KC Royals: 2018 Free Agent Extension Candidates

Jason Vargas

Jason Vargas hasn’t been great, but he hasn’t been bad. Perhaps the most interesting thing about Vargas is that he outhit Troy Tulowitzki when they both played for Long Beach State. That stat would be a little more helpful if the Royals played in a league where the pitcher hits on a regular basis.

The Royals will most likely need to see if Vargas can bounce back after his Tommy John surgery and by that time his contract will be over. Vargas was a nice piece of helping bring back a winning mentality to Kansas City, but he’s replaceable.

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Danny Duffy

Danny Duffy is another top prospect that has shown flashes of brilliance at times while showing that he lacks the ability to replicate success. His mechanics are constantly changing and he’s battled injuries in the past. I think Duffy could have a nice career as a reliever in the big leagues if he can find his delivery and maintain it.

If Kansas City finds a starter or two that can relegate Duffy to the pen, they may be able to see a big enough sample size to offer him an extension. I’ve always liked Duffy’s upside, but there are far more valuable pieces to seek an extension with at this point.

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Jarrod Dyson

Let’s be honest. There aren’t many things more exciting that seeing Jarrod Dyson come in to pinch run late in the game. Dyson will be 33 by the time 2018 rolls around. That’s not old by any stretch, but the KC Royals have a younger version of Dyson in Terrance Gore.

Unless Dyson can find a way to earn more playing time and hit left handed pitching a little better, the Royals would most likely let Dyson test the free agent market IF he’s not packaged up as part of a trade at some point. While it’s not fun to think about, if the Royals have a disappointing season next year, a guy like Dyson is going to be a valuable trade chip to a contender. He’s already shown ‘what speed do’ when the playoffs roll around.

Next: Who would you target?