Kansas City Royals: Breaking Down Record Payroll for 2016

The Kansas City Royals are going to set a franchise high for payroll in 2016, cashing in on their remarkable last two seasons.

It has been an amazing three seasons for the Kansas City Royals. In 2013, they finished above .500 for only the second time in nearly two decades. In 2014, the Royals made the playoffs for the first time in nearly 30 years.

They rode the momentum created by an incredible comeback in the wild card game right into the World Series, where they lost in Game Seven by one run. Last season, the KC Royals won the American League Central for the first time and came home with their first World Series championship since 1985.

For younger fans, the hapless Royals of just a few years ago must seem like ancient history. For people who have been fans for many years, those terrible teams in the 1990’s and the first 13 years of this century are vividly clear.

Those long years were filled with poor draft decisions. There was no money for good free agents. Good players like Johnny Damon and Carlos Beltran came through the system just to be traded away when club control was ending.

The pitching was terrible. According to FanGraphs.com, from 1998-2008, the Royals had the worst ERA in the Major Leagues at 5.14. It is hard to win games when you are giving up more than five runs a ball game for more than a decade.

Since the arrival of Dayton Moore in June of 2006, the Royals have slowly but steadily moved tot he head of the class. Now, after two straight World Series appearances, other teams are looking at the Royals’ blueprint of winning with a lockdown bullpen and an offense that just tries to put the ball in play.

With winning has come a big payroll. It cost more to retain key players and to bolster the roster with players who can help maintain a contending club. According to Spotrac.com, the Kansas City Royals are slated to pay out approximately $135 million in 2016.

This does not count any late signings they may make or any salary they could potentially add down the stretch. It also doesn’t count players like Christian Colon or Chelsor Cuthbert, who aren’t under major league contracts yet.

Even as recently as 2011, the Royals payroll was under $40 million. They’ve come a long way very quickly.

Just how is all this money being spent? Let’s take a look at the breakdown.

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