Royals: Positional battle, a new face at third base? Doubtful.

After a breakout year from the Kansas City Royals current third baseman, it is unlikely anyone else will take his position.

As these positional battle pieces continue for the Kansas City Royals, it’s likely there are some spots that really won’t have much of a battle at all. There will typically though, always be some possible contenders, even if they will simply sit the bench until they are needed.

One such position on for the Royals is third base. The Royals look to have third base locked down, with Hunter Dozier standing strong. With a lot of unknowns coming up for the Royals, though, it never hurts to take a look and see who might be standing in line if the team decides to shake things up.

The Royals have been doing a lot of experiments with moving players between the infield and outfield, and if they continue, they could lose their third baseman to the outfield canyon of Kauffman Stadium. If this is the case, the Royals may be limited on who they could bring in as a replacement.

While there are not a lot of options that stand out, there are some players the Royals could turn to if needed during the 2020 season. A few of these players were seen during the 2019 season but unfortunately did not leave a huge mark. It also never hurts to take a look at what is available in free agency. If there is a deal worth it, Dozier might find his way to the outfield a little quicker.

Third base is unlikely to change hands for the Kansas City Royals as the current occupant has proven his worth defensively, and at the plate.

Hunter Dozier

As already stated, Dozier is pretty well locked into the third base position, but there is always the chance for a move. Either way, Dozier did what he could to make an impression for the Royals in 2019. Other than a small-time on the injured list, Dozier played most of the season as the starting third baseman, seeing some innings in the outfield as well.

Offensively, Dozier had a break out year. Across the season, Dozier slashed .279/.348/.522 and it likely could have been a little higher had he not slumped for a bit after his injury. Along with his good hitting, Dozier knocked in 84 RBIs, scored 75 runs, 10 triples and 26 home runs. If Dozier can continue this production and stay healthy all year, he could be good for 30 plus homers.

Dozier did struggle a little more defensively. At third, Dozier saw a .965 fielding percentage, committing 9 errors over the course of 100 games. The number is not necessarily up to typical Royals standards of top-notch defense, but Dozier has made some good plays and worked incredibly hard to keep his spot at third.

In the outfield, Dozier managed a 1.00 fielding percentage, but this was over far fewer games. Dozier may make a better outfielder, but as the old saying goes, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Dozier needs to keep working on his defense, but he is definitely a player the Royals want in the lineup every day.

While it’s unlikely the Royals will make any big moves during the free agency, there is always the chance for a reunion to take place.

Free Agents

The Royals are fairly well off as far as position players go. They either have a pretty good lockdown on the spot, or they have multiple options that will have to duke it out come spring training. While third base seems to be locked down, there is always the possibility of a free agent coming in to take the spot.

While many Royals fans would likely be fine with the pickup of Anthony Rendon, or even the aging Josh Donaldson, it’s unlikely either of these players will find their way to Kauffman stadium. Price tags will probably be fairly high, and the Royals have other concerns.

One free agent that could cause some buzz, though, is Mike Moustakas. Many Royals fans would love to see a reunion with Moustakas and he has continued to put up good numbers since his time with the Royals.

In 2019, Moustakas slashed .254/.329/.516, scoring 80 runs, batting in 87 RBIs, and smashing 30 doubles and 35 home runs. Defensively, Moustakas saw time at both second and third base, posting a fielding percentage of .993 at second, and .952 at third.

It’s unlikely a reunion will happen with Moustakas, given spotrac.com estimates his market value at 20.7 million dollars; much more than the Royals will probably want to spend for a third baseman. Moustakas has not had the easiest time in free agency, though, so if the cards fall just right, the Royals could see the Moose back at third in Kauffman.

The Royals tend to be a quiet team in the free agency, making small moves that will hopefully get them some prospect in July. Because of this, Dozier will more than likely continue his full-time gig at third. This will all be dependent on the new management and new ownership, though.

Dozier did play well in the outfield, and if they believe it will help him focus even more on is hitting, it might be a move they are willing to make. If this is the case, and Moustakas is available later in free agency, this makes his acquisition much more likely.

No matter what the Royals do, the focus should remain on pitching during the free agency. If the organization feels it’s necessary to make certain moves, then so be it. The offense is fairly set, though, and now the Royals need some pitchers to back up their hitters.