Kansas City Royals: Best free agent signings under Dayton Moore

BEST DAYTON MOORE FREE AGENTS – NUMBER 4: JEREMY GUTHRIE

Jeremy Guthrie was actually traded to the Royals during the 2012 season, but he re-signed with them on a three-year deal. That kept him tied to the Royals through the 2015 season.

Although Guthrie would decline each year, he was at one point the best pitcher for the Royals early on in his tenure with Kansas City. During his 2012 season as a Royal, Guthrie posted a 3.16 ERA  and went 5-3 as a starter.

The stats won’t prove that sentiment, but it was what Guthrie did off the field and in the dugout.

While his stats would get worse every year, Guthrie provided more than what the stat sheets would indicate. He was one of the best motivational speakers this team had seen and was always pushing his teammates to be the best they could be.

Guthrie was the definition of an innings eater in those 2013 and 2014 seasons, throwing over 200 innings both years. It’s crazy to think now, but J-Guts was actually the Royals’ starter in Game 7 of the 2014 World Series!

He’d go on to pitch in the minors in 2016 and had one start for the Nationals in 2017 (it did not go well), but Guthrie will always be remembered for what he did with the Kansas City Royals. The stats won’t prove that sentiment, but it was what Guthrie did off the field and in the dugout that made him one of the best free-agent signings under Dayton Moore.