Royals Rumors: Five Pitchers To Target In Free Agency
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Doug Fister (33) – Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Winter meetings are underway and the Royals rumors have been circulating left and right.
Let’s cut to the chase.
The Kansas City Royals need starting pitching. At this moment, the only shoe-ins to start in the rotation are Yordano Ventura and Edinson Volquez. The Royals also re-signed Chris Young to a two-year deal on Monday, but he’s not a for sure starter at this point in time and neither are Danny Duffy or Kris Medlen.
So, yeah, the Royals need starting pitching and there are plenty of guys still on the market. Sure, the big guns like Zack Greinke and David Price are off the market, but did you really think the Royals stood a chance at getting either of them in the first place?
Here are five options for the Royals to up their rotation with (Spoiler alert: Johnny Cueto is not on this list. I know, grab those tissues, you’re all probably devastated).
Starting Pitcher. Washington Nationals. Doug Fister. 5. player. 90. Career ERA of 3.42
While not a super sexy name, Doug Fister is just the type of pitcher Dayton Moore and the Royals seem to go after. He’s pitched in the majors for seven years and for three different teams.
He debuted for the Seattle Mariners and spent three years there before being traded to Detroit where the Royals faced him many times. Fister spent another three years in the Motor City before heading to the Nationals where he spent the past two years.
His 2015 season wasn’t flashy by any means, but Fister could benefit in a ball park like Kauffman Stadium. He finished 2015 with a 4.19 ERA in 15 starts and 25 games total, pitching a total of 103 innings.
The Royals haven’t been linked to Doug Fister much, but their division rival Detroit were reportedly interested in bringing him back last month, according to Drew Silva of NBC Sports.
Fister is listed fifth here because of the fact that I think he’d be a good fit for the Kansas City Royals, but that it doesn’t seem the two sides have been mentioned together.
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