KANSAS CITY-- In an action brewing for several weeks currently, the Royals marked Hunter Dozier for task Monday afternoon and restored infielder Nicky Lopez from his rehab assignment. Dozier's performance over the last three seasons has not met the four-year agreement expansion he authorized with the Royals in 2021, one that is paying him an assured $25 million and consists of a club option for a fifth year. Given the Royals' focus on young people in 2023 and their desire to examine the young talent they have on the roster, the 31-year-old Dozier blocked a lineup area and having fun time, even as those opportunities decreased over the last number of weeks. With Lopez returning from appendicitis, the Royals required a means to maintain the versatile infielder and 23-year-old Maikel Garcia on the lineup. "That was definitely part of it," Royals basic supervisor JJ Picollo stated. "With Maikel coming up when Nicky obtained hurt, it produced a chance for Maikel to play. We like what we're seeing out of him. We understand we like him defensively. So currently, with Nicky coming back, it forced our decision. Those 2 are absolutely part of what we're doing https://www.kansascityroyalsprostore.com/michael-massey-jersey. "The Royals' first-round pick (No. 8 general) out of Stephen F. Austin in 2013, Dozier enjoyed his ideal season in 2019, when he was worth 2. 8 WAR, per FanGraphs, and struck 26 crowning achievement while reducing. 279/. 348/. 522. Thanks, Hunter, for your years of effort. We want you and your family members the most effective relocating onward. pic. twitter. com/knEeUjR4KJ— Kansas City Royals () Might 22, 2023Since then, it's been a constant decrease for the Dallas citizen, who has actually been worth -2. 3 fWAR and posted a. 670 OPS over the last 3 periods https://www.kansascityroyalsprostore.com/bobby-witt-jr-jersey. Fresh off his extension in the springtime of 2021, Dozier endured a thumb injury in the very first video game of that period, and he never ever fully got his swing back. He uploaded an 81 wRC+ in 21 with a 28. 4% strikeout rate, after that a 90 wRC+ in 22-- well listed below the 100 league-average mark https://www.kansascityroyalsprostore.com/vinnie-pasquantino-jersey. The Royals wished that the Dozier of 2019 would return in 2023 as a veteran leader in a club packed with young players. His agreement was not a large one and could be justified with league-average bet a restoring club. "It's a hard one to address," Piccollo stated when asked about Dozier's offensive regression given that 2019. "If we understood that, I assume we would have been able to address it and fix it. You enter a little bit of a mental game. It's a hard one to determine. "Dozier spent last offseason overhauling his swing and revealed strides in Spring Training, collaborating with Royals hitting trainers and gaining the starting 3rd base work on Opening Day, as that was the position where he would certainly have the ability to see the most playing time. "This video game is truly tough," Royals supervisor Matt Quatraro stated. "Especially the hitting aspect of it. "Rather of continuing the grip he enjoyed in springtime, Dozier set out at a 31. 9% clip and uploaded a 50 wRC+ in 29 games. The Royals have decided to play Garcia at the warm edge regularly currently, and Lopez will certainly proceed to get playing time there currently, too. Dozier's seven-year tenure with the Royals-- throughout which he slashed. 238/. 305/. 420 with 73 homers-- is likely over. He will certainly go via waivers over the next week, providing another team an opportunity to select up his contract. Otherwise, the Royals will certainly be in charge of choosing up the staying $16. 75 million he's due https://www.kansascityroyalsprostore.com/danny-tartabull-jersey. "With the support of possession, we had the ability to make this decision and go on," Picollo stated. "We simply have to anticipate what's taking place in the coming years. "Although the Dozier extension didn't function out the way both sides would have really hoped, Picollo kept in mind that the club will certainly not be detered from attempting to prolong young players moving onward if the organization feels it remains in the best rate of interest of the club. "I assume we would certainly be wrong if we stated we're not mosting likely to seek to expand players," Picollo stated. "I assume it always needs to become part of our day-to-day conversations. "While first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino's name has actually come up as a feasible expansion prospect, Picollo stressed that any extension conversations relating to Pasquantino or any kind of player would continue to be private. Robert Falkoff added to this report. Lopez got the beginning at 3rd base on Monday after missing out on 20 games because of appendicitis. The return was bittersweet for Lopez as a result of his close partnership with Dozier. "He's my closest good friend on the team," Lopez stated of Dozier. "Maybe this is something that occurs along his trip and will be type of a fresh start https://www.kansascityroyalsprostore.com/buddy-biancalana-jersey. I'm constantly favoring him. I know he'll be all right. "Robert Falkoff added to this record.