Before the season, the team signed free agents Ian Kennedy (a starting pitcher) and Joakim Soria (a reliever) and re-signed star Alex Gordon.
[1] However, several players from the previous year's team departed in free agency, including right fielder Alex Rios, second baseman/outfielder Ben Zobrist, and pitchers Greg Holland, Ryan Madson, and Franklin Morales.
[2] The 2016 Royals team was adversely affected by injuries to Gordon, center fielder Lorenzo Cain, closer Wade Davis, and third baseman Mike Moustakas.
[1] The team was eliminated from postseason contention with four games left in the season, becoming the fourth consecutive World Series winner to miss the playoffs the following year.
[4] The Royals ended the season with an 81–81 record, finishing in third place in the Central Division.