John Means: Everything you need to know

Means (Achilles) signed a two-year, minor-league contract with the Royals on Friday. Means missed all of last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, and he's now due to miss the entire 2026 campaign after rupturing his Achilles during the offseason. His two-year deal will allow him to remain with the Royals in 2027, at which point the left-hander will work toward making his first MLB appearance since 2024 and just his 11th since 2022.

Means ruptured his Achilles on Tuesday, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports. Means posted the news on his own social media. He noted that he was set to be recovered fully from Tommy John surgery in time for Opening Day, and that he was on the verge of signing before the Achilles injury occurred. No timeline for his recovery has been announced, but he'll almost certainly miss the entire 2026 season. This continues a run of bad injury luck for Means, who last pitched in the majors in May of 2024.

The Guardians declined Means' (elbow) 2026 club option Thursday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports. Means is near the end of his recovery from Tommy John surgery but hasn't pitched in the majors since May 22, 2024. He made seven total rehab appearances in the final six weeks of the campaign, so he should be ready for the start of spring training with his new club.