3 ways John Sherman could infuriate KC Royals fans

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His title, club Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, tells you everything you need to know about how much influence John Sherman, who also happens to be their principal owner, has over the KC Royals.

He's in charge. He doesn't make every decision, of course, but those to whom he delegates responsibility, and who call the shots that he doesn't, ultimately answer to him.

Presume, then, that the big moves fans want the Royals to make this winter, such as sealing a long-term deal with Bobby Witt Jr., won't be made without Sherman's direct or tacit approval. Simply put, the position Sherman put himself in when he bought the Royals means this offseason's buck will stop with him.

But whatever he and the club do between now and its Opening Day date with Minnesota will please some fans and anger others. And at least three things he could do this baseball winter are sure to infuriate the Kansas City fandom.

Let's see what they are.

John Sherman can't feed a perception of "new stadium above all else"

To be clear, I'm not a proponent of replacing Kauffman Stadium. Nor am I convinced Sherman is blind to everything except a new ballpark. Tunnel vision didn't make him the highly successful businessman he is.

But Sherman wears on his sleeve the goal to replace the second venue the Royals have known (they first played at old Municipal Stadium); his public focus on moving the team to an East Village or Clay County site has at times moved other club news well below the proverbial fold and, at times, to the back pages.

It is, to be sure, a bumpy path he's chosen, especially given the 106 losses his Royals suffered this season. Careful is how Sherman must be as continues to market the notion of replacing The K — he needs to convince fans that team quality and returning to winning remain high priorities. If he doesn't, a lot of people won't be happy.

The next way Sherman could anger fans?

The Royals need to pursue a long-term deal with Bobby Witt Jr.

Is there a bigger club priority this offseason than locking Bobby Witt Jr. into a long contract extension?

Probably not. Improving their pitching is a top priority, but a Witt deal is perhaps even more imperative. There are a lot of pitchers this club can pursue, but only one Witt.

That wasn't necessarily the case last winter, not after the player who may, before he's done with baseball years from now, surpass franchise icon and Hall of Famer George Brett's career numbers. Witt's 20 homers and 30 steals were certainly impressive, especially for a rookie, but he hit only .254 with a disappointing .294 OBP; yes, his 102 OPS+ was above average, but barely.

Witt silenced detractors this season, becoming the first Royal ever to homer 30 times and steal 30 bases in a single season. He stole 49 bases, led the majors in triples with 11, and drove in 96 runs. And he raised his average and OBP over 20 points apiece on the way to slashing .276/.319/.495.

That Witt is becoming everything he's been hyped to be is obvious. Like Brett, he's a franchise-type player and personality; Sherman, who holds the combination to the Royal vault, must do everything he can to make sure Witt sticks around and doesn't bolt for free agency when he first becomes eligible after the 2027 season ends. That means extending him this winter; failing that, Sherman has to be ready to show Royals fans he did everything he could to get a deal done.

If he can't do either, fans may never forgive him.

How else can John Sherman irritate fans?

Trading Salvador Perez isn't something John Sherman should do

No one knows precisely when the top of Salvador Perez's baseball hourglass will empty completely, but it will happen sooner rather than later. The best catcher the Royals have ever had just finished his 12th big league season, turns 34 in May, and a dozen seasons spent primarily crouching behind the plate may soon begin to take their toll.

So it is, some fans say at a volume higher than it was a year or so ago, that the Royals should trade Perez now. Get the most they can, those fans contend, before there isn't enough value left to attract other clubs. Yes, as a player with 10&5 rights, he can reject any trade, but will he really do that if the Royals want to move him and ask him to waive those rights?

That isn't what the Royals and Sherman should do, at least not right now. Perez is still productive — he hit 23 home runs with 80 RBIs this season and made only one error in the 91 games he caught. And he handled 23 games at first base well.

It also just so happens that Perez, who earned his eighth All-Star berth this season, is team captain, well-respected on the field, in the clubhouse, and around the community. His contributions are priceless, his value to the franchise and city immeasurable.

The Royals need Perez, who can play a vital role as expectations rise after their 2023 evaluation season. He's a cherished role model and they need his leadership.

Fans won't riot, but their anger level will be high if Sherman allows Perez to be traded.

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John Sherman can't feed a perception of "new stadium above all else"

The Royals need to pursue a long-term deal with Bobby Witt Jr.

Trading Salvador Perez isn't something John Sherman should do

More about the KC Royals

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