Kansas City Royals: Offseason Outlook

Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Third Base

Note:  I fully realize Mike Moustakas is still employed by the Royals, and that his 5 home run postseason likely bought him another year on the job, but if I were the GM, I’d cut bait. He is what he is, which is a bad hitter. Even with the home runs in the post season, he was a .231 hitter, with an OB% of .259. Unacceptable, in my opinion.

1. Hanley Ramirez–  Too many extenuating factors for this guy to ever land in Kansas City, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t explore the idea. Ok, maybe just one extenuating factor–his price tag. He made $16 million last year. Obviously, the Royals aren’t likely to pony up that kind of cash. He’s a good hitter, and right-handed to boot, but prefers to play shortstop, and in his time logged at third base, he wasn’t particularly good. So, all of the above problems, plus he’s been pretty injury prone since 2011 probably makes for a bad target for the Royals.

2. Chase Headley– In a third base market that is seriously lacking talent throughout all of Major League Baseball, Headley is likely to be far too expensive for the Royals. After getting out of the pitcher-friendly confines of San Diego, and the putrid lineup he was forced to carry, Headley made a splash after getting traded to the Yankees. In 191 at-bats, Headley popped 6 home runs, hit .262, and posted a .371 OB%. He brings a good glove, formerly Gold Glove to the hot corner, as well as a switch-hitting bat to the lineup.

In 191 at-bats, Headley popped 6 home runs, hit .262, and posted a .371 OB%. He brings a good glove, formerly Gold Glove to the hot corner, as well as a switch-hitting bat to the lineup.

I realize there isn’t anything other-worldly about those statistics unless, of course, you’re comparing them to Mike Moustakas.

3. Pablo Sandoval–  If you can’t beat’em,  join’em, right? Or have them join you, I guess. Yes, former Giants have been a reoccurring theme on these lists (Morse, Peavy, Sandoval, etc.), and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. The obvious wart on Sandoval is that oversized midriff he carries around. He’s listed at 5’11, 245 lbs. I believe that about as much as I believe that all of these political campaign commercials depict people who are genuinely looking out for my best interest.  

His weight aside, there’s no doubt the guy can play. He’ll start the 2015 season at 28 years old, and take a look at his career averages:

You can’t tell me that wouldn’t play in the top third of the Royals lineup. The only question is how much money can you afford to pay a guy whose waistline is showing no signs of stopping? *Was issued a qualifying offer by the Giants, signing him would require Royals to surrender a 1st round draft pick.