Kansas City Royals: Ten Worst Contracts in Team History

Ninth Worst Contract Ever – Jeff Francoeur (Royals outfielder from 2011-2013)

Ahhh, Frenchy.One of my favorites for the Kansas City Royals, but not one of the best contracts the team has issued out. In fact, Jeff Francoeur‘s extension was one of the worst ever.

After a 2011 season in which Francoeur slashed .285/.329/.476 and was one of the best hitters on the team, Dayton Moore jumped right on extending the Atlanta native. He inked Frenchy to a two-year extension worth $13.5 million. The extension turned out to be a mistake for the Royals, but can you blame them for trying? Frenchy had a terrific 2011 season during a time when Royals players typically didn’t have terrific seasons.

He was beloved in Kansas City, and I remember you couldn’t go to a Walmart or Target without seeing a Frenchy “shir-sey” (shirt jersey) on display. Unfortunately, it was all downhill for Jeff Francoeur from there. He went on to slash .235/.287/.378 in 2012 and .208/.249/.322 in just 59 games for the Royals in 2013 before being designated for assignment.

While the extension was a bad idea, Jeff Francoeur is still pretty well liked in Kansas City and you can’t blame Moore for trying to retain the guy after having a hot season. Oh and for what it’s worth, I still have my “Frenchy’s Quarter” shirt from the 2013 season. If you remember Frenchy’s Quarter, then you the real MVP.