Kansas City Royals: Can Ian Kennedy be sent packing?

Veteran pitcher Ian Kennedy not part of present or future, but contract presents an issue to the Kansas City Royals organization going forward.

Ian Kennedy is still owed a good amount of money. After this season, the Kansas City Royals are on the hook for 33 million dollars. For a team that is headed towards another tough season and likely a nonwinning season in 2020, Kennedy’s salary is a lot of wasted money. So how do the Royals remove the salary from their payroll? Remember, in baseball, salaries are guaranteed, so if you release him, you still owe him the money.

The first way the Royals could clear the money off the books is if Kennedy retires. I don’t expect or foresee that happening. However, much like when Gil Meche decided to retire before his contract expired, Kennedy’s contract would come off the books.

The most likely way for the Royals to move Kennedy’s salary would be a trade, in conjunction with another player, likely Whit Merrifield. While it could lessen the return the Royals would receive should they insist Kennedy being part of any deal, it is possible.

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Merrifield is perhaps the best value in the offseason trade market, combining his production with a salary that is likely to be well below a million dollars. (Spotrac lists his 2018 salary at $569,500)

The Royals can sell teams that, in reality, they are at least in 2019, acquiring a pitcher and a versatile well-performing bat and the cost for the two is below $18 million. Kennedy certainly isn’t great and has been injury prone in recent years (which is common for players as they get older) but could be a back of rotation type pitcher for a team with issues with starting depth and a team in need of a high contact bat with defensive versatility.

However, more than likely, the Royals likely will have to figure out what to do with Kennedy the next two seasons. If Kennedy was only under contract for the next season, but the $16.5 million number he’s owed in 2020 makes it difficult to imagine another team being willing to take on the veteran pitcher.

Is Kennedy willing to be a back of the rotation/swing type pitcher and ‘assistant pitching coach’ working with younger arms such as Brad Keller and Jake Junis on the ins and outs of playing in the major leagues? Kennedy certainly hasn’t been terrible but, much as in previous years has issues with the home run and can give them up in bunches.

The Royals will have decisions to make this offseason, such as will they trade Merrifield, how willing are they to listen on Salvador Perez, what do with Danny Duffy along with Kennedy. Don’t be surprised if you hear rumors or read reports of the Royals trying to tie in Kennedy (or perhaps Duffy) on a deal with Merrifield or Salvador Perez. I don’t think it will happen, but it’s possible.