3 positions the Royals need to invest in during free agency

The 2023 season has not been kind to KC Royals fans or the team, for that matter. The team remains on pace for the worst season record in team history, while the team's makeup harkens back to the mid-2000s Royals teams. Kauffman Stadium looks more and more empty as the season comes to a close. There is no clearer way to say this: this stinks.

The KC Royals need to buck the spending stigma and buy more talent in 2024.

At least the Royals have plenty of issues to address ahead of next season. There are many more if the team actually wants to improve. Zack Greinke may not be back, Salvador Perez could be moved this winter, and many more players could be departing Kansas City. That is a lot of coulds that might be shoulds.

The Royals get some leeway for their 2023 performance. There were never high expectations this season, and the front office consistently called this an evaluation season. Well, this season's evaluation needs to cause change ahead of next season. That change should be primarily on the personnel side, rather than the coaching or front office staff. Coaching can only help so much, and the Royals have been operating with a talent deficiency for years now. For every Bobby Witt Jr., there is a Hunter Dozier or a Matt Beaty.

The Royals need to be active buyers this upcoming offseason if they want to regain the fanbase's attention and trust. The Royals increased their free agent spending last year, but that netted them two players they traded, including the maligned Jordan Lyles. That free agency group was not indicative of a team looking to win more games but rather one to simply maintain the status quo.

All that being said, there are three positions the Royals need to spend resources on this offseason. It doesn't have to be top-tier talent, but more talent nonetheless.

Left outfielder

The emergence of Nelson Velazquez should have fans feeling good about the Royals outfield in 2024. The future could well look like this:

LF - Nelson Velazquez
CF - Kyle Isbel
RF - Drew Waters.

That looks like a great group. But Royals fans saw how much Isbel and Waters suffering injuries held this team back. The Royals should learn that lesson by adding a quality fourth outfielder, preferably one in left field.

Players like MJ Melendez, Nick Pratto, and Edward Olivares saw extensive work out in left field. But none of those players were average fielders. That weakness hurt the Royals pitching staff greatly, as evident by the team's difference between their ERA and FIP. The .48 difference does not sound like much, but it is the third-largest in all of MLB. For all the great defenders the Royals have on the roster, there are some of the league's worst as well.

The Royals can avoid making another veteran flier miss, as they did with Franmil Reyes and Jackie Bradley Jr., by signing a glove-first, consistent batter. Players like Eddie Rosario and Travis Jankowski could come from contending teams and be dependable leaders in the outfield. Plus, they both have above-average defensive abilities and bats that play well in Kauffman Stadium.

Hi, Jacob here with a crazier idea. I really like Kevin Kiermaier coming to Kansas City. He would really push Isbel in center field and provide some solid competition. But he could just bring his glove to center and push Isbel to the left, or vice versa. It may not be likely, but it fills the outfield with above-average gloves and playable bats.

Realistic free agency options: Travis Jankowski, Eddie Rosario, Kevin Kiermaier

Catcher

This addition is contingent upon two things. First, the Royals may move on from Salvador Perez this offseason and mercifully send him to a contending team. Secondly, this is assuming the Royals do not move MJ Melendez back behind the plate. Those two moves leave Freddy Fermin and a bunch of questions at catcher. It may not be sexy, but the Royals would need another veteran behind the plate.

The Royals have two top catching prospects in Carter Jensen and Blake Mitchell, but neither is close to being ready for The Show. Logan Porter could be a depth option, but he isn't even on this year's 40-man roster and has never been a defensive savant behind the plate. Other organization options, such as Luca Tresh or Jose Briceno, do not inspire much confidence and would not improve the MLB roster.

There is not a big splash to be had on the catcher free-agent market. But if the Royals want to add one of the game's best framing catchers, they can do so with Austin Hedges. The 31-year-old Hedges has the second-most catcher-framing runs and the second-best strike rate, according to Baseball Savant. Fermin is dead average in both areas, so Hedges could help out a possibly young pitching staff in that regard. But Hedges has not been a plus-bat in the lineup, so he's really a one-trick player.

There are a few options for the Royals out there to add catching depth. There is not a sure-fire option to take the starting position from Fermin, though. That should embolden Kansas City to take a chance on a volatile player or add a player with defense in mind. Either way, if Perez and Melendez are not catching options, the Royals need someone other than Fermin.

Realistic free agency options: Austin Hedges, Yan Gomes, Victor Caratini, Gary Sanchez