KC Royals: Making the case, LA Dodgers free agents

The Dodgers have several free agents, including an experienced starter who could help the KC Royals’ rotation.

Welcome back to Kings of Kauffman’s continuing series analyzing the major league free agent market and projecting who might, or might not, fit the KC Royals’ needs. Today we take a look at the Los Angeles Dodgers’ free agents.

It’s hard to imagine any of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ nine free agents wanting to leave the club. The Dodgers are World Series champions, have won eight straight National League West Division titles, and should be favored to win the West and the Series next season. But because baseball is a business and someone may pay more, two or three LA free agents could move on. Should the KC Royals be interested?

Justin Turner, the biggest name in the Dodger free agent bunch, is an easy “No.” He’s aggressive, flamboyant, and can hit for power and average. But a third baseman, especially one who’ll turn 38 next week, isn’t a Royals’ need, especially when they have Maikel Franco and Bobby Witt Jr. is on the way.

The Royals might look for a left-handed reliever, but Jake McGee probably isn’t the best choice. He has good control, has pitched everywhere out of the pen and has 11 big league seasons under his belt, but 2021 will be his age-35 season. KC should be searching for younger pieces.

Enrique Hernandez will be a good, serviceable, versatile player for the Dodgers or another club, but the Royals should pass. His career .230 average and .270 OBP won’t fit well on a Royal club increasingly committed to finding ways to get on base, stealing bases, and moving the line.

Then there’s Russell Martin, an excellent catcher and four-time All-Star. But he isn’t an everyday catcher anymore (he didn’t play in 2020, and the only thing clear about his status is that he’s a free agent); if by chance the Royals are considering a new backup to Salvador Perez, it needn’t be someone who’ll be 38 in February.

But a pitcher or two might catch the KC Royals’ eye.