KC Royals: Making the case, Giants free agents

Among San Francisco free agent pitchers are a couple of starters the KC Royals might consider, but how serious their thoughts should be is another matter.

Unless you’re a Trevor Bauer, Masahiro Tanaka, Cole Hamels or Matt Shoemaker, there probably isn’t much work available as a starting pitcher in Kansas City. Nor is there much room left in the Royal bullpen for anyone who’s not an accomplished closer.

Had Mike Minor not signed last week, the KC Royals might have looked at righty Jeff Samardzija, a 13-year veteran who’s always good for a lot of innings, to complement starters Brad Keller, Danny Duffy, Brady Singer and Kris Bubic. He’s exceeded 200 innings five times and led the National League with 207.2 in 2017. But his 80-106 record belies the notion that he’s dominant, and his 33-45 record in five San Francisco seasons proves he wasn’t the answer the Giants were looking for when they signed him to his just-ended $90 million deal.

Although he stays in the strike zone and doesn’t walk many, the 35-year old Samardzija isn’t a starter, or long reliever, the Royals need.

Southpaw Tyler Anderson is also a Giant free agent who, like Samardzija, shouldn’t count the Royals among his suitors. He’s 22-27 and has a 4.65 ERA, although the latter number is, at least in part, a likely consequence of pitching three of his five major league seasons in Colorado for the Rockies. Anderson has decent control, but he’s not sufficiently remarkable to warrant much interest from KC.

Righthander Tyson Ross was released before the 2020 season started, then opted out of the campaign. But even had he pitched, the Royals probably wouldn’t be interested in another righty starter, especially one with a 44-70 record.

What about relievers? Because the KC Royals’ bullpen is so improved, the club is probably limiting its efforts there to secure the return of either Trevor Rosenthal or Greg Holland, so don’t expect it to show any interest in lefties Jerry Blevins and Tony Watson. Blevins owns a 30-13 record over 13 seasons; his best Royal role would be in long or middle relief, but the Royals probably won’t look for a 37-year old to fill that job when the pen is packed with talent. Watson was 1-0 with two saves and a 0.889 WHIP in 2020 but is entering his age-36 campaign. KC has younger options.

Versatile backups can be the difference between contending teams and also-rans, and there are some among the San Francisco free agents.

With the starting rotation set, the infield completed by Carlos Santana’s acquisition, and the outfield probably improved with the signing of Michael A. Taylor, the KC Royals can spend some time perusing reserves, including Giant free agents Justin Smoak, Zack Cozart, Daniel Robertson and Chris Herrmann.

Kansas City might have taken a look at Smoak for first base after the Maikel Franco non-tender forced Hunter Dozier back to third, but signing Santana rules him out. Smoak has power, always a coveted commodity for a corner infielder, but he’s been in decline since 38 homers, 90 RBIs and .270 average justified his 2017 All-Star selection. Since then, he went 25, 77 and .242 in 2018, then 22, 61 and .208 in 2019, and finally 5, 15 and .176 in 36 games last season. Smoak might be a candidate to backup Santana, but that’s a job the Royals will probably give to Ryan O’Hearn.

Cozart can play second or third but, like Smoak, has declined since landing a 2017 All-Star berth. He hit .297 with 24 homers that season, then joined the Angels and dropped to .219 in 2018 and .124 in 2019. Los Angeles dealt him to the Giants last December, but they released him before spring training started. A string of injuries beginning in 2015 have hampered Cozart and render him risky for the Royals, and Kelvin Gutierrez is the club’s better internal alternative.

Robertson is a bit more versatile than Cozart—in addition to second and third, he can play shortstop—but his .234 four-year average and lack of power really don’t make him a better option than Gutierrez. After all, the Royals already have Gutierrez and Robertson would simply add to payroll assuming they keep Gutierrez.

Finally, there’s backup catcher Chris Herrmann, a defensively competent backstop who can gun down would-be base stealers well. But in his busiest big league season—106 games for Arizona in 2017—he slashed only .181/.273/.345. And his career .205/.282/.344  is worse than KC primary backup catcher Cam Gallagher’s .241/.308/.368.

All things considered, the Royals shouldn’t pursue Smoak, Cozart, Robertson or Herrmann.

The Giants have many free agents, but none who can provide value the KC Royals don’t already have.