KC Royals: Making the case, Giants free agents

After making some significant moves this offseason, is there a chance the KC Royals can make another with any of San Francisco’s free agents?

Memories of the KC Royals’ 2017 season aren’t good. The last available window to another World Series for the club’s championship core wasn’t as open as it seemed, the key members of that core—Eric Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain, Mike Moustakas and Alcides Escobar—left when the season ended (although Moustakas and Escobar returned temporarily), and the team’s playoff miss set it on the path of decline.

Particularly distasteful was the ill-fated July trade (close to one of the worst in club history) the Royals made with San Diego to bolster its stretch run pitching. Brandon Maurer, Ryan Buchter and Trevor Cahill arrived from the Padres but only Buchter pitched respectably. Maurer was a disaster that season and the next; incredibly, Cahill gave up 21 runs and walked 21 in 23 innings and finished with an 8.22 ERA and 10.24 FIP.

Now, the Royals could give Cahill another chance. The righthanded swingman, late of the San Francisco Giants, is a free agent, but one Kansas City should make no attempt to sign. His glory year with Oakland (18-8, 2.97 ERA with an All-Star berth) occurred 10 long years ago, he had two decent seasons with the Cubs (2015-16), and he pitched fairly well for the Angels in 2019, but was a pedestrian 1-2, 3.24 for the Giants in 2020. The Royals could use a swingman, but they have better and younger (Cahill turns 33 in March) internal candidates in their improved pen.

Kansas City might have considered Giant starter free agents Kevin Gausman and Drew Smyly, but Gausman re-signed and Atlanta inked Smyly. Catcher Tyler Heineman could have drawn a thought as a backup catcher until the Cardinals signed him.

With those four off the table, and considering the Royals have already made some significant moves, are there any Giant free agents who might fit in with KC?