Kansas City Royals: Reflecting on Loss of Yordano Ventura

Meet the Royals

Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Alex Gordon and Zack Greinke (whom Moore later traded in part for Lorenzo Cain and Alcides Escobar) were all famed first-round draft picks. Jarrod Dyson, Greg Holland and Danny Duffy were all later-round additions. And perhaps most notably, the Royals finally succeeded in the waters of international free agency, signing Kelvin Herrera, Salvador Perez and Yordano Ventura.

A city watched as these prospects and high schoolers morphed into men in front of our eyes. We observed as they developed and stockpiled accolades on their way through the minor league system. Upon their arrival to the big league club, the chemistry throughout the clubhouse was clear and palpable. We fell in love with them from the onset. We waited patiently as they struggled, learned and grew. Finally, we watched with bated breath as they defied statistics and conventional baseball wisdom to capture a World Series championship.

It is easy to see why this city and this team feel so close. We have experienced such a wide array of emotion during the past decade of Kansas City Royals baseball, and the only other thing in life that brings you such emotion is your family or those whom you love. They have brought us frustration, anticipation, anguish, elation and, especially, pride. Something that we, and any family, would have willingly done without, is the complete desolation that we experienced last offseason.

Kansas City and the entire baseball landscape awoke to heart-wrenching news on the morning of Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017. Beloved pitcher, son and brother Yordano Ventura had tragically passed away in a vehicle accident in his native Dominican Republic.

Coping With the Loss

Kansas City Royals fans had watched Yordano grow up. We rooted for him when he broke onto the big league scene and won 14 games in his first full season while sporting a 3.20 ERA. We cheered as he pitched seven shutout innings in Game 6 of the 2014 World Series in tribute to his late friend, Oscar Taveras. And we chuckled in disbelief every time the radar gun read 100 or higher. We, of course, defended him while he struggled to maintain his composure when an opponent would attempt to get in his head.

He was a 16-year-old kid when he put pen to paper to officially play baseball in the United States. Ventura had previously dropped out of school to help support his family, so the $28,000 signing bonus was unforeseen territory for him and his family. I will never blame Yordano, a kid who had the deck of life stacked entirely against him, for taking it personally when a kid born and raised in the United States, who never had the same legitimate worries, would mouth off to him. He was a true competitor in every aspect of life, and for that, he should be admired.

For the most part, none of us really knew how to react to the news of his death. We mourned, remembered, celebrated his life and, of course, cried. There were multiple gatherings at Kauffman Stadium throughout the day, and the players who were present said that they didn’t know where else to go. It was certainly a tragedy, and one we will not soon forget.

Our heartstrings have been constantly tugged at ever since, but the most emotional time came only two days later, during his services. His brothers traveled to the city Las Terrenas to pay their respects. Salvador Perez, Mike Moustakas, Eric Hosmer, Alcides Escobar, Greg Holland and Jarrod Dyson all helped to carry Ventura’s casket and spoke, cried and prayed over him. Ned Yost and Dayton Moore comforted distraught loved ones. This team felt like one big family once again, but this time, for one of the most regrettable reasons possible.

Yordano Ventura’s competitive fire, warm and outgoing personality, and electric right arm will never be forgotten or replaced.

Moving Forward

The beat went on. Life did not slow, despite a whole town living in grief. It is pure speculation to believe that Moore did or did not carry out the rest of the offseason in a reactionary mode. Perhaps the signings of Travis Wood and Jason Hammel were as a result of the loss of Yordano. Or maybe Moore had already felt that the club needed additional help in the bullpen and the back-end of the rotation. For the sake of speculation, here is a look at every pitcher the Kansas City Royals acquired or moved, that may in some way be traced back to the loss of Yordano.

Jason Hammel — The Kansas City Royals picked up Hammel in the first week of February. The back-loaded contract guaranteed him $16 million over two seasons. Hammel will earn $9 million of that in the 2018 season. It will be interesting to see whether or not the Royals pick up his mutual option for 2019. If they do, they will owe him an additional $12 million. If they fail to, as most assume, Hammel will be granted a $2 million buyout. Additionally, with the emergence of Jake Junis, the return of Nate Karns and the likely departure of many key players, it is safe to assume that the Royals would not have committed this type of money towards starting pitching depth in 2018 if Ventura was still around.

Travis Wood — A week after the signing of Hammel, the team acquired Wood. Of course, the team back-loaded his contract, too. He was traded midway through the 2017 season with Matt Strahm and prospect Esteury Ruiz for Trevor Cahill, Ryan Buchter and Brandon Maurer. Although he now dons the Padre colors, the Royals still owe Wood $6.5 million in 2018. San Diego then faces a decision on letting Wood walk or picking up his option. After next season, Wood will be off our books.

Matt Strahm — Some say that with Ventura on the roster, the trade to San Diego would not have happened. Speculation says that Junis would have filled a bullpen role. However, this assumes Ventura would have had a perfectly healthy season. Additionally, with Strahm missing the majority of 2017 in Triple-A Omaha and to injury, he very well could have been the piece to move in another trade, even if it wouldn’t have been for starting pitching. I think Strahm swaps clubs last season with or without Ventura.

Ryan Buchter — Compared to the rest of the market, Buchter is actually rather cheap. His base salary was $545,000 in 2017, and he is not eligible for arbitration until the end of next season. Given his 2.85 ERA in his short career—and the fact that the Royals have him under team control through 2021—Buchter poses great value. Even if Ventura was still with the team, Buchter would be a welcomed addition.

Brandon Maurer — Kansas City Royals fans are not shy about their opinions on Maurer, as he did pose an 8.10 ERA as a Royal in 2017. He has just over four years of major league service time, so he is under team control for two more seasons. He will be undergoing arbitration this offseason, as well as next. His base salary of $1.9 million surely won’t grow by much, if any, at least for 2018. I will budget on the high end and say the Royals will pay Maurer a total of $6 million over the next two seasons.

Trevor Cahill — Cahill will be a free agent this offseason and will not be on the books going forward.

What Happens Now?

Below you see the total money we owe to players that we may have acquired as a result of having to compensate for Yordano’s unfortunate passing:

• 2018 Committed Money (Hammel’s $9M + Wood’s $6.5M + Maurer’s $3M) = $18.5 million
• 2019 Committed Money (Hammel’s buyout $2M + Maurer’s $3M) = $5 million
• 2020 Committed Money = $0

Therefore, after the 2019 season, all possible financial implications of Ventura’s passing will be no more. In addition, the repercussions over the next two seasons are minimal. Thank goodness that this is the case. Yordano deserves to be remembered for his laugh, fire and unbelievable talent. I wouldn’t want anyone to see his passing as a financial burden on the organization.

Outside of Ventura, the Royals will also be free of Gordon’s awful contract, be rid of their horrid television contract and be one year away from letting go of Ian Kennedy’s embarrassing contract by the end of 2019. This means that after the next three seasons, the Kansas City Royals have few money obligations to anyone other than organizational staples Perez and Duffy. When this rebuild is finished, they should have a lot of financial options.

Next: Reasons 2017 Became a Down Year

We love you, Yordano.