Kansas City Royals: Signing Billy Hamilton is unnecessary
By John McCarty
If nothing else, the signing of Billy Hamilton brings us back to a Dayton Moore favorite, the mutual option.
Nothing like taking a bad signing and making sure you commit some level of money to multiple years, even if that includes paying someone to not play for your team. Dayton Moore clearly loves him some ‘dead money.’
Per source, Billy Hamilton’s deal is for $4.25 million next season with a $1 million buyout on a $7.5M mutual option for 2020. And $1M of PBs based on PAs starting at 325 through 550.
— Jeffrey Flanagan (@FlannyMLB) December 11, 2018
It’s not as if Hamilton is going to stymie the development of anyone on the roster. Phillips doesn’t really look like a true starter at the MLB level sporting that ever stellar .291 OBP and a sub .700 OPS.
Alex Gordon is entering the last season of his contract and potentially the last season of his career. Soler looked good during the first of the season until the injury bug hit yet again, torpedoing his season. Bonifacio has been somewhat better than Phillips and certainly better than Hamilton, but he’s just not good on defense and certainly hasn’t looked like a star.
Rosell Herrera and Brian Goodwin are castoffs from the Reds and Nationals respectively that are nice filler for a rebuilding team. That brings me to my next point.
Heck, if the Royals are looking for a good defender and a speedy player and someone that doesn’t have to do much of anything at the plate, then keep Bubba Starling around. He may not be able to hit his weight, but he’s a good defender and speedy. He’d cost pennies compared to what the franchise paid Hamilton.