Kansas City Royals All-Time Worst 25 Man Roster

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Oct 8, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of the tarp over the field during a rain delay in game one of the ALDS between the Kansas City Royals and Houston Astros at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

It is easy to think back to the glory days of the Kansas City Royals and imagine what the All-Time Best franchise would look like. What about the opposite, the All-Time Worst that the Royals had put out on the field?

When thinking back on the Kansas City Royals, one will naturally want to gravitate to the glory days of the mid 1970’s through the mid 1980’s, or the recent run of success that the franchise has had. That span in between, where the Royals were cutting costs and simply looking to turn a profit, were a time that few of us look back upon fondly.

Yet, without those struggles, the victories of recent times would not be as sweet. Yes, the World Series championship would still be enjoyable, but it means more after the times in the darkness, when the Royals were an afterthought in baseball.

That same premise can apply to the Royals All-Time Great roster. One cannot have the greats without having the opposite, the very worst that the Royals had to offer. With that in mind, let us take another trip down memory lane, albeit one that may not be as enjoyable, as we look back at the All-Time Worst Kansas City Royals 25 man roster.

First, we look back at a few dishonorable mentions.

Next: Who can forget May 16, 2011?

Jun 1, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins relief pitcher Vin Mazzaro (56) throws against the Chicago Cubs during the seventh inning at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Vin Mazzaro

For those of us who remember the Vin Mazzaro Era with the Kansas City Royals, it was pretty much summed up in one outing. On May 16, 2011, Mazzaro came in as a reliever during what would eventually be a 19-1 loss to the Cleveland Indians. That outing would prove to be a disaster.

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Sent in to essentially save the bullpen, Mazzaro became walking napalm. He allowed ten runs in the fourth inning before allowing four more while recording one out in the fifth. Those 14 runs given up were a Royals record, as he became only the fourth pitcher since World War Two to allow so many runs in a game.

Overall during his tenure in Kansas City, spanning 25 appearances, Mazzaro had a 6.72 ERA with a 1.770 WHiP. In his 72.1 innings of work, he struck out 36 batters while allowing 34 walks. Opponents produced a blistering .333/.406/.465 batting line against Mazzaro, who happened to be one of the players that the Royals received from Oakland for David DeJesus.

Vin Mazzaro would end up having a successful season with the Pirates in 2013, after being banished by the Royals. During his brief stint in Kansas City, Mazzaro certainly left a mark.

Next: Worst Royals All-Star ever

Sep 17, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals mascot Sluggerrr entertains the crowd before the game against the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals won 6-2. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Mark Redman

Mark Redman pitched one season for the Kansas City Royals and managed to make the All-Star team. With that being the case, one would have expected that his brief tenure with the Royals would have been a success. That was not the case.

During that year, Redman won eleven games, which may have been a part of why he was an All-Star. However, his 5.71 ERA and 1.587 WHiP speak more to the type of pitcher that he was. Redman, in his 167 innings, allowed 63 walks while striking out 76 batters.

That 2006 season would also be a bit of a last hurrah for Redman. While he pitched two more years, he only made a total of 21 more appearances, posting a brutal 7.58 ERA and a 1.765 WHiP. After a final start where he gave up five runs in 3.1 innings, Redman was sent to the minors, and was out of baseball following the 2008 season.

Yes, Mark Redman can say he was an All-Star during his only season with the Kansas City Royals. If anything, that status only underscores how miserable the Royals were during that time.

Next: The former top prospect

Oct 23, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista hits a two-run home run against the Kansas City Royals in the 8th inning in game six of the ALCS at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

Justin Huber

Remember how the Kansas City Royals, for a brief point in time, had Jose Bautista? Yes, the bat flipping, power hitting outfielder for the Blue Jays had been a member of the Royals, before he was traded to the New York Mets. The return for Bautista was a former top prospect named Justin Huber.

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At the time, it seemed like a decent haul. Huber had been rated as the 66th best prospect in baseball the year before, so it appeared that the Royals had gotten a steal. Instead, while Huber was rated a top 100 prospect again prior to the 2006 season, he never lived up to expectations.

Huber lasted for parts of three seasons for the Royals, appearing in a total of 38 games. In his 106 plate appearances, Huber posted a .204/.255/.245 batting line, striking out 26 times. In fact, he had more strikeouts than total bases (24) during his time in a Royals uniform.

Only 33 years old, Huber has not been in the majors since a one game stint with the Twins in 2009, and has played overseas ever since. Normally, he would just be another top prospect that flamed out, but the Royals trading Bautista for him only highlights his place on this list.

Next: His nephew is pretty good, at least

Sep 26, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals take batting practice before the game against the Cleveland Indians at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

Terry Shumpert

A second round draft choice by the Kansas City Royals in 1987, Terry Shumpert is more likely to be remembered as the uncle of Mookie Betts instead of anything that he accomplished in his major league career.

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Shumpert was tasked with being the player to replace Royals legend Frank White, something that he failed miserably at. In 1991, his one season as a starter for the Royals, Shumpert produced a meager .217/.283/.322 batting line. He did steal 17 bases, but was caught 11 times. That would also be the only season in which Shumpert received over 305 plate appearances in his 13 year career.

Overall for the Royals, Shumpert had 827 plate appearances, more than half of which came in 1991. He did not exactly do much with his chances, producing a .220/.272/.341 batting line. Shumpert also was a defensive liability, finishing fourth in the American League in errors as a second baseman in 1991 with 16 miscues. That combination of a mediocre bat and poor defense made Shumpert someone whose time in Kansas City was eminently forgettable.

Terry Shumpert had the unenviable task of attempting to replace a Royals legend. He failed spectacularly.

Next: Does anyone remember this guy?

Jun 7, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a catchers glove and baseballs in the dugout prior to a game between the Kansas City Royals and the Texas Rangers at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Scott Pose

Scott Pose stuck in my mind because he was one of the original players drafted by the then Florida Marlins during the 1992 Expansion Draft. Even though the majority of the time he spent in the majors came with the Kansas City Royals, those two seasons were utterly forgettable.

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After receiving 139 plate appearances in parts of two seasons, Pose received 160 plate appearances with the 1999 Royals, further underscoring the lack of talent that some of those teams had back then. Pose actually posted a respectable .285 batting average and a .377 on base percentage, but his lack of anything resembling power came through with his three extra base hits, all of which were doubles.

Overall during his time with the Royals, Pose produced a .259/.352/.276 batting line, good enough for a .016 ISO. Those numbers actually could have been worse, as Pose had a .318 batting average on balls in play. Pose was also mediocre defensively, costing the Royals five runs in his limited time in the outfield.

Pose will go down in history as the first batter ever for the Marlins, reaching on an error by Jody Reed, but that was the extent of his career accomplishments.

Now, on to the All-Time Worst 25 man roster, beginning with the bench.

Next: The Mayne man

Jul 3, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals mascot Slugger celebrates after the game against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Brent Mayne

Brent Mayne had two separate stints with the Kansas City Royals, leading to a total of nine seasons at Kauffman Stadium. He was not particularly great during any of them.

Mayne, during his 2200 total plate appearances for the Royals, produced a .244/.305/.322 batting line. Active during a time when PEDs were rampant and balls would fly out of the ballpark, Mayne had a grand total of 106 extra base hits, including a mere 20 home runs. According to Fangraphs.com, his offensive ‘production’ was worth -108.1 runs, likely costing the Royals ten games.

It would be understandable that Mayne would get that much playing time if he was a stellar defensive catcher, but that was not the case. If anything, Mayne was, at best, approximately league average defensively. So much for his glove getting him in the lineup.

Brent Mayne would have been a solid enough backup catcher, but all too often, he ended up being a bit more than that.

Next: One of the more reviled players in Royals history

Apr 17, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of the hat and glove of Kansas City Royals first basemen Eric Hosmer the field prior to a game against the Oakland Athletics at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Neifi Perez

During the Kansas City Royals Dark Age, they made quite a few regrettable trades. One of these trades that truly backfired was when the Royals sent Jermaine Dye to the Rockies for Neifi Perez, who would later become one of the more hated figures of that time period.

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It was not as though the Royals could have been swayed by Perez’ youth or fooled by his production in Coors Field. He was already 28 years old at the time of the trade, and had an OPS+ of 69 during his five and a half years with the Rockies. The book on Perez was written – he was a decent fielding shortstop with absolutely nothing to speak of with the bat.

As bad as Perez was with the Rockies, he was even worse during his dismal year and a half with the Royals. He produced a horrendous .238/.265/.303 batting line, worth an OPS+ of 45. Not only could he not hit, but he provided nothing on the basepaths, stealing eleven bases while getting caught 13 times. He simply could not do anything in Kansas City.

Neifi Perez was one of the darkest moments during the horrid years for the Royals. And yet, he was not the worst shortstop the team ever had.

Next: A true Quad-A player

Gary Thurman

Gary Thurman was a first round draft pick of the Kansas City Royals back in 1983. Early on during his minor league career, he looked like a future star, rocketing through the Royals system as he reached AAA within three years. After an excellent performance in Omaha in 1987, he made his debut with the Royals.

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He struggled during that audition, and was sent back to Omaha the following year for more seasoning. Again, Thurman played relatively well at AAA, earning another promotion. Again, he was unable to produce in the majors. This pattern continued to occur, as Thurman settled in to being the definition of a AAAA player, one who could perform well in Ohama, but was unable to replicate that performance in Kansas City.

Overall, in his 744 plate appearances for the Royals, Thurman had a .245/.297/.299 batting line, with only 29 extra base hits. A speedster by trade, Thurman did manage to steal 53 bases while being caught only 15 times. In 1989, Thurman was a perfect 16-16 while swiping bases, providing slight value despite hitting at a .195/.311/.241 clip.

There have been quite a few players who were never able to have their success at the AAA level translate to the major leagues. Gary Thurman was one of those for the Royals.

Next: At least he could still steal bases

Oct 27, 1985; Kansas City, MO, USA; FILE PHOTO; Kansas City Royals fans celebrate after the game 7 win beating the St. Louis Cardinals 11-0 during the 1985 World Series at Royals Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Vince Coleman

During Vince Coleman’s first six years in the majors, he led the National League in stolen bases each year. That speed and stolen base ability was able to mask some of his limitations with the bat, at least for the first few years of his time with the Cardinals.

While Coleman was still able to steal bases as a solid clip when he came to the Royals, that speed was unable to cover up for his deficiencies at the plate any longer. Even though he stole 76 bases in his year and a half with the Royals, he only hit at a .259/.311/.364 rate.

As was seemingly often the case with players the Royals acquired at that time period, Coleman was about done as a major league player while in Kansas City. Following a trade to the Mariners, Coleman appeared in only 79 more games in the major leagues. Even at the AAA level, Coleman was a shell of his former self.

A great deal of Vince Coleman’s value was attached to his speed. Unfortunately, when he came to the Royals, he just was not that same dynamic leadoff man as age had taken its toll.

Now, on to the starting lineup.

Next: Traded for a Hall of Famer

Oct 15, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; The outfield scoreboard displays the Kansas City Royals as American League champions after game four of the 2014 ALCS playoff baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals swept the Orioles to advance to the World Series. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Starting Catcher – Dennis Paepke

Chances are, if you cannot catch, throw or hit, then you will have a very short major league career. That turned out to be the case with former Kansas City Royals catcher Dennis Paepke.

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A part of the inaugural 1969 Royals squad, Paepke spent portions of four seasons with the Royals, with the majority of his time coming in 1971. Although he only appeared in 80 games, it may be fair to wonder how he received even that much playing time, given his career .183/.229/.249 batting line. He had only two career home runs and 14 career RBI, all of which came during that 1971 season.

Defensively, Paepke was not anything special. His 33% caught stealing rate seems impressive, but was 5% lower than the major league average at the time. He cost the Royals two runs in his 46 games behind the plate, and was even worse when put in the outfield, where he cost the Royals five runs in 18 games.

A player who should have been a minor league depth piece, Dennis Paepke’s career highlight was being part of the trade that sent expansion draft pick Hoyt Wilhelm to the Angels. Aside from that, Paepke was quite forgettable.

Next: Context matters

Nov 3, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; A Kansas City Royals fans shows support while waiting on players to arrive for the World Series victory celebration at Union Station. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

First Base – Ken Harvey

When looking over Fangraphs’ WAR rankings for the Kansas City Royals, Ken Harvey is listed as the second worst player ever to put on the Royals uniform (more on the leader there later). Strangely, that was never the impression that he made when I watched him.

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His numbers appear to be decent enough. Before his career was derailed by back injuries, Harvey posted a .274/.322/.411 batting line with 27 home runs. Considering that he had only two full seasons in the majors, and made the All-Star team during one of those, Harvey would seem to be a decent enough player.

However, these statistics were put up towards the end of the steroid era in baseball. Players were routinely hitting for a great deal more power, and as a first baseman, Harvey just was not their equal. Add in his -31.6 offense score and his brutal defense, and his standing as one of the worst players in Royals history is understood.

Ken Harvey may have seemed like a better player based on the eyeball test, but one has to remember the context in which his numbers were produced. While he may have had a chance to be a solid major league player, those back injuries cost Harvey that chance.

Next: This spot has been a true black hole

Aug 4, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Kansas City Royals second baseman Omar Infante (14) breaks his bat flying out in the sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Second Base – Omar Infante

Perhaps we should call it the Curse of Frank White. Seemingly since the moment that the legendary Kansas City Royals second baseman called it a career, second base has been a black hole. There have been a few moments of competence at the position, but those have been few and far between over the past 25 years.

Omar Infante has been the latest attempt to plug that hole in the lineup, and once again, it just has not worked. This has not been entirely Infante’s fault, as he has been hampered by a myriad of injuries since signing with the Royals, but considering that he was expected to solidify the position, he has been a disappointment.

Defensively, Infante has combined with Alcides Escobar to provide the Royals with solid defense up the middle. However, on offense, Infante has been a disaster. In his two years in Kansas City, Infante has produced a .238/.268/.329 batting line, hitting the ball with little authority. His offensive rating of -43 is actually worse than the -40.5 posted by Chris Gets, the poster child for Royals offensive futility.

Even though the Royals have been shopping Omar Infante in each of the past two offseasons, there have not been any takers. With two more years left on his contract, the Royals just have to hope that Infante can finally get healthy and produce.

Next: Yet another Quad-A player

Apr 21, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals mascot entertains the crowd after the game against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals won the game 6-5. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

Third Base – Phil Hiatt

The Kansas City Royals expected that Phil Hiatt would become their next start third baseman. In the minors, he had displayed solid power potential, hitting 29 home runs between two stops in 1992. With that in mind, he was brought up to the Royals early in the 1993 season, as they hoped he could be their next franchise player.

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Instead, Hiatt struggled at the plate, producing a meager .218/.285/.366 batting line with seven home runs in his 81 games. Sent back to the minors the following season, Hiatt again began to hit once again. Hiatt was called up the following year, and once again, struggled. He would only get two more brief chances at the majors before settling in as a AAA power hitter, toiling in the minors until 2004 when he ended his career in the Astros organization.

Overall for the Royals, Hiatt hit eleven home runs, but only produced a .214/.278/.365 batting line, striking out 119 times in 387 plate appearances. Defensively, he was a disaster at third for Kansas City, costing them eight runs in his 70 games at the position. Those struggles led to a shift in position, as the Royals sent him to the outfield the following season.

Phil Hiatt was expected to be the next franchise hitter for the Royals. Instead, he proved to be nothing more than another Quad-A player.

Next: One of the most loathed players in Royals history

Aug 13, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; A member of the Kansas City Royals Blue Crew entertains the crowd against the Los Angeles Angels in the seventh inning at Kauffman Stadium. The Angels won the game 7-6. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

Shortstop – Yuniesky Betancourt

Prior to the recent success that the Kansas City Royals had, Dayton Moore continually asked the fanbase to trust in The Process. It was easy to sell hope and the idea of a strong farm system early on, but as the team continued to struggle, patience began to wear thin. When Dan Cortes, who had been a top prospect, was traded to the Mariners for Yuniesky Betancourt, Royals fans had a target for their frustration.

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Betancourt, while he hit for some power, seemingly did not do anything else that was remotely useful. He was terrible defensively, costing the Royals eleven runs in a season and a half, while being unable to get on base or make consistent contact. Finally, he was sent away with Zach Greinke in a trade that altered the future of the franchise.

Then, a year later, Moore brought Betancourt back as a free agent. Fortunately, he realized his mistake, as Betancourt was released in August, but he had already furthered his place in the annuls of the worst players ever to put on a Royals uniform. Overall, Betancourt hit 27 home runs, but produced a .248/.276/.395 batting line while costing the Royals a total of 22 runs defensively between his play at short and second.

Fortunately, the days of Yuniesky Betancourt playing for the Royals are in the past. The present and future at shortstop are far brighter than they had been five years ago.

Next: An attitude problem without the production

May 31, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Kansas City Royals mascot “Sluggerrr” entertains the crowd while the Houston Astros play the Chicago White Sox at Minute Maid Park. Chicago won 6 to 0. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Right Field – Jose Guillen

Towards the middle to the end of the 2000’s, the Kansas City Royals made a couple of signings in free agency to attempt to bring themselves back to respectability. Gil Meche, when healthy, was a solid pitcher. However, their other big ticket signing, Jose Guillen, proved to be a disaster.

Guillen had been, for a time, a productive power hitter, which is what the Royals had hoped for. While he did hit a total of 45 home runs in his two and a half years with the Royals, he was not that consistent threat in the middle of the lineup that they needed. During his time with the Royals, Guillen posted a .256/.308/.420 batting line, but his production was only a part of the problem.

A tempermental player who consistently had issues with authority anywhere he played, Guillen began to class with the Royals about his playing time. Guillen also saw the beginning of his time with the Royals marred by a suspension, later overturned, for being a part of the Mitchell Report. Eventually, he was shipped to the Giants in August of 2010 for a minor leaguer.

While the Giants would go on to win the World Series, Jose Guillen was not a part of that postseason run. Left off the postseason roster, Guillen had a shipment of syringes filled with HGH intercepted by the DEA, marking an end to his career.

Next: If car jumping was a stat....

Oct 15, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals right fielder Norichika Aoki (23) throws a t-shirt into the crowd from the top of the dugout after game four of the 2014 ALCS playoff baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals swept the Orioles to advance to the World Series. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Center Field – Joey Gathright

Joey Gathright is remembered for two things – his blazing speed and his ability to jump a moving car. Neither of those helped him during his major league career.

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Perhaps the precursor to the Kansas City Royals philosophy of putting pressure on opposing defenses, Gathright was at least fast and able to make somewhat consistent contact. However, he could not do anything with those abilities, producing a .273/.336/.311 batting line with 22 extra base hits during his time in Kansas City. Somehow, he managed to hit a home run, sending a Joel Pineiro pitch out of Kauffman Stadium.

Defensively, Gathright was somewhat useful. He was able to shift between left and center, although he was not particularly adept at either position, costing the Royals three runs despite using his speed to be able to get to balls other outfielders could not reach.

A one tool player, Joey Gathright was not able to turn his blazing speed into the type of production that the Royals had hoped for. If only the Royals needed someone to hurdle a moving car…..

Next: Worst. Player. Ever.

Sep 20, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals mascot Sluggerrr entertains the crowd before the game against the Detroit Tigers at Kauffman Stadium. Detroit won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Left Field – Dee Brown

Quite a few players have gone through the Kansas City Royals over their 46 year history. However, Dee Brown has the ignoble record of having the lowest WAR value, at -4.1, of anyone to put on the Royals uniform.

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Brown had been a top prospect, ranking as high as eleventh in all of baseball prior to the 2000 season. A legitimate power/speed threat in the minors, Brown posted consecutive seasons with twenty home runs and twenty steals. It was expected that he would be able to do the same in the majors, giving the Royals another star outfielder.

Instead, Brown was unable to get these abilities to translate to the major leagues. Spending parts of seven seasons with the Royals, Brown hit at a disappointing .234/.281/.334 clip with 14 home runs. He stole only eight bases, and was caught six times. He was another example of the type of Quad-A players that the Royals were able to generate during that time frame.

It is possible that Dee Brown may have been the worst player ever to get on the field for the Royals for an extended period of time. If nothing else, he was certainly one of the more disappointing.

Next: Not Pat the Bat

Nov 3, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view as Kansas City Royals fans and players celebrate the World Series championship at Union Station. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Designated Hitter – Pat Tabler

Pat Tabler made quite a name for himself during his time with the Indians. Although his overall numbers were fairly solid, Tabler became known for his uncanny ability to produce with the bases loaded. Nicknamed Mr. Clutch, Tabler had a career .489 batting average with the bases loaded in his career, to go along with eleven walks and nine sacrifice flies.

During his time with the Royals, Tabler was not quite the same player with the bat, but he was not particularly awful either. He produced a reasonable .279/.339/.347 batting line, hitting 42 doubles. Never a power threat, Tabler had four home runs during his two and a half seasons with the Royals.

The reason why Tabler would be the designated hitter on this team is his brutal defense. In his time in Kansas City, Tabler cost the Royals 27 runs overall, posting a -22 mark in left field. According to Fangraphs, Tabler’s defense was rated as -47.3, better than only nine other players in team history. However, each of those nine players outperformed Tabler with the bat.

Pat Tabler had an uncanny ability to drive in runs when the bases were loaded. Unfortunately, that did not help in the field.

Next, we turn to the pitching staff.

Next: At least they got something for him

Jun 6, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of baseball gear before a game between the Kansas City Royals and the New York Yankees at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Jonathan Sanchez – Starting Pitcher

A hard throwing left hander, Jonathan Sanchez tantalized with his raw stuff. The problem was that he was unable to command his pitches, routinely walking over four batters per nine innings. However, as a controllable pitcher who seemingly had plenty of upside if he could harness his stuff, Sanchez was certainly an intriguing option.

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After what appeared to be a career year from Melky Cabrera, the Royals sent him to the Giants for Sanchez and Ryan Verdugo. Cabrera continued to perform well, but Sanchez imploded for the Royals. He lasted all of twelve outings, posting a 1-6 record with a 7.76 ERA. In his 53.1 innings, Sanchez allowed 65 hits while issuing 44 walks.

Sanchez did manage to make a positive impact upon the Royals. Three days after being designated for assignment, he was traded to the Colorado Rockies for Jeremy Guthrie, a move that paid dividends for the Royals. Sanchez, meanwhile, continued to struggle and has not made a major league appearance since April 2013.

The Royals likely felt they were selling high on Cabrera and getting a talented pitcher at a reduced cost. Instead, Jonathan Sanchez was a disaster in every way possible.

Next: The Atlanta Connection

Oct 27, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; General view of rain on the tarp before game one of the 2015 World Series between the Kansas City Royals and the New York Mets at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Kyle Davies – Starting Pitcher

When Dayton Moore came over to the Kansas City Royals, he attempted to turn the team into the Atlanta Braves West. In doing so, he brought over a number of players that he was familiar with during his time in the Braves organization, as he sought to change the culture and direction of the team.

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Unfortunately, one of those players that Moore brought over was Kyle Davies. He had a couple of highlights for the Royals, such as when he gave up Alex Rodriguez‘ 500th career home run. Davies also had the 2008 season, where he had a winning record, going 9-7 with a 4.06 ERA and a 1.451 WHiP. That was pretty much it.

Overall in Kansas City, Davies posted a 29-44 record with a 5.34 ERA and a 1.576 WHiP. In 531 innings, he walked 241 batters while recording 373 strikeouts. Davies, who had been a former top prospect, rated 53rd in baseball by Baseball America prior to the 2005 season, never developed into the top of the rotation starter that the Royals expected he would become.

Kyle Davies was one of the players who had become synonymous with the early failures of The Process. Still only 32 years old, there is still a chance that Davies could be a useful pitcher at some point. Just keep him away from Kansas City.

Next: By George, Why Did We Draft This Guy?

Oct 23, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general of fall foliage outside of Kauffman Stadium before game six of the ALCS between the Toronto Blue Jays and Kansas City Royals. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Chris George – Starting Pitcher

Chris George was the 31st pick of the first round for the KC Royals in 1998. In an era where a terrible Royals team gave their fans no hope on the field, many turned their hopes to “prospects”. Year after year, the front office talked about the talent in the pipeline and told fans to be patient. Year after year, fans were “rewarded” with busts like Chris George.

At one point, even people outside the Kansas City bubble believed Chris George was a talented young pitcher. Baseball America rated him the 40th best prospect in baseball in 2000, and no. 25 in 2001.

George arrived in Kansas City in 2001 at age 21 and made 13 starts with a 4-8 record and 5.59 ERA. He only got worse after that. George pitched for the KC Royals for three more seasons, compiling a 14-20 record, a bloated 6.48 ERA, with a t-ball like 3.2 K/9.

The high point of Chris George’s major-league career came in 2003 when he somehow managed to go 9-6 while making 18 starts despite hitters bludgeoning him for a 7.11 ERA.. He was even worse the following season, with a 7.23 ERA—which finally caused KC Royals GM Allard Baird to realize that George wasn’t cut out for major-league baseball.

What’s scary is that the 2003 KC Royals were the only Kansas City squad to record a winning record between 1995 and 2013. And Chris George somehow managed to hold down a rotation spot for more than half a season.

George hung on to pitch eight more seasons for various minor, and Mexican league teams before giving up the game after the 2012 season.

Next: Gave Up Hit no. 2,000 To Derek Jeter

Oct 23, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals fans hold up signs and celebrate after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in game six of the ALCS at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Scott Elarton – Starting Pitcher

The Kansas City Royals were so bad in the mid-noughts that if you sort of looked like a major league pitcher, and had worn a uniform for another team, you could easily find yourself on the mound in Kauffman Stadium starting for the Royals.

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That’s sort of how Scott Elarton ended up pitching in Kansas City from 2006 to 2007. At one time, Elarton was a well thought of prospect that the Houston Astros made their first round draft pick in 1994. By 1998, he was pitching in Houston and even won 17 games (with a 4.81 ERA) as the Astros Pitcher of the Year in 2000.

However, shoulder troubles that plagued him that season caught up to him. He was terrible in 2001. The Astros dealt Elarton’s used up husk to Colorado where the launching pad in Coors Field did nothing to help his career. Then Scott Elarton missed all of 2002 with major shoulder surgery.

Scott Elarton bounced from Colorado to Cleveland, where Elarton posted an almost acceptable 11-9 record with a 4.61 ERA in 181.2 innings. KC Royals GM Allard Baird thought that looked pretty good and brought him to Kansas City as a free-agent.

Elarton, was a disaster in Kansas City. Elarton went 4-9 in 2006 with a 5.34 ERA while not fooling anyone at the plate with a 3.8 K/9. Since that wasn’t bad enough to get kicked off a team that lost 100 games, Elarton came back in 2007 to make nine starts with a 2-4 record and 10.46 ERA.

Hey, Scott Elarton’s did make one mark on baseball history during his time in Kansas City. He was the pitcher that surrendered Derek Jeter‘s 2000th career hit in 2006.

Scott Elarton is a good example of the “talent” that new GM Dayton Moore inherited when he took over the job after the 2007 June draft.

Next: He Was The Pitts

Sep 26, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals take batting practice before the game against the Cleveland Indians at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

Jim Pittsley – Starting Pitcher

Jim Pittsley was another hyped prospect that pretty much blew burrito chunks when he finally pitched for the KC Royals. Pittsley was the Royals no. 1 pick in the 1992 draft (17th overall) and got his first taste of major-league baseball in 1995 at age 21 by making one start.

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After that brief cup of coffee, Pittsley made 21 starts for the KC Royals in 1997, posting a 5-8 record, 5.46 ERA, and a 4.2 K/9. Nolan Ryan he wasn’t.

But, hey, he was a prospect so got a shot at the bullpen in 1998. Pittsley proved to be even worse coming out of the pen, allowing a 6.59 ERA in 39 games as the team’s garbage man. KC Royals manager Tony Muser then tossed Pittsley to the major-league wolves for five more starts in 1999 resulting in a 6.94 ERA while lasting less then five innings per start. Overall, Pittsley finished his KC Royals career with a 7-11 record, 6.13 ERA, and a 4.5 K/9.

The KC Royals then put Pittsley on waivers—which was a rather common fate for “hot” KC Royals pitching prospects in that era.

Now that we’ve named a complete starting staff of awful, next comes a relief staff certain to turn a losing game into utter humiliation.

Next: Didn't He Also Play Tight End?

Aug 31, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Fans line up outside waiting for gates to open for the sold out ESPN Sunday Night baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Indians at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Kris Wilson – Long Relief

Kris Wilson earns the dubious honor of a spot on our 25-man worst roster by sucking as both a reliever and starter. Thus, he’s the perfect fit as long-reliever because he was certain to be awful no matter how he was used.

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Kris Wilson was a 9th round draft pick of the KC Royals in 1997, and thus was mercifully un-hyped when he appeared in Kansas City. So I can’t really say he disappointed anyone, even though he was terrible.

Wilson made his first appearance with the Kansas City Royals in 2000 and raised hopes by pitching in 20 games with 4.19 ERA (for an ERA+ 122). Hey, it was only 34.1 innings, but on the 2000 Royals that made him an oasis of bullpen competence.

It wouldn’t last. Wilson then made 15 starts in 2001 and proved to be inadequate with a 5.19 ERA in 109.1 innings. He then returned to the pen to post an 8.20 ERA in 18.2 innings in 2002 and a 5.33 ERA in 72.2 innings in 2003. Wilson finished his KC Royals career pitching parts of four seasons with a 5.44 ERA in 235.0 innings, while somehow posting a winning 14-9 record.

Kris Wilson bounced around the minor leagues the next two seasons, moving from the KC Royals, to the Boston Red Sox, and finally to the New York Yankees where he pitched his final major-league season in 2006. Wilson then finished out his career pitching one season in Korea and two in Italy.

Next: Worst Reliever WAR In Royals History

Victor Marte – Relief Pitcher

Most of the players on this list needed to stink for a significant amount of time before earning enshrinement here. However, I made a special exception for Victor Marte because he posted the lowest career fWAR (wins above replacement) of any relief pitcher in KC Royals history in a mere 39.2 innings pitched.

That’s pretty impressive.

The Kansas City Royals signed the then 20-year-old Marte as an international free agent from the Dominican Republic in 2000. Marte bounced around the minors for a number of seasons before pitching in Japan. He made his way to the major-leagues when the KC Royals brought him stateside in 2009 under former Nippon Ham Fighters manager Trey Hillman, who skippered the Royals from 2008-10.

In eight games in 2009, Marte posted a 8.25 ERA in 12.0 innings. Undeterred by his struggles, the KC Royals brought him back in 2010 so Marte could give up eight home runs in 27.2 innings, on his way to a stellar 9.76 ERA in 22 games. Somehow, Victor Marte managed a 3-0 record in his Kansas City Royals career despite tossing batting practice for opposing hitters.

Next: Should Have Left Him In Japan

Oct 14, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals fans celebrate after the win over the Houston Astros in game five of the ALDS at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Yasuhiko Yabuta – Relief Pitcher

One of the “benefits” of hiring Trey Hillman, who had won the NPL World Series with the Nippon Ham Fighters, was that he could help persuade Japanese players to come to Kansas City. One such “find” was 35-year-old Yasuhiko Yabuta, who signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the KC Royals—a healthy salary for a middle reliever at the time.

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Yabuta was so good that he spent most of his time pitching for AAA Omaha rather than Kansas City. In the limited time that Yabuta managed to play for the KC Royals, he sucked.

In 2008, Yabuta went 1-3 with a 4.78 ERA in 37.2 innings, followed by a 2-1 record and 13.50 ERA in 14.0 innings in 2009. To reach such a lofty number, Yasuhiko Yabuta gave up 21 runs in 14 innings. In the end, the KC Royals got a 3-4 record with 7.14 ERA in 51.2 innings for their $8 million.

To put Yabuta’s contract in perspective, the Kansas City Royals had a $58 million opening day payroll in 2008, and $70 million in 2009. Those weren’t teams that could afford to waste $4 million a season on a risky NPL relief pitcher that turned out to be a bust.

Next: Tried To Cruz His Way Through Season

Sep 26, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals take batting practice before the game against the Cleveland Indians at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

Juan Cruz – Relief Pitcher

Encouraged by a “strong” 75-85 season in 2008, KC Royals general manager Dayton Moore made an ill-fated attempt to win in 2009. One of those moves was to get a setup man for closer Joakim Soria in the person of free-agent Juan Cruz, who’d had an excellent season in 2008 for the Diamondbacks.

Cruz landed a two-year, $5 million deal. The Kansas City Royals very quickly found out why he was available. The guy was just looking for a paycheck.

Like the rest of the 2009 KC Royals, (with the notable exception of Zack Greinke who won the Cy Young award), Cruz was terrible. In 46 games, Juan Cruz went 3-4, with a 5.72 ERA in 50.1 innings pitched. Cruz followed that season with a solid start to 2010 in which he contributed a 3.38 ERA in 5.1 innings pitched, but his clubhouse attitude was so toxic the Royals axed him in April—despite the more than $3 million in guaranteed money remaining on his contract.

Juan Cruz had such a crummy personality that the KC Royals didn’t even want him around when he was getting decent results.

Next: Well, He Didn't Blow Every Save

Oct 28, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals fans hold up large cut-out heads of Royals players in game two of the 2015 World Series against the New York Mets at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Ricky Bottalico – Set Up Man

Ricky Bottalico pitched one season for the KC Royals in 2000. His 4.83 ERA in 72.2 innings with a 9-6 record really wasn’t all that bad for that high run scoring era. So why is he on this list?

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Ricky Bottalico was signed to be the Kansas City Royals closer, and in that role, he was truly awful. Bottalico earned 16 saves against in 23 chances for a 70% conversion percentage—for a guy that typically came into the game to get the final three outs.

Yeah. HDH he was not.

Bottalico’s biggest problem was that he couldn’t find home plate. Ricky Bottalico walked an absurd 5.1 hitters per nine innings in 2000. The reason Bottalico ended up with nine wins as a closer was the number of leads he blew in the ninth inning. The 2000 KC Royals featured a robust young offense that regularly pulled off comeback victories to bail out their “closer”.

Next: His Baseball Career Was A Criminal Offense

Court will be in session when the Mariners and their king welcome the Royals to Safeco Field tonight. Photo Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Ambiorix Burgos – Set Up Man

The hard-throwing Ambiorix Burgos had the highest average fastball among American League relievers at 96.5 mph in 2005, which made him the closer for the Kansas City Royals. Except, as you can guess from his presence on this list, he had problems throwing the ball in the general direction of the plate.

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In 2005, the then 21-year-old Burgos was actually a pretty effective pitcher tossing 63.1 innings of 3.98 ERA relief with a K/9 of 9.2, though he blew four saves while recording only two. The next season the KC Royals installed him as the closer, and he proceeded to blow 12 out of 30 save chances—a 60% conversion rate.

Burgos’ 5.52 ERA in 2006 inflated his career numbers with the Kansas City Royals to 4.81 ERA in 136.2 innings while blowing 16 saves in 32 chances.

General manager Dayton Moore quickly flipped Ambiorix Burgos to the Mets in exchange for Brian Bannister after taking over as GM in 2007. After leaving the Royals, Burgos was 1) arrested for assaulting his girlfriend, 2) indicted for a hit and run in the Dominican Republic, and 3) accused of kidnapping and poisoning his ex-wife, causing him to be charged with murder in the Dominican Republic.

Dayton Moore was wise to get rid of a violent criminal as fast as he could.

Next: A Davis Too Many

May 22, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view as fans watch fireworks after the game between the Kansas City Royals and the St. Louis Cardinals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Mark Davis – Closer

Mark Davis is one of the biggest free-agent busts in baseball history, and he played for our own Kansas City Royals from 1990-92.

In 1990, Royals aged owner Ewing Kauffman was trying to win one last title before he passed away. Trying to build upon a 1989 team that won 92 games, he opened the vault to sign free-agents in a spending spree that the franchise has never seen.

Kauffman pushed the Kansas City Royals payroll to $20 million, which was the highest in major-league baseball 25 years ago. He brought in former 20-game winner Richard Dotson, 19-game winner Storm Davis (yes, that was considered an important measure of pitcher skill at the time), and signed 1989 National League Cy Young award winner Mark Davis to a three-year, $9.3 million deal.

What made the deal so puzzling, is the KC Royals already had solid back-end relievers in Steve Farr and Jeff Montgomery. I suppose we can consider signing Mark Davis Kansas City’s first attempt at building a three-headed bullpen monster, but it was an abject failure because Davis immediately turned into a pumpkin.

Mark Davis went 2-7, with a 5.11 ERA and four blown saves in 10 chances. He notched a mere six saves for KC after 44 the year before with the Padres as his walks per nine innings (BB9) zoomed from 3.0 in 1989 to 6.8 in 1990.

In 1990, umpires used to be attached to each league. Thus, you had American League and National League umpires who called a somewhat different strike zone. Davis struggled to adjust, and he never really recovered even after returning to the NL later in his career.

Mark Davis quickly lost his closer job in favor of Jeff Montgomery, who went on to earn a spot in the Kansas City Royals Hall-of-Fame as the franchise’s all-time saves leader. Mark Davis improved a bit to a 4.45 ERA in 62.2 innings in 1991, but he still wasn’t anything close to worth his salary. Davis then imploded the next season, opening the 1992 season with a 7.18 ERA in 36.1 innings before the Royals dealt him to Atlanta at the trade deadline.

Next: The 20 Best Hitters In Royals History

Mark Davis might not have been a clubhouse cancer like Juan Cruz, or a defective human being like Ambiorix Burgos, but he was the worst free-agent Kansas City Royals history.

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It is easy to think back to the glory days of the Kansas City Royals and imagine what the All-Time Best franchise would look like. What about the opposite, the All-Time Worst that the Royals had put out on the field?

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