KANSAS CITY, Mo. (November 30, 2018) - The Kansas City Royals announced today that the club will not tender 2019 Major League contracts to right-handed pitcher Jason Adam, first baseman Samir Dueñez, pitcher Andres Machado and outfielder Bubba Starling, making all three free agents.
Adam, 27, made his big league debut in 2018, going 0-3 with a 6.12 ERA (22 ER in 32.1 IP) in 31 appearances with Kansas City. He returned to the Royals organization in 2017 after being drafted by the club in the fifth round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of Blue Valley Northwest High School (Overland Park, Kan.).
Dueñez, 22, spent a majority of the 2018 season at Northwest Arkansas (AA), where he batted .282 with 10 homers and 60 RBI in 80 games. He was originally signed by the Royals as a non-drafted free agent in 2012.
Machado, 25, pitched in 37 games between Omaha (AAA) and Northwest Arkansas, going 2-7 with a 5.53 ERA (51 ER in 83.0 IP), after making his big league debut in 2017. He was signed by Kansas City as a non-drafted free agent in 2010.
Starling, 26, was limited to just 20 games last season between Omaha and rehab assignments in Idaho Falls (Rookie) and Surprise (Rookie). He batted .296 with five doubles, four homers and 11 RBI. He was the Royals' first-round selection (fifth overall) in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft.
Following today's transactions, the Royals have 36 players on their Major League reserve list.