Kansas City Royals: Potential free agent targets this offseason
By John McCarty
The Kansas City Royals might not add many free agents this winter, but perhaps these names could make sense for the Royals to target.
The Kansas City Royals enter an interesting offseason and difficult time of transition. Likely gone is Alcides Escobar and Mike Moustakas probably isn’t returning. Eric Hosmer and Lorenzo Cain are beginning to drift into memory with each passing day of their tenure and time in Kansas City. The Royals will enter the last season with World Series hero Alex Gordon.
With a roster that is neither as young as you would have hoped nor as cheap as needed, it’s hard to find a free agent the Royals likely target this offseason that makes perfect sense. However, I will go ahead and try to pick out a couple names that could at least make sense for the organization in 2019.
CODY ALLEN (RELIEVER/CLOSER)
A former closer for the Cleveland Indians during their run, Cody Allen struggled in 2018, especially coming down the stretch run. Cleveland planned for his departure after making a big trade with San Diego near the deadline in acquiring Brad Hand.
Allen, who will turn 30 later this month, could potentially be attractive to a Royals team that will likely target relief pitchers to bolster the bullpen. A lot will be dependent on how teams view his value in free agency.
A year after seeing the market dry up for anyone not in the bullpen, there appears to be money set to be thrown around on hitters, namely Bryce Harper and Manny Machado.
Allen has experience pitching in big time games and in big moments. There are big questions about what the Royals bullpen will be, considering there is not a lot of proven year to year production. If nothing else, Allen could be a nice bounce back candidate to turn into a trade piece at the deadline.
With Wily Peralta really being the only closer option right now, Allen could possibly earn the closer job during the season depending on how things go. Due to his age and decline a season ago, Cody Allen could make sense in Kansas City.