Kansas
Kansas City Royals Face Key Offseason Choice On 12-Year Veteran
The Kansas City Royals are entering a crucial offseason after finishing third in the American League Central and missing the postseason. Following a disappointing 2025 campaign, the team’s biggest concern remains the offense, which produced just 651 runs—the third-lowest total in the American League.
Even after adding Mike Yastrzemski and Randal Grichuk during the season, run production didn’t improve much. Now, both outfielders are free agents, and the Royals must decide whether to bring Grichuk back or move in another direction. His mutual option was declined, but a return isn’t out of the question. Here’s one reason to keep him—and one reason to let him walk.
Keeping the veteran outfielder around as a platoon bat for at least one more season could make sense for Kansas City. He wouldn’t need to be an everyday player, and when paired with someone like Yastrzemski, he could provide value against left-handed pitching.
Grichuk’s power from the right side and his ability to play all three outfield spots make him a useful depth piece. In the right role, he can help stretch the lineup and offer veteran leadership to a young Royals roster.
Financially, he’s also a low-risk option. The small-market Royals aren’t expected to pursue expensive free agents such as Alex Bregman, Kyle Tucker, or Kyle Schwarber, so retaining Grichuk on an affordable deal could make sense while the front office explores other upgrades.
That said, there are strong arguments for letting Grichuk go. The 33-year-old outfielder struggled in 2025, hitting just .228/.273/.401 with nine home runs, 27 RBI, and a .674 OPS. Kansas City can likely find more productive options on the market.
A player like Harrison Bader, for example, brings elite defense, speed, and everyday value at a reasonable cost. Adding a consistent bat or glove-first outfielder could give the Royals the spark they need to retool their lineup heading into 2026.
The Royals can’t afford to run it back with the same group that fell short in 2025. Whether they keep Grichuk as a platoon option or move on entirely, this offseason will be about surrounding Bobby Witt Jr. and the young core with the right pieces to return to contention in 2026.
More MLB: Royals Expected To Bring Back Nine-Time All-Star As 2026 Plans Take Shape
Kansas
Body believed to be Kansas City highway shooting suspect found in burned home’s basement by family: police
Manhunt for Kansas City shooting suspect enters seventh day
A large-scale manhunt for Oscar Sanchez-Munoz, 22, continues in Kansas City, Missouri, entering its seventh day. Sanchez-Munoz is suspected of killing one person and injuring four others in a recent shooting spree. His family reports he was exhibiting signs of schizophrenia as the FBI offers a $25,000 reward for information.
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Police told Fox News on Wednesday that a body believed to be Oscar Sanchez-Munoz, the 22-year-old suspect in a deadly string of highway shootings near the Kansas City World Cup venues, was discovered by his family in the basement of a burned home.
Officials said the family contacted police at about 2 p.m. local time after finding decomposing remains hidden beneath piles of debris.
While the family had visited the home several times since it caught fire during an overnight police standoff, police said they only discovered the body after removing debris and noticing a distinct odor.
MANHUNTS ACROSS AMERICA IN 2025: FIVE CASES THAT LEFT CITIES, CAMPUSES AND TOWNS ON EDGE
Oscar Sanchez-Munoz was wanted in connection with at least six shootings across multiple states. (FBI)
Previously, investigators, federal partners and K-9 units had repeatedly searched the Independence, Missouri, property without success.
Authorities said the basement partially collapsed, flooded with water, and was filled with a large amount of “clutter,” which complicated the search.
The discovery brings a presumed end to a massive multi-agency manhunt that began after Sanchez-Munoz allegedly fired at vehicles along Interstate 70, just miles from Arrowhead Stadium where FIFA World Cup matches were being held.
MANHUNT INTENSIFIES FOR ARMY VETERAN SUSPECTED OF KILLING 4 IN BAR SHOOTING AFTER TRUCK FOUND ABANDONED
The FBI released a wanted poster seeking the public’s assistance in finding suspect Oscar Sanchez-Munoz. (FBI)
The spree of half dozen shootings left one person dead and several others seriously injured, including an Uber driver who was shot while transporting soccer fans.
During the search for Sanchez-Munoz, the FBI offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to his capture, warning the public that he was “armed and dangerous.”
Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche had publicly speculated that the suspect might be dead inside the Missouri home, though police were unable to confirm it at the time.
MANHUNT UNDERWAY AFTER MISSOURI DEPUTY SLAIN, SUSPECT’S TRUCK SPOTTED HEADING TOWARD ARKANSAS BORDER
FBI officials said suspect Oscar Sanchez-Munoz had visible acne scars and is 5 feet 8 inches tall. (FBI)
Officials said investigators are currently operating under the assumption that the deceased person is Sanchez-Munoz, noting clothing on the body matched what the shooter wore during last week’s attacks.
A medical examiner will confirm the identity and determine the cause of death.
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Officials assured the public there is no threat to the community, and added that all surviving victims are expected to recover.
Fox News Digital’s Kelsie Cairns contributed to this report.
Kansas
Where to watch Kansas City Royals vs Tampa Bay Rays: TV channel, start time, streaming for June 24
What to know about MLB’s ABS robot umpire strike zone system
MLB launches ABS challenge system as players test robot umpire calls in a groundbreaking season.
The 2026 MLB season has surpassed the quarter mark, and after each team’s first 40 games, there’s plenty of reasons to tune in all summer long.
Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami has already proven doubters wrong by launching 17 home runs, Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes consistently looks like the best version of himself on the mound and Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski is throwing harder than any starter in the majors.
The MLB action continues on Wednesday as the Kansas City Royals visit the Tampa Bay Rays.
Here’s everything you need to know to tune in for the first pitch.
See USA TODAY’s sortable MLB schedule to filter by team or division.
What time is Kansas City Royals vs Tampa Bay Rays?
First pitch between the Tampa Bay Rays and Kansas City Royals is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. (ET) on Wednesday, June 24.
How to watch Kansas City Royals vs Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday
All times Eastern and accurate as of Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at 6:33 a.m.
- Matchup: KC at TB
- Date: Wednesday, June 24
- Time: 6:40 p.m. (ET)
- Venue: Tropicana Field
- Location: St. Petersburg, Florida
- TV: Royals.TV and Rays.TV
- Streaming: MLB.TV on Fubo
Watch MLB all season long with Fubo
MLB regional blackout restrictions apply
MLB scores, results
MLB scores for June 24 games are available on usatoday.com . Here’s how to access today’s results:
See scores, results for all of today’s games.
Kansas
Jac Caglianone make puny ball go very far in Royals win
Tonight, the Kansas City Royals dismantled the Tampa Bay Rays in a cathartic 12-5 victory. It was a full-team showing, with Carter Jensen extending his hit streak to 14 games, Nick Loftin swatting a home run on a four-hit night, and Luinder Avila navigating his way through five tough innings of one-run ball in front of some of some incredibly bad infield defense.
But you’re here for Jac Caglianone, who ended the day with three hits and a pair of home runs. Here’s his first, which came immediately after Loftin’s home run in the first frame of the game and sounded like a thunderclap.
And here’s the other one, an arguably more impressive center-left shot to the deepest part of the ballpark.
To say that Caglianone has been on fire would not be accurate, because he is fire right now. Tonight’s gigantic dongs were his eighth and ninth of the month of June; they extended his hitting streak to five games and his home run streak to four games.
This was one of those games were so much happened that, paradoxically, nothing much happened, because each successive hit meant less and less as the score ballooned and ballooned. I mentioned the infield defense–Salvador Perez lost two popups, and the rest of the infield didn’t see them, either. That required Avila to essentially get five outs in one inning. It was really quite comical in hindsight, but groan-worthy in the moment for sure.
Pretty much everyone got involved in the offense. Lane Thomas and Starling Marte were the only two batters without a hit. Michael Massey, Perez, and Kameron Misner recorded doubles, which in addition to the home runs made six extra base hits. The Royals did a nice job totally putting the game away in the eighth inning against Steven Matz, who was just tossing batting practice out there.
Kansas City’s bullpen also did a nice job (mostly). It helps to have such a big lead, but Stephen Cruz and Matt Strahm pitched before the lead was quite as big as it was, and you know what? They both turned in clean innings! So, too, did Beck Way. Someone named “Connor Seabold” came in to pitch the ninth, and the Royals might as well have sent Tyler Tolbert out there. Seabold gave up a trio of runs, but the Royals closed it out.
At 34-46, the Royals are still closer to the American League basement than they are the penthouse. But have you looked at the AL right now? The current owners of the third Wild Card slot, the Toronto Blue Jays, don’t even have a .500 record. What a weird year.
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