Royals Rumors: Hidden Advantages Of Re-Signing Ben Zobrist

With the off-season a month underway, the Royals rumors continue to fly, and no one seems to be under the microscope more than fan favorite Ben Zobrist.

Let’s ignore the Alex Gordon “decision” for now.

At this point, it’s been beaten to death – for the record, I don’t think the Kansas City Royals can, should, or will sign him, and I look forward to years of standing ovations for him at the K as he ages gracefully, clad in another team’s colors for $5 million a year too much.

I do, however, think that a gracefully aging Ben Zobrist could be a more than adequate piece of Royal glue for the next few years, if of course, the price is right.

He’s insurance for Omar Infante (or rather, the position of second base).

Has Omar ever been healthy since he’s been with the Royals? After batting under .280 just once since 2008 (.276 in 2011), Infante slid to .252 in his first year with the team, followed by 2015’s abysmal .220 campaign. He’s going to be on a short leash in 2016, and the Royals would be able to move Zobrist from left field to second base (his best, and preferred position) at the first sign of trouble. The Royals have both Brett Eibner and Jose Martinez who could take a stab at left, and each will still have spring training to prove their worth.

Better yet, why not make Zobrist your starting second baseman and trade Infante?

TRADE Infante?! Who would want that almost-an-All-Star on-base-opposed stud? Probably someone with an equal piece of malware looking to unload a heavy contract. Max Rieper of Royals Review has some ideas on who this could be. Personally, I would like to see what sort or magic Dave Eiland could work with a deflated Matt Garza.

He’ll be a holdover from the World Series championship team.

Okay, I really prefer not to give too much weight to intangibles, clubhouse demeanor, and sentimentality (cough, Gordon, cough), but if the Royals are going to have a couple of down-ish years in ’18 and ’19 with a lot of new faces, Zobrist is a veteran I’d choose to have around. Actually, while we’re at it, can we sign Jonny Gomes for 2018 too?

Finally, to those who are nervous about committing too much money in 2018 and (potentially) 2019 – I get it.

Before we even get there, however, the Royals are going to have two more profitable and likely successful seasons with money flowing in. They’re going to be at a point in two years where the TV contract extension talks can start up, and while paying $15 million to a man in his upper 30s isn’t ideal, the nasty impending 2018 free agent exodus is going to significantly cushion that blow. Besides, the Royals spent a total of $16.5 million on Guthrie and Infante in 2015, so this isn’t the worst deal imaginable.

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Look, we all know players say things how “they hope it works out” that they can return to their current ballclub (if that ballclub can fork up the most cash), but I’d like to have a little hope Ben might take a tiny bit less to stick around. Just because his asking price is 4-years, $60 million doesn’t mean anyone is necessarily going to pay it.

He’s made over $30 million in career earnings already, his wife has her own successful music career, he’s a Midwest boy who almost went to college in Kansas City, and he now has a daughter who will forever sport the middle name Royal.

Next: Ben Zobrist Drawing Interest from Multiple Teams

Like I said though, we shouldn’t get too sentimental about these things. Then again, maybe I’m totally wrong and Ben will just flock to the money and call it a day, but I sure hope I’m not.

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