Kansas City Royals: Best free agent signings under Dayton Moore

BEST DAYTON MOORE FREE AGENTS – NUMBER 3: JASON VARGAS

In 2014, the Kansas City Royals were hoping to make some noise for the first time in forever. They were coming off a winning season in 2013, their first in a decade, and they had acquired James Shields in a trade a year prior.

The cards seemed to be in Kansas City’s favor and they made a nice move by inking starting pitcher Jason Vargas to a four-year deal worth $32 million. Vargas had been a journeyman up until that point, pitching for the Marlins, Mets, Mariners, and Angels, but the Royals were hoping he’d be living it up in KC for awhile.

Vargas would go on to post an ERA of 3.88, 1.295 WHIP, 4.22 FIP with a 34-23 record. He recorded 300 strikeouts during those four seasons.

Vargas was injured halfway through the 2015 season so he didn’t pitch in that year’s postseason, but his first half of 2017 was one of the best showings by a Royals pitcher in years. Vargas made it to the All-Star Game that year but would drop off in the second half of the season (though he still won 18 games).

Even though he missed a year of action, Jason Vargas was easily one of Dayton Moore’s best free-agent signings.