KC Royals Midweek Musings: Rule 5, free agency and more

This week’s edition of KC Royals Midweek Musings covers the Rule 5 draft, free agency, a former Royal who has a new contract, and more.

Some KC Royals Midweek Musings while wondering, because he’s now retired, what and how much Alex Gordon will eat this Thanksgiving:

Rule 5 draft.  By now, you know what moves the Royals made before last Friday’s deadline to set their roster for the Dec. 10 Rule 5 draft. Only teams who have less than 40 players on their 40-man rosters may make a selection in the draft; Kansas City’s 40-man is currently full.

Often overlooked is another component of the Rule 5—players can be drafted from any level below Triple A to play for Triple A clubs, and players from A ball to play for Double A clubs.

Free agency.  The Royals, like many of the other major league teams, have been quiet on the free agency market so far. But Kings of Kauffman’s Shawn Bauman thinks the club may spend this winter. You can read his thoughts on the subject here.

Aaron Brooks has a new deal.  If you’ve followed this space regularly, you know former Royal Aaron Brooks pitched well this season for the Kia Tigers of the Korean Baseball Organization League. Brooks, who appeared in four games over parts of two seasons with Kansas City and owns a 9-13, 6.49 ERA record in a four-year major league career, was 11-4 with a 2.50 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 23 games for the Tigers. He also had 16 quality starts.

Brooks cut his season short to return to the United States after his family was involved in an injury auto accident.

Now, news comes that Brooks will return to the Tigers next season after signing a new $1 million contract with a $200,000 signing bonus.

Yasiel Puig.  Receiving little attention from baseball media has been Yasiel Puig, the power-hitting outfielder who spent six seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers before splitting the 2019 campaign between Cincinnati and Cleveland. He became a free agent after that season, then found the market for his services slow. Puig tested positive for COVID-19 last summer, scuttling a deal with the Braves, and he didn’t play during the shortened 2020 season.

Puig, who turns 30 early next month, has 132 home runs and a career .277/.348/.475 slash. He’ll likely find a job but, with their crowded outfield, don’t expect the KC Royals to be among his suitors.

A look back at two pitchers.  Our Kings of Kauffman writers took readers back in time in the last few days. David Scharff wrote about Steve Busby, who threw two no-hitters for the Royals, and Mike Gillespie wrote about Moe Drabowsky, winner of the club’s first game in 1969.

That’s it for now. We’ll be back next week with more KC Royals Midweek Musings. Until then, have a great holiday and stay safe and healthy.