Kansas City Royals all-time top 50 players: No. 50 to No. 31

No. 48) Jermaine Dye, outfielder, 1997-2001

The Kansas City Royals acquired Jermaine Dye right before the 1997 season, and his breakout season in 1999 put the league on notice. Dye’s All-Star campaign in 2000 was his best of all, however. He slugged 33 home runs that season, to go with a .951 OPS and his only gold glove.

Dye was known for racking up the assists from right field during his time in Kansas City. To the dismay of Royals fans everywhere, he was dealt to Oakland in the middle of the 2001 season in the infamous Neifi Perez deal. Dye enjoyed a lengthy career, highlighted by a 2005 world championship, in which he knocked in the game-winning run in the decisive Game 4. *SPOILER* Perez, meanwhile, didn’t appear on our list.

No. 47) James Shields, starting pitcher, 2013-14

Speaking of trades, there haven’t been many bigger in club history than the James Shields acquisition. The team acquired Shields, Wade Davis and later Elliot Johnson for Jake Odorizzi, Mike Montgomery, Patrick Leonard and, of course, Wil Myers. Shields was not a Cy Young winner, but the team desperately needed what he brought to the table.

The Kansas City Royals needed a workhorse who could eat up innings, develop young talent and show up at the big moments. Shields averaged 228 innings in his two seasons in Kansas City. More than anything, he was a symbol that the club was ready to win. His performance in the 2014 playoffs left plenty to be desired, but the trade is considered an overall success for more reasons than one.