Kansas City Royals Free Agency Primer

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The offseason is officially upon us. Qualifying offers have been handed out, and the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels have already made a trade. Later today, free agency will start in earnest, as each team looks to fill out their roster and make the moves that bring them to the postseason.

While several teams have quite the extensive shopping list, the Kansas City Royals find themselves in the enviable position of returning most of their roster. At this point, Billy Butler, Nori Aoki and Jason Frasor are the most notable players from last year’s team in free agency, and James Shields could potentially join them if he turns down the qualifying offer.

However, while the Royals may not have a lot on their list, expectations are higher than they have been in approximately thirty years. After making the World Series, and coming within a game of bringing the crown back to Kansas City, a season of middling free agent moves may seem like the Royals are not investing that extra revenue from the playoffs on the team. For all the goodwill that had been generated from that playoff push, a failure to build upon that momentum could be considered to be a step back.

What could the Kansas City Royals do this offseason? Here is a look at each of the prospective holes on the roster heading into free agency, and how the Royals could look to fill out those problems.

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Starting Pitcher

This may be the biggest hole for the Royals to fill. So much of the Royals success was based on their pitching and defense last year, and the probable loss of James Shields leaves quite the opening in the rotation. While Yordano Ventura and Danny Duffy displayed the potential to be ace caliber pitchers at times last year, they may not be ready to step into that role just yet.

If the Kansas City Royals and Dayton Moore feel that Ventura and/or Duffy can step into that role, then they may just look to bring in a pitcher for the back of the rotation. Should that be the case, then Brandon Finnegan may get the first chance at the job. Finnegan certainly opened some eyes with his performance in September and into the playoffs. As a starter throughout his collegiate career, Finnegan could be a solid addition to the rotation, and another excellent young arm for the Royals to build around.

Otherwise, if the Royals look to free agency, two names have been mentioned as possible fits. A.J. Burnett, who was linked to the Royals in trade rumors before the deadline last year, is once again being mentioned as a possibility as a free agent.

The other intriguing name mentioned is former Royal Ervin Santana. After a less than stellar season in Atlanta, the Royals and Santana have mutual interest in a reunion. Could the Prodigal Santana return?

It appears as though the Kansas City Royals have several options for that spot in the rotation, even if they are unable to retain Shields. However, that is not the only potential hole in the pitching staff.

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Left Handed Relief Pitching

Part of the reason why Finnegan had the chance to shine in September and in the postseason was the Royals lack of consistent left handed relief. Francisley Bueno, Scott Downs and Tim Collins each had their moments, but none of them were able to consistently be that left handed reliever that the Royals needed.

Should the Royals sign either Santana or Burnett, or bring in another starting pitcher, that role may belong to Finnegan once again. A left handed compliment to the trio of power righties in the Royals bullpen, Finnegan gave the Royals that consistency they needed.

Another option, should the Royals look to fill that slot in free agency or bring in a second lefty reliever, could be Joe Thatcher. A true LOOGY, Thatcher has pitched a total of 238 innings in his 362 career games. Thatcher is a true control artist, relying on hitting his spots and inducing weak fly balls. In Kauffman Stadium, and with the Royals outfield defense, he could be a perfect fit.

While the Kansas City Royals may not be able to spend the money needed to bring in a pitcher like Andrew Miller, there are plenty of other options available. Compared to last year, left handed relief pitching should not be the problem it had been.

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Right Field

For all the issues that Nori Aoki occasionally had in right field, he was still an on base machine and stole 17 bases. His ability to put the bat on the ball and take pitches made him a perfect fit for the Royals lineup last year. Yet, Aoki just does not have the capability to produce extra base hits, as he produced only 29 of them, including a mere one home run.

With the Royals in need of another power bat, or at least someone with the potential to do more than hit the odd double, Aoki will likely be allowed to leave via free agency. However, the options available are generally underwhelming. Nick Markakis would be a nice fit for the Royals in an ideal world, but he is also the best right fielder available, and therefore, likely beyond the Royals price.

Aside from Nelson Cruz and Yasmany Tomas, who also appear set for quite the payday, the other options available all seem rather underwhelming. Torii Hunter is 39 years old. Alex Rios and Chris Denorfia did not exactly light up the stat sheet. Ichiro? Five years ago, sure.

If the Kansas City Royals are to truly upgrade in right, they may need to do so via trade. Marlon Byrd has once again been mentioned as a possibility, but the soon to be 37 year old may be worth the two years and $16 Million left on his contract once the option is picked up. However, as much as Byrd does not seem to be the ideal fit, he may actually be the best option, as sad as that is.

The other possible option could be to find out what Jarrod Dyson would be able to do in a full time role, moving Lorenzo Cain to right. The Royals outfield defense would truly be stellar, and the speed element of their game would be even more of a constant presence. But can Dyson hold up in such a role?

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In all actuality, there are very few holes that the Royals need to fill. It may even be that most of these holes could be filled internally, allowing the Royals to potentially be players in free agency. The Kansas City Royals, compared to other teams, have very few holes to fill.

Should the Royals increase their payroll this season, they may be able to find those upgrades needed. With Dayton Moore’s ability to locate relief pitching, the biggest areas of need may be in the rotation and in right field. Perhaps a backup catcher could be added to that list as well, allowing Salvador Perez to spend more time as the Royals designated hitter, just to protect him from the wear of all of those innings behind the plate.

With the Detroit Tigers still in need of a bullpen, and potentially losing Victor Martinez and Hunter, the Royals may be in excellent shape to make a return to the postseason. The first step to making this past year more than just a one time happening begins later today.

Perhaps more than any offseason in the past 29 years, the Kansas City Royals decisions to strengthen their roster will come under intense scrutiny. Yet, this is truly the way the the Royals, and their fans, would want things to be.