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Kansas City Royals: Way too early 2020 lineup predictions

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 04: Alex Gordon #4, Bubba Starling #11 and Brett Phillips #14 of the Kansas City Royals celebrate a 5-4 win over the Detroit Tigers at Kauffman Stadium on September 04, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 04: Alex Gordon #4, Bubba Starling #11 and Brett Phillips #14 of the Kansas City Royals celebrate a 5-4 win over the Detroit Tigers at Kauffman Stadium on September 04, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /
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Whit Merrifield #15 of the Kansas City Royals (Photo by John Sleezer/Getty Images)
Whit Merrifield #15 of the Kansas City Royals (Photo by John Sleezer/Getty Images) /

Outfield

The outfield for the Royals will be entering the offseason with the most question marks. The front office will need to decide on Alex Gordon’s mutual option for the 2020 and the team doesn’t have right field settled.

Left Field

The Royals will move Whit Merrifield to left field if they decide not to retain Alex Gordon and his $23 million mutual option for 2020. Whit Merrifield has led the league in hits for consecutive years (2018 and 2019), but has also seen his stolen base production slip.

Merrifield will be 31 years-old for the 2020 and we may start to see his production at the plate decline. An offseason trade is a very real possibility for Whit Merrifield, but at this point he’s been the most productive Royal for the past two seasons and his versatility is very valuable to the ball club.

If the Royals retain Alex Gordon for the 2020 season, they will maintain having the best defensive left fielder in the game. Gordon has put together his best offensive year since 2015 and while he’s not worth $23 million, the Royals won’t be hurt long-term by letting Gordon finish his career with one more year in Kansas City. I also expect to see Jorge Bonifacio and Ryan McBroom get some appearance in left field.

2020 offseason transactions: Lonnie Chisenhall (free agent) who has missed the entire 2019 season recovering from injuries could bring a cheap, solid offense first bat to the outfield rotation. Chisenhall has hit for at least a .286 average in each of three seasons prior to 2019.

Drafted in the third round of the 2017 draft out of UNLV has already been a starting outfielder for 2 minor league championship teams (2018 Lexington Legends and 2019 Wilmington Blue Rocks). Isbel missed a considerable development time dealing with injury in 2019.

Isbel has the athleticism and arm to play center field. He also has offensive potential to be a .270 hitter in the majors averaging 15 home runs per year with 20 stolen bases. I wrote up a more extensive look at Kyle Isbel you can read here.