Kansas City Royals: What the signing of Ryan Goins could mean

Option 1:

Option 1 is pretty simple. The Royals are unsure about whether or not Raul Mondesi Jr., Cheslor Cuthbert or Ramon Torres are ready to take the next step forward.

With a pretty uninspiring performance in 2017, both Mondesi and Cuthbert could have raised some doubt and concern about their futures. Perhaps the two are not ready to take on an everyday role.

Over his very short and small sample size career, Mondesi has been bad. Hitting just .181/.226/.271 over his 72 games is not something to celebrate. His defense has been something that has saved him thus far. Being just 22-year-old could be the reason for his lack of offense, and with time it could get better. Last year in Triple-A Omaha he hit .289/.320/.513 over 93 games. If his offense can pick up, then he is an everyday player. However, being 22-years-old could mean the Royals wait just a little longer on bringing him up to the majors.

Cuthbert is a very interesting story. While covering for Mike Moustakas in 2016, Cuthbert gave the idea that maybe a contract extension for Moustakas is not necessary. He hit .274/.318/.413 with 12 home runs over 128 games. When he took on a more “spot-start” role in 2017 Cuthbert had a dramatic dip in his numbers. He hit just .231/.275/.322 and two home runs over 58 games. The Royals could be doubting which Cuthbert is more likely to be the real Cuthbert. Is 2016 what a consistent playing-time Cuthbert can produce? Or is 2017 more likely to be what his career consists of?

Lastly is the wild card player. Torres is still a big “unknown” for the Royals. He did a decent job filling in at times last year, posting a .243/.291/.284 slash. Torres could be close, but he seems to be further away from being MLB ready then both Mondesi and Cuthbert are.

Option 2:

Option 2 is a harder pill to swallow. Perhaps signing a utility infielder that has played more second base than any other position means a second baseman is on the move. Whit Merrifield has had a lot of buzz around his name this off-season. Teams looking to compete, but lack a solid second baseman, could really benefit from Merrifield.

Merrifield’s career .286/.324/.460 slash, while being consistent his first two years, is appealing to teams. Merrifield bulking up over last years off-season is also an encouraging sign. His home run numbers jump dramatically, going from two in 2016 and 19 in 2017. His extra-base hits overall dramatically jumped from year one to year two. In year one he had 27 extra-base hits, while in year two he had 57 extra-base hits. To add a cherry to the top, Merrifield led the American League in 2017 in stolen bases last year with 34 stolen bases.

Most appealing though is his contract. He is under team-control through 2019, beginning arbitration in 2020, and becoming a free agent in 2023. For what he has shown he can do over the last two years, having that type of team control is huge for a team that is competing.

And while that is great for a team that is competing, the flip side is great for the Royals. Merrifield could bring in a decent haul if traded. Teams want to solidify the middle of the field and having a very good second baseman is important.

If the Royals are truthful to the idea of a team rebuild, Merrifield could help the team more by being traded than playing second base for the Royals.

Option 3:

Option 3 is more likely to be the case. Bringing in Goins simply adds more depth to the Royals infield. Having a veteran player like Goins could dramatically help. It provides insurance in the case of someone not panning out at their position while allowing the Royals to have a veteran that does not have to play.

When the Royals signed him they signed him to a minor league deal, which is significant. The deal came with a Spring Training invite, so he will have to prove why the Royals should put him on the 25-man roster. If Goins can outperform Torres, then Goins will most likely be a bench player. If Mondesi or Cuthbert struggle significantly then Goins could be an option to fill that hole.

Going into a rebuild, it makes sense to allow players like Mondesi and Cuthbert to fail. The Royals desperately need one of the two to work out an become a long-term solution. The rebuild honestly depends on it. If Goins can prove to be a mentor for the young players, perhaps this minor league pick up could benefit the Royals significantly.

Final Thoughts:

When looking at the signing, it is not all that bad. What it could possibly mean is still up to interpretation and opinion, but I think we all have an option we favor more. For the doubters, Option 1 is more likely to be your choice. For the fully committed fan, Option 2 would most likely be your choice. If you are not really bothered by the deal and it means little to you, then you seem to be an Option 3 fan.

I personally hope it is Option 3. I would rather see Mondesi struggle at shortstop and try to fix his flaws and which Cuthbert is the real Cuthbert, then see Goins as an everyday player. When looking at his numbers he does not provide much of an upgrade, if any, over what they currently have.

So what do you say Royals fans? Do you have a favorite option? Do you think there is an Option 4 missing? Let us know your thoughts!