Kansas City Royals: Contract Deadline Looms at 11 p.m. As Chris Getz, Emilio Bonifacio Rumors Start to Surface

Aug 18, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Kansas City Royals second baseman Chris Getz (17) sits in dugout during the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Detroit won 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Kansas City has until 11 p.m. tonight to tender contracts to their nine arbitration eligible players, each of which are in line for a significant pay raise. The nine: Emilio Bonifacio, Tim Collins, Aaron Crow, Chris Getz, Brett Hayes, Luke Hochevar, Greg Holland, Eric Hosmer, Justin Maxwell.

There is a chance not everyone will be tendered a contract, according to Dayton Moore in Bob Dutton’s latest piece. Here’s the rest of what he told Dutton.

"“Yeah, we do (face some decisions),” general manager Dayton Moore said. “We’re still looking at it. We’ve got a call set up Monday morning to assess everything, but I don’t look for us to do anything that is too surprising.”Industry estimates suggest the Royals will absorb a payroll hike of nearly $12 million if they choose to retain all nine players.“We might not tender everybody,” Moore said, “but we might. There are some things that we’re kind of working on.”"

So what are those things Moore is working on?

We know for sure Crow and Collins have been discussed in potential trade for Colorado outfielder Dexter Fowler, and we know Hochevar and Holland are on the block for the right price. The speculation that is churning now is that Bonifacio may also be on the block.

Financially, Bonifacio being on the block makes sense. Here’s what Bonifacio is projected to make through arbitration along with his eight teammates.

Bonifacio: $3.3 million
Collins: $1 million
Crow: $1.9 million
Getz: $1.3 million
Hayes: $900,000
Hochevar: $5 million
Holland: $4.9 million
Hosmer: $4.1 million
Maxwell: $1.2 million

The Royals could save $2 million by trading Bonifacio and keeping Getz to start at second base. So from a money stand point it all makes sense. From a baseball and “everything else” standpoint it is borderline insane.

Getz was one of the worst every day players in baseball last season, racking up a .220/.288/.273 slash line, -0.5 bWAR, and 52 Weighted Runs Created (100 is average). He was simply awful and he has been for the last four seasons with the Royals. Whatever money the Royals would save that would allow them to sign, say, Carlos Beltran, would immediately be countered by Getz’ awfulness at second base.

Trading Bonifacio may not be a terrible idea if the Royals have an alternative plan at second base. Free agent options include Omar Infante, Kelly Johnson, Brian Roberts, and Mark Ellis. If the Royals could get something for Bonifacio of value and sign an Ellis or Johnson, they’ll have potentially saved some money while also upgrading their second base spot from the 100-plus games started by Elliot Johnson and Getz.

Either way, this has to end with Getz getting non-tendered. There is no place for him on this team.