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Kansas City Royals Rumors: What’s next on the market?

By Colby Wilson

KANSAS CITY, MO - JULY 16: The Kansas City Royals celebrate the walk off single by Lorenzo Cain #6 (left) against the Texas Rangers during the ninth inning at Kauffman Stadium on July 16, 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Brian Davidson/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - JULY 16: The Kansas City Royals celebrate the walk off single by Lorenzo Cain #6 (left) against the Texas Rangers during the ninth inning at Kauffman Stadium on July 16, 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Brian Davidson/Getty Images) /
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CINCINNATI, OH – JULY 21: Ichiro Suzuki #51 of the Miami Marlins looks on from the dugout in the first inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on July 21, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – JULY 21: Ichiro Suzuki #51 of the Miami Marlins looks on from the dugout in the first inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on July 21, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Ichiro, OF, Miami

There are a number of reasons why the Kansas City Royals could stand to take a long, hard look at the Rising Sun’s Favorite Son:

  • Ichiro continues to possess above-average defensive abilities in the outfield—in his limited outings in 2017, he’s got the second-best arm rating and second-best UZR on the Marlins behind Marcell Ozuna.
  • He’s a veteran presence that fits into any clubhouse—you can’t go a season without teammates raving about his leadership.
  • Never underestimate the karmic factor of bringing aboard the Veteran Chasing His Elusive Championship Ring element into the equation.
  • Despite the fact that he’s nearly 44 years old, Ichiro still commands a huge following in Japan—by all accounts, he’s some combination of Michael Jordan and the Beatles in his home country. I’m not a big brand enhancement guy, but if you’re getting a fourth outfielder/designated hitter type, why not go for the one who could train the eyes of a baseball-mad nation on your franchise during the playoffs?
  • An outfield of Alex Gordon, Lorenzo Cain and Ichiro would cover a lot of ground and be tons of fun to watch.

Ichiro is 43. He’s hitting .223 this season. But he represents a defensive upgrade in the late innings, Jorge Bonifacio could always slide in as the DH and honestly, it would just be tons of fan to have him.

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