The Cleveland Guardians still have to solve their centerfield woes.
Now, they know Lane Thomas won't be the solution.
On Thursday night, Thomas signed a one-year, $5.25 million free agent contract with the Kansas City Royals, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.
Thomas departs for an AL Central rival after a season-and-a-half in Cleveland.
He was originally a key trade deadline pickup for the Guardians from the Nationals in 2024.
In that first 53-game stint with Cleveland, Thomas batted.209 with 10 doubles, seven homers and four steals. He also provided his usual reliable defense and arm in the outfield.
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Thomas never got going in 2025 and was hurt a couple different times. He played in just 39 games and batted.160.
The Royals are betting more on the player that Thomas had become with the Nationals. In parts of four seasons in the nation's capital, Thomas hit.257 with a.759 OPS and was particularly prolific against left-handed pitching.
Thomas will get the chance, by signing with the Royals, to get a bunch of games in 2026 against the Guardians, not necessarily to take out any hard feelings, but certainly a matchup with plenty of familiarity.
The Guardians will have to move on and figure out centerfield in a different place. It wasn't clear that Thomas had a chance to come back, but obviously, he's gone now.
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