Kansas City Royals: 10 free agents who would make sense in KC
By Cullen Jekel
Main Target: Kohei Arihara, RHP, Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters (JPPL)
Arihara, 27, has pitched professionally for six seasons, all in Japan. In 2019, Arihara had an outstanding season in which he appeared in 24 games, went 15-8 with a 2.46 ERA in over 164 innings pitched. In that time, he whiffed161 batters while walking only 40.
His numbers dipped a bit in 2020, but they were still solid: 8-9 in 20 games with a 3.89 ERA, 132.2 innings pitched, 106 strikeouts, 30 walks.
Overall, he’s not an ace, but he could fit in very well behind the likes of Brad Keller, Brady Singer, and Minor. Over at The Athletic (subscription required, and recommended), Eno Sarris also lists the Royals as one potential landing spot for Arihara.
Alternative Target: Corey Kluber, RHP, Texas Rangers
Remember Kluber from his days in the AL Central with Cleveland? With the Tribe, for whom he pitched from 2011-2019, Kluber won two Cy Young Awards (2014 and 2017) while finishing third another two times (2016 and 2018). But he only made seven starts in 2019 before getting traded to the Rangers.
In 2020 with the Rangers, he pitched one inning.
Of course, then, injuries are a concern, but signing Kluber would be quintessential Royals: kicking the tires on a former ace and bringing him in for one year to see whether he’s still got it. Plus, the younger guys could learn a thing or two from Kluber, 34.