KC Royals News: Ian Kennedy And Arbitration Talk

KC Royals news this morning focuses on the team signing Ian Kennedy to a five-year deal worth $70 million and also about arbitration.

The Kansas City Royals have never been a team known to sign players to huge deals, mainly because they couldn’t afford said players. This off season has been different though. Maybe winning a World Series does that to an organization.

For starters, the Royals signed Alex Gordon last week to a four-year deal worth $72 million, and then inked Ian Kennedy to a five-year deal for $72 million. Not really Royals moves, but times are changing in the MLB, and starting pitchers are reaping the benefit.

Average pitchers are beginning to see monster deals this off season, and Kennedy’s contract is a prime example of that. Kennedy had an ERA last season of 4.28 in 2015, but he could easily benefit from the spacious Kauffman Stadium, as he’s a fly ball pitcher.

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The Royals also settled with several players and avoided arbitration in doing so. The only guy not to agree to a deal was Mike Moustakas, but the most notable deal made was a two-year deal to Lorenzo Cain for $17.2 million.

The contract with Cain likely means that after the 2017 season is over with, Cain won’t be returning as a Royal for the 2018 season and beyond. By that point, Cain would be 32 and the Royals already gave a big contract to 32 year old Alex Gordon.

Here are KC Royals news and notes from around FanSided.com.

KC Royals: Royals Ink Ian Kennedy to Five Year Deal [Scott Dillon, KC Kingdom]

Kansas City Royals Gamble on Ian Kennedy [Caleb Woody, Kings of Kauffman]

"We do know that Kennedy is very capable of being a good pitcher. In 2011 with the Diamondbacks, Kennedy posted a 2.88 ERA, 3.22 FIP, 3.50 xFIP, and was worth 4.8 fWAR."

KC Royals: Danny Duffy, Jarrod Dyson, and 3 Others Avoid Arbitration [John Viril, Kings of Kauffman]

KC Royals Close to Two-Year Deal with Lorenzo Cain [John Viril, Kings of Kauffman]

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Now, check out these other headlines from around the rest of the web.

Royals sign Ian Kennedy to five-year, $70 million contract [Max Rieper, Royals Review]

Report: Royals, outfielder Lorenzo Cain agree to two-year extension [Sports Illustrated]

While it’s certainly a lot of money being shelled out to Kennedy, it’s a different era in Major League Baseball now. The Royals would not give out that much money to a guy if they didn’t feel he could help this team in the long run.

Next: 2018 Free Agent Extension Candidates

If $70 million is the going rate for starting pitchers, then so be it. Welcome to Kansas City, Ian!