Kansas City Royals: Breaking Down Record Payroll for 2016
By Joel Wagler
KC Royals Payroll for 2016: The Outfield
With the re-signing of left fielder Alex Gordon this offseason to the biggest contract in franchise history, the Royals outfield still isn’t as expensive in 2016 as you might expect.
- Alex Gordon – $12 million
- Lorenzo Cain – $6.5 million
- Jarrod Dyson – $1.725 million
- Paulo Orlando – $507,500 (MLB minimum, if he makes the roster and stays all season)
- Unknown candidate – $507,500 (speculating the Royals will fill this spot from the minors)
If the Royals don’t add a free agent late to fill the fifth spot, the team will spend $21,240,000 on their outfield this season. Of course, this number is bound to go up in the future as Cain and Gordon will earn $27 million in 2017.
The Royals seem to be sticking to their plan to go with Dyson and Orlando in right field, even though there are some free agent options like Dexter Fowler still available (although Fowler may not be available for much longer, according to Fangraphs).
This is an area the team evidently feels it can save some money, yet improve upon at the trade deadline if the team is still in contention. The Royals have to be hoping one of their young minor league outfielders might step up in spring training and just grab this job.
Next: The Rotation