Offseason

• October 28, 1996: Mike Bovee
  Mike Bovee
  Michael Craig Bovee is a retired professional baseball player who played 1 season for the Anaheim Angels of Major League Baseball.His son, Michael Bovee was born in 1999 and attended morning creek elementary....
  
   and Mark Gubicza
  Mark Gubicza
  Mark Steven Gubicza is a former Major League Baseball pitcher for 14 seasons for the Kansas City Royals and Anaheim Angels . He currently does color commentary for Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim games on Fox Sports...
  
   were traded by the Royals to the Anaheim Angels
  Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
  The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
  
   for Chili Davis
  Chili Davis
  Charles Theodore "Chili" Davis is the hitting coach for the Oakland Athletics. Davis is a former outfielder/designated hitter who played in Major League Baseball with the San Francisco Giants , California Angels , Minnesota Twins , Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees...
  
  .
• December 13, 1996: Jeff Granger
  Jeff Granger
  Jeffery Adam Granger Jeffery Adam Granger Jeffery Adam Granger (born December 16, 1971 in San Pedro, California is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Kansas City Royals and the Pittsburgh Pirates.-High school:...
  
  , Joe Randa
  Joe Randa
  Joseph Gregory Salvatore Randa is a former Major League Baseball player. He was primarily a third baseman during his career. His nickname is "The Joker" due to his resemblance to the comic book character in Batman and his ever-present smile, especially during his plate appearances...
  
  , Jeff Wallace
  Jeff Wallace
  Jeffrey Allen Wallace is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played during four seasons at the major league level for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 25th round of the 1995 amateur draft...
  
  , and Jeff Martin (minors) were traded by the Royals to the Pittsburgh Pirates
  Pittsburgh Pirates
  The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
  
   for Jay Bell
  Jay Bell
  Jay Stuart Bell is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and second baseman who played for the Cleveland Indians , Pittsburgh Pirates , Kansas City Royals , Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Mets .He played his high school baseball at J.M...
  
   and Jeff King
  Jeff King (baseball)
  Jeffrey Wayne King is a former professional baseball player who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Royals.-Career:...
  
  .
• December 16, 1996: Scott Cooper was signed as a free agent by the Royals.
• January 16, 1997: Ryan Thompson
  Ryan Thompson
  Ryan Orlando Thompson is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played all or part of nine seasons in the majors between 1992 and 2002 for the New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros, New York Yankees, Florida Marlins, and Milwaukee Brewers. He also played one season in Japan for...
  
   signed as a free agent by the Royals.
• January 28, 1997: Melvin Bunch
  Melvin Bunch
  Melvin Lynn Bunch, Jr. , is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played parts of two seasons in the majors: with the Kansas City Royals and for the Seattle Mariners. He also played three seasons in Japan for the Chunichi Dragons from through .-External links:...
  
   was traded by the Royals to the Montreal Expos
  Washington Nationals
  The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
  
   for Yamil Benítez
  Yamil Benítez
  Yamil Antonio Benítez is a former right-handed outfielder, who last played for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He also played for the Montreal Expos and the Kansas City Royals in his career....
  
  .
• March 4, 1997: Doug Linton
  Doug Linton
  Douglas Warren Linton is a former professional baseball pitcher. He played all or part of seven seasons in Major League Baseball between 1992 and 2003 for the Toronto Blue Jays, California Angels, New York Mets, Kansas City Royals, and Baltimore Orioles, mostly as a relief pitcher...
  
   was released by the Royals.
• March 26, 1997: Ryan Thompson was released by the Royals.
• March 26, 1997: Bob Hamelin
  Bob Hamelin
  Robert James Hamelin is a former first baseman and designated hitter in Major League Baseball. From 1993 through 1998, Hamelin played for the Kansas City Royals , Detroit Tigers and Milwaukee Brewers . He batted and threw left-handed.In a six-season career, Hamelin posted a .246 batting average...
  
   was released by the Royals.

Notable transactions

• April 17, 1997: Todd Van Poppel
  Todd Van Poppel
  Todd Matthew Van Poppel is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Oakland Athletics , Detroit Tigers , Texas Rangers , Pittsburgh Pirates , Chicago Cubs , and Cincinnati Reds...
  
   was signed as a free agent by the Royals.
• June 6, 1997: Todd Van Poppel was released by the Royals.
• July 15, 1997: Chris Stynes
  Chris Stynes
  Christopher Desmond Stynes is a former Major League Baseball utility player. He spent time with the Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Baltimore Orioles...
  
   and Jon Nunnally
  Jon Nunnally
  Jonathan Keith Nunnally is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played in the major leagues from 1995-2000...
  
   were traded by the Royals to the Cincinnati Reds
  Cincinnati Reds
  The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
  
   for Héctor Carrasco
  Héctor Carrasco
  Héctor Pacheco Pipo Carrasco is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher...
  
   and Scott Service
  Scott Service
  Scott David Service is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the major leagues between and . He also pitched one season in Japan for the Chunichi Dragons in .-External links:...
  
  .
• July 29, 1997: Matt Treanor
  Matt Treanor
  Matthew Aaron Treanor is an American professional baseball catcher who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball...
  
   was traded by the Royals to the Florida Marlins
  Florida Marlins
  The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
  
   for Matt Whisenant
  Matt Whisenant
  Matthew Michael Whisenant is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1990 and spent the 1992 season with the Phillies' Class A affiliate in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He was traded to the Florida Marlins for Danny Jackson in November 1992...
  
  .

Roster

Starters by position

Other batters

Starting pitchers

Other pitchers

Relief pitchers

Farm system