Royals Rumors: Ervin Santana A Target For Kansas City?
By Hayden Kane
The Kansas City Royals might be shopping for a starting pitcher in MLB free agency this winter, with former Royal Ervin Santana a potential target.
The tenure of “Big Game” James Shields is likely over in Kansas City. The starting pitcher acquired to start playoff games did just that, from a play-in Wild Card game to starts in the World Series against the San Francisco Giants.
More from Kansas City Royals
- MLB standings ordered by hard hit rate: Struggling Cardinals still cracking bats
- MLB Rumors: Cardinals surprise trade, Braves-Ohtani package, Yankees-Royals trade
- Tigers young star takes vicious shot at Royals pitcher over sticky stuff allegations
- Immaculate Grid baseball: Answers, connections, hints for Grid 104 (July 15)
- Rays-Royals rain delay: Weather updates for Royals game today, July 14
The results might have been mixed, but it still felt appropriate that Shields pitched for the Royals in the playoffs on his way to free agency. Now that he is presumably gone, the Royals will turn their attention elsewhere for their starting rotation. According to Jon Heyman of CBS, one potential target could be a guy who pitched for the Royals as recently as 2013.
The Royals are reportedly interested in Ervin Santana:
"The Royals will take a look at another former Royal, Ervin Santana, who had a nice year for them in 2013 before bolting as a free agent last winter. Santana and Shields are both expected to turn down qualifying offers by Monday’s deadline, but Santana should be significantly less expensive than Shields in free agency."
Interestingly enough, this puts Kansas City on the other side of the qualifying offer situation with Santana after they were the team to extend him such an offer last winter. What seems different this time around is the likelihood that Santana is able to comfortably land a deal during the off-season instead of having to wait.
Once he signed with the semi-desperate Atlanta Braves in 2014, Santana pitched very well. In 31 starts he went 14-10 with a 3.95 ERA in 196 innings of work. He has flyball tendencies that hurt him in certain parks, but they have played well in Kauffman Stadium before and they certainly could again.
The Royals might not land another staff ace as they lose Shields, but they should still be able to piece things together with quality arms in the rotation. That could start with Santana.
More from FanSided
- NFL rumors: Aaron Rodgers sets Jets up for Super Bowl run with new contract
- MLB Trade Grades: Dodgers land Amed Rosario from Guardians
- Colorado gives Pac-12 a possible death knell with move to Big 12
- NFL rumors: Dalvin Cook suitor maintaining very ‘real’ interest
- Braves get dose of bad news on Max Fried as ace nears return