Kansas City Royals Free Agency Options

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John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

What to do once you’re recently crowned World Champion?

Upgrade of course. Let’s see…how were the Kansas City Royals built again? Homegrown talent, shrewd free agent signings, and pinpoint deadline trades. Maintaining competitiveness with key contributors Alex Gordon, Johnny Cueto, Ben Zobrist, Chris Young, Ryan Madson, and Alex Rios all sitting on the free agent market will make 2016’s puzzle all the more intriguing.

$90 Million and 5 years on Alex Gordon with the window still presumably 3 more years?

$60 Million and 4 years on Ben Zobrist with the same window?

How about fixing the rotation which ranked 12th in the AL with a 4.34 ERA and 14th with a .269 batting average against last year?

These questions must be answered by Dayton Moore and the Royals front office this off-season, especially with the Winter Meetings starting up this weekend.

Next: The Royals free agents

John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

Lets start with the player who has already shown an interest in returning to the Kansas City Royals. Right handed swingman Chris Young, 11-6 with a 3.06 ERA over 123 innings, including 18 must needed starts. Young signed last March to an incentive-laden contract and was invaluable throughout the season.

Both parties seem to want a reunion so 2 years and $15 Million sounds about right to get Young back in Royal blue for 2016. I’d say this would be one of the most important signings to get done because Young not only can do it all, he’s a good presence to have with the pitching core and clubhouse.

Now what about fan favorite Alex Gordon? When the fans came out and filled Kauffman in August and September, that showed the fans investment in the product and now it’s time for the franchise to invest as well. A lot of people will say, let someone else overpay for Gordon, but in my mind this is a must sign for the reasons I just mentioned. Remember “if you build it, they will come?” It’s time to step up and keep Gordo to set the tone for when the cornerstone Eric Hosmer‘s free agency comes up. How many times have you seen Gordon and Hosmer passionately will this team to victory? Especially in the playoffs the past two years? Handing out 5 years and $90 Million to Gordon not only makes a statement to the fans, but everyone in the dugout.

Zobrist.

Instant OBP. Could there have been a more perfect fit for this “put the ball in play” lineup than Benjamin Thomas Zobrist? Adding this guy’s enthusiasm to Gordo and Hos? Are you kidding me?! But how does small market K.C. retain Gordon, Young, AND Zobrist? It’s simple. By winning, getting buts in seats, and getting that market share. Face it, the Royals are hot right now in the world of baseball. They might be the closest thing to “America’s Team” in baseball! If you commit to Zobrist for 4 years, you get Zobrist. Period. Want more revenue. Add Zobrist.

Ever heard “This is Business?”

Yep. This is exactly Business.

That is why you retain Gordon AND Zobrist and get creative with the rotation while the Red Sox of the world give the David Prices of the world $217 Million.

Then after you’ve proven yourself to the rest of baseball, Royals…what do you do next?

Next: Bargain shopping

Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Well you go find your 2016 Madsons and Morales.

Besides some non tender candidates coming available…why not keep bringing in former Reds’ pitchers that seem to be working out.

Mat Latos had one heck of a bad 2015 season while being traded twice! 4-10 with a 4.95 ERA over 24 games, including 21 starts before being moved to the Dodgers bullpen. Latos won 57% of the time before this minor injury filled season and still sports a lifetime 3.51 ERA. Imagine this being a 1 year pillow contract for Latos to reestablish his free agent stock, sort of like Nelson Cruz in 2014 with the Orioles. Landing in defending World Championship Kansas City would be attractive to a pitcher like Latos trying to bounce back from minor injuries, and 2016 would be a full season removed from his 2014 spring training accident in Goodyear, Arizona that required knee surgery.

Nab Latos on a 1 year deal for $8.5 Million with incentives to give him another $4 Million or so and I think you have a nice starter determined to get back to elite status for a 2017 payday.

So now you have to find some bullpen magic again in the free agent market. I look at one name who will take more than Madson signed for but the upside is the same result. Jason Motte signed with the Cubs for 2015 on a 1 year deal that paid him $4.5 Million, posting a 3.91 ERA over 57 games while saberstat WHIP had him at a more desirable 3.61 for 2015. The Kansas City Royals strength is obviously defense and handing the ball over the bullpen in the 7th to lock down games. Motte gives you a bulldog in the pen who can bridge that 7th inning to Herrera and even close games in a pinch. He saved 42 games for the Cardinals in 2012 before injuries cost him all of 2013 and he now has 2 seasons under his belt and his motion and mechanics look great. Motte is still only 33, so 2 years and $9.5 Million could lure him to the Royals.

Looking at the rest of the holes… another outfielder and bargain basement bullpen piece are needed. As I mentioned the non-tender candidates before, I see Orioles outfielder Nolan Reimold as a viable candidate. Reimold posted a .344 OBP in a part time role for Baltimore in 2015 and lifetime .327 OBP. If he is non-tendered, somewhere between $1-$2 Million would be worth adding him to the mix.

That Madson-type reliever to round out the shopping?

Take a chance on right hander Mark Lowe. He rebooted himself posting a 1.00 ERA with the Mariners before a midseason trade to Toronto where his ERA went back up to 3.79 but his 0.84 WHIP with the Blue Jays tells me he had some bad luck on balls in play. 1.05 WHIP and 2.57 FIP tell you a better story about his entire 2015. While I don’t think you’re going to get Lowe on another minor league contract or for Madson’s $850,000 conversation started minor league contract. Offering Lowe $1.5-$2.5 Million could bring him to K.C.

If you go through all the arbitration cases, insurance claims, and payroll adjustments the Royals will be around $95 Million before any of the above moves. There have been reports that the 2016 payroll will be $130+Million. If you creatively structured Gordon and Zobrist’s deals like Morales from last off-season, you could be around $135 Million with the above transactions and back in the playoffs for 2016.

Next: Royals All Time 25 Man Roster

Hey David Glass, the fans showed up.

Time to do the same.

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