Royals Rumors Roundup: Atlanta not expected to chase Mike Moustakas

The Kansas City Royals have plenty of free agents who will be targets of other teams. Here’s a look at some of the rumored destinations for those players from around the web.

There are so many Hot Stove rumors swirling about former Kansas City Royals players that we decided to group together some of the top ones — as of this moment. The great, and sometimes agonizing thing, about free agency is the unknown. It’s an exciting time for many franchises, but, for obvious reasons, it’s a frightening one for Royals fans.

Kansas City supporters are looking for any bit of encouraging news when it comes to their key franchise pieces. Well, we give you just that with this tidbit from Gabriel Burns of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: The Braves aren’t expected to pursue Mike Moustakas this offseason. Burns’ piece seemed to be in response to MLB Trade Rumors predicting Moose would sign with Atlanta. In that article, the writers at MLB Trade Rumors concluded Moustakas would land a five-year, $85 million deal with the Braves.

Burns points out that contract — if Moose did receive it — would be the richest in the franchise’s history. It would be almost $10 million more than Atlanta spent on B.J. Upton in 2012. Burns also noted that such a move would run contrary to the Braves’ rebuilding plan. But he did note that the possibility of Dayton Moore joining the Atlanta front office could change things. For the record, Mark Bowman, who covers the Braves for MLB.com, thinks Moustakas could be a wild card free agent target.

So if he doesn’t end up in Kansas City or Atlanta, then where might Moustakas sign? We already know the Angels would make a lot of sense. And the Boston Globe‘s Nick Cafardo also mentions them — along with the Mets, Yankees and Giants — as a possible destination.

Vargas Looking Like a Perfect Fit for Baltimore

If the Hot Stove has its way, Jason Vargas seems to be on his way to playing for the Orioles in 2018. According to MASNsports’ Roch Kubatko, Vargas and former Texas hurler Andrew Cashner could be targets to join a Baltimore rotation looking to replace three starters. Vargas and Cashner, who could be a realistic target to replace Vargas in KC, would give the Orioles a lefty-righty combination in the middle of the rotation.

Kubatko is just the latest person to view Baltimore as a potential suitor for the former Kansas City Royals pitcher. MLB Trade Rumors predicted Vargas would sign with the Orioles for one year and $10 million. MLB.com columnist Jim Duquette also believes the left-hander will ink a deal with Baltimore. A former Mets general manager, Duquette calls for Vargas to receive a two-year, $24 million contract. That points to the main sticking point with the aging starter.

Ideally, Vargas would earn himself a two-year pact. It’s hard to argue someone who tied for the league lead in wins doesn’t deserve at least that much. Then again, he will be 35 years old when the season starts. Baltimore, though, seems desperate to add multiple starters, meaning the organization might not have the leverage to sign Vargas to a one-year deal. It should be pointed out that Duquette used to work in the Orioles front office, and his cousin, Dan Duquette, is the team’s current general manager.

Regardless of the contract length, it’s looking increasingly likely that Vargas pitches for Baltimore in 2018 (and maybe 2019).

Braves and Mets Could Target Minor

In the aforementioned article by Mark Bowman, the Braves beat writer for MLB.com, Mike Minor garnered a mention as a possible bullpen target for Atlanta. Bowman thinks the team could kick the tires on former Kansas City closers Holland and Wade Davis.

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However, he argues the team will more than likely pass on those high-priced candidates in favor of in-house options such as Arodys Vizcaino, Jim Johnson or A.J. Minter. Bowman, though, thinks the franchise could look to add another quality bullpen arm, possibly Minor, Addison Reed or Matt Belisle.

Adding Minor would make for an interesting return home for the left-handed pitcher. A first-round pick of Atlanta in 2009, Minor started for the Braves for parts of five seasons. He missed all of 2015 and 2016 with shoulder surgery and recovery. A bounce-back 2017 campaign has him looking like a candidate to help several teams, including one of Atlanta’s NL East rivals.

Minor could also be a target of the Mets, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. Puma writes that the bullpen is the team’s “top priority” this winter. Holland and Davis appear to be out of the question, leaving New York with some second-tier options:

Instead, team brass is expected to choose from a group that includes Bryan Shaw, Brandon Morrow, Luke Gregerson, Brandon Kintzler, Matt Albers and Mike Minor, among others.

The addition of Minor would give the team another quality left-hander in the bullpen to pair with Jerry Blevins. It’s also a move that would make sense with the team recently naming former Royals pitching coach Dave Eiland to the same position.

Next: Where Will Royals Free Agents Play Next Season?

What do you think, fans? Who do you see the Royals signing this offseason? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.