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.

The Royals are interested in some outfield help to replace what they lost with Alex Gordon. Boston might have the answer.

Cesar Puello is the first outfielder up for the Red Sox. His 2020 sample is super small (11 plate appearances), though he slashed .375/.500/.375. While those numbers are nice, it’s unlikely he would have held those numbers over a larger sample.

In 2019, between the Angels and Marlins, he slashed .248/.356/.384 over 147 plate appearances. He’s not hitting the ball into the stands, though the on-base percentage is nice. He has done fine with fielding in the chances he’s gotten as well. If the Royals are going to get an outfielder, though, it’s likely best to look at someone a little more established as they have a mass of outfield prospects.

Rusney Castillo is another outfield option from Boston. He has spent the majority of his career in the minors, though he did get a small bit of playing time from 2014 to 2015. When he was up, he batted around .250-.260 and his OBP barely broke .300.

Like Puello, he was a decent fielder, but likely one the Royals should pass on. Before they take a chance on a player like Castillo, they need to find out what they have internally.

There is one Boston outfielder, though, that might garner some interest. The Royals are said to be on the market for a centerfielder and Jackie Bradley Jr. is just what the Royals like. Bradley has won a gold glove and made an All-Star appearance. While he has seen some down seasons hitting, he has provided decent slugging and has gotten on base at a decent rate in multiple seasons.

Bradley could provide the strong outfield presence the Royals lost with Alex Gordon and he is definitely an important free agent to look towards. While he may come at a higher price than some, he is also one that could be impacted by the depressed market, helping the Royals to remain competitive with their offer.

The KC Royals may not find a lot of options in the Red Sox free-agent list, but there are a few who could make an impact. The Royals should continue their search, but take a serious look at Jackie Bradely Jr.