KC Royals: Eric Hosmer will determine future of Royals baseball

The biggest storyline surrounding the KC Royals this offseason will where the key free agents will wind up. Will any remain in Kansas City?

We don’t know the answer to that question yet, but it appears that first baseman Eric Hosmer will be the name to watch during free agency for the Kansas City Royals. The reason for that is that the Royals are going to go all in on trying to keep Hosmer in a Royals uniform.

If the Royals do indeed re-sign Eric Hosmer, they’ve made it known that they’ll then make a big offer to either Lorenzo Cain or Mike Moustakas. If Hosmer signs elsewhere, however, it’s unlikely that any of those guys will be back in Kansas City for 2018 and beyond.

The news came via Sam Mellinger of The Kansas City Star who wrote,

"Royals officials are making it clear that Hosmer is their top offseason priority. If they are able to re-sign him, they will try to shed some payroll and make an aggressive offer to Mike Moustakas or Lorenzo Cain. If Hosmer signs somewhere else, the Royals will move to a contingency plan."

Basically, it’s “Eric Hosmer or bust” this offseason and who could blame the KC Royals for sticking to that plan? For the past few seasons, Hosmer has been the heart and soul of the Royals and has been a part of some of the organization’s biggest moments. Having a Royals team without Hosmer just seems wrong.

For guys like Hosmer and Moustakas, this is their big pay day.

Going along with that, having Hosmer in Kansas City without Moustakas just seems wrong. Same with Lorenzo Cain. If the Royals can keep Hosmer in town, that should make Moustakas and Cain want to re-sign as well, though it’s unlikely both of them come back.

I know what you all are thinking and that’s: Can the Royals afford to re-sign Hosmer and either Moustakas or Cain? The answer is, yes. Yes, they can.

Matthew LaMar of Royals Review dove into the financial situation of the Royals, and it should make fans feel better about keeping at least one of the three big name guys, perhaps even two. Of course, that won’t be easy, as LaMar writes. The Royals would have to trade away players in order to make sure the money was available for a few big contracts.

While the Kansas City Royals certainly can keep two free agents, I don’t see them keeping any of them. Perhaps it’s the eternal pessimist in me when it comes to this type of stuff, but for guys like Hosmer and Moustakas, this is their big pay day.

More from KC Kingdom

It’s a little different for Cain and Alcides Escobar, who are both in their 30s. Cain had a great year in 2017, but he’ll be 32 next season.

For Hosmer and Moustakas, they’re both in their late 20s and are still playmakers in the big leagues. Hosmer hit over .300 last year with 25 home runs while Moustakas crushed 38 home runs. Moose’s home run total probably would have been even higher if he didn’t play 81 games at Kauffman Stadium.

The point being is that Hosmer and Moustakas have accomplished all they can in Kansas City. That’s not to say they wouldn’t come back, but they don’t have a strong reason too, other than sentimental value. Both guys won a World Series with the Royals and became stars for a team that didn’t used to have stars. They’ve hit the top of the mountain in Kansas City in other words.

While I’d love to see the KC Royals retain Eric Hosmer and one of the other free agents, I’m not going to get my hopes up. It’ll be a big decision for the Royals this offseason and I’m glad I’m not the one who has to be in charge of making that choice.

What do you think, Royals fans? Will Eric Hosmer and one of the other key players return to Kansas City next season?

Home/Kansas City Royals