB extra base hit leaders' quiz

Kansas City Royals News / MLB on ClutchPoints / December 7, 2024

What Royals want in free agency

The Kansas City Royals surprised many people when they decided to be active in free agency last offseason. President of baseball operations J.J. Picollo acknowledged the restlessness that permeated the clubhouse and fan base, and with a green light from ownership, he brought in crucial difference-makers like Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha.