Kansas City Royals: 2020 free agent options, Part I: Pitchers

Returning Pitchers

Surprisingly, it looks like the Kansas City Royals could have 80% of their 2020 starting rotation already in place.

The first two spots go to right-handers Jakob Junis and Brad Keller. While Junis and Keller are not truly top-of-the-line aces, they’re the best of what the Royals have right now, at least until the cavalry arrives from the minors.

And though aces they may not be, Junis and Keller are still solid, reliable starting pitchers. With a glut of relievers on staff, these two righties are the team’s best options at eating innings during 40% of the starts. Hopefully, both of these guys only get better while avoiding injury so that when this team is once again competing, they can anchor the starting rotation.

Two other starting spots go to a pair of southpaws, the first of which was just acquired from the Chicago Cubs this past trade deadline: Mike Montgomery. The former Royals farmhand has pitched well in six starts* since returning to the organization that drafted him.

While he has tossed just under 30 innings, in that time his ERA is 29% better than the league’s average, and his FIP is nearly identical at 3.68. He’s striking out 8.3 batters per nine while walking just 1.2 batters. He’ll be arbitration eligible this offseason, and won’t hit the market until after the 2021 season.

*Article written before his August 21st start against the Baltimore Orioles.

The other lefty is Danny Duffy. Of these four, Duffy is the least sure starting pitcher, rather more of a “swing” pitcher, able to go back and forth between the starting rotation and bullpen. Hopefully, for him and for the team, he can stick in the rotation in 2020 after battling injuries most of this season. He has two more seasons at just under $31 million combined left on his contract.

Perhaps the only other sure thing about this pitching staff is the return of Ian Kennedy, a former starter turned relief pitcher turned closer.

Kennedy, who will be 35 at the start of next season and who may very well be Exhibit A for explaining why the Royals eschew free agency, has just one season left on his deal, which is worth $16.5 million. He could be traded this offseason, but if the inquiring team doesn’t want to swallow his entire salary, he’ll return to Kansas City’s bullpen.

That’s five pitchers right there, three starters, a swing pitcher, and a (presumably) closer. That leaves eight spots open. By my count, there are at least 12 pitchers in the system right now to compete for those slots, which leaves very little wiggle room, if any at all, for free agent acquisitions.

Still, considering who these 12 are, the Royals need to land a pitcher or two from the open market.

Of the Squabbling Dozen™, four are LHPs: Richard Lovelady, Erik Skoglund, Tim Hill and Brian Flynn. The eight right-handed pitchers are: Jorge Lopez, Jesse Hahn, Glenn Sparkman, Kevin McCarthy, Jake Newberry, Jacob Barnes, Scott Barlow and Kyle Zimmer.

So, yeah: help is needed.