Regardless of having the third-worst offense from an outfield final yr, the Royals have but to amass an outfielder this low season. However they haven’t been fully sitting on their fingers, in accordance with a current report from Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic. He writes that as free agent slugger Anthony Santander was ready on a slow-moving market, the Royals made a three-year provide.
The Kansas Metropolis Royals made Santander a three-year provide and elevated it to $66 million, in accordance with sources briefed on the talks. However by the point they offered Santander with their enhanced proposal, which included an opt-out after the second yr and deferrals that had been nonetheless being negotiated, he had dedicated to the Blue Jays.
Santander ended up signing a five-year, $92.5 million take care of Toronto, however with vital deferrals that put the web current worth nearer to $70 million. The 30-year-old hit .235/.308/.506 with 44 dwelling runs for the Orioles final yr, incomes his first All-Star look.
Rosenthal writes the Royals had issues about Santander’s capacity to play the sphere within the later years of the contract. Santander was below-average defensively in proper area final yr. Had the Royals signed Santander, he writes they might have had a platoon within the different nook outfield spot with Hunter Renfroe and MJ Melendez.
The Royals additionally reportedly pursued free agent outfielder Jurickson Profar, however wouldn’t decide to a 3rd yr. The 31-year-old hit .280/.380/.459 with 24 dwelling runs final yr with the Padres, incomes his first All-Star look. He in the end signed a three-year, $42 million take care of the Braves.
Each Santander and Profar had spotty observe information with a profession yr earlier than hitting free company, so the hesitancy to decide to both is comprehensible. Again in December, Picollo lamented that the worth without cost company was fairly excessive, insisting they might wait out the market to see if wage calls for would drop.
Upon lacking out on the 2 largest free agent outfielders remaining, the Royals pivoted to addressing the bullpen, signing All-Star reliever Carlos Estévez to a two-year, $22.2 million deal.
JJ Picollo mentioned considered one of their predominant priorities was a center of the order bat however that a number of makes an attempt did not come to fruition in order that shifted to different spots to attempt to enhance the staff together with one other nearer
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As for the outfield, the Royals have insisted they may attempt a few of their infielders within the outfield, to extend positional versatility. Basic Supervisor J.J. Picollo has talked about that Michael Massey and newly acquired Jonathan India will each attempt the outfield in spring coaching. Rosenthal stories that Maikel Garcia will spend a while there this spring as properly.
The Royals additionally intend not solely to bounce third baseman Maikel Garcia across the infield, but in addition to play him in heart area in opposition to left-handers. Kyle Isbel will stay the first choice in heart in opposition to righties.
At Royals Rally this weekend, Picollo echoed the sentiment that Garcia would get some outfield time within the spring.
The Royals may nonetheless add to the outfield, though there usually are not many remaining choices left. Rosenthal stories that the Royals might be on the lookout for a platoon participant to boost the outfield.
A further transfer for a right-handed hitting free-agent outfielder similar to Randal Grichuk or Adam Duvall shouldn’t be out of the query, however the staff is unlikely to make a major funding in a participant who solely shall be a part of a short-side platoon, sources mentioned.
A commerce may make extra sense, with Garcia, Massey, Alec Marsh, Kris Bubic, and Hunter Harvey attainable commerce chips, in addition to prospects in an enhancing however nonetheless skinny farm system. The glacial baseball sizzling range has begun to maneuver in the previous couple of weeks as spring coaching nears, which may spur groups to make trades to spherical out their rosters.
