KC Royals: Making the case, Boston Red Sox free agents

The KC Royals need some outfield help and a pitcher or two to progress in 2021. The Red Sox might have a few options worth taking a look at.

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 Boston Red Sox free agents.

The Boston Red Sox over the past few seasons may have seemed like a good place to find some free agents. Decent records in multiple years and a World Series typically speak to some good talent. As with the KC Royals, though, things change.

The 2020 Red Sox were a different story, going 24-36 and finishing in 5th place in the American League East. They struggled through the season with little hope of contending and now like the Royals, will have to find a way to piece things back together.

They have a good number of free agents, though for a good portion of the group, it’s unlikely the Royals would spend a lot of time on them. There are a few interesting options, however, if the Royals are looking to the Red Sox for acquisitions.

A pair of relievers to look past

The Royals might be on the market for a couple of relievers to help supplement the bullpen, but the search shouldn’t stop in Boston. The Red Sox can offer up Andrew Triggs and Mike Kickham, but neither one are likely what the Royals are looking for.

Kickham pitched 14.0 innings in 2020, sitting with an ERA of 7.71. While he has had good years in the minors, he seems to struggle translating any success into the majors. For Triggs, who was originally drafted by the Royals, the sample is even smaller, pitching 8.1 innings between both San Francisco (0.1) and Boston (8.0).

Triggs has experience both as a starter and reliever, though FanGraphs lists him as a free agent reliever. He ended the season at a 7.56 ERA. He hadn’t pitched since 2018 as he had been recovering from injury. While he could be a possible reclamation project for the Royals, it’s likely in their best interest to see what they can find elsewhere.