MLB Power Rankings: Post Winter Meetings

ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 11: Giancarlo Stanton is introduced as a member of the New York Yankees during the 2017 Winter Meetings at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort on Monday, December 11, 2017 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

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KANSAS CITY, MO – OCTOBER 01: Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas (8) greets Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer (35) after he hit a solo home run in the first inning during a Major League interleague baseball game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Kansas City Royals on October 01, 2017, at Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Mo. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

17. Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals were unwilling to part with any of their pending free agents at the trade deadline last year. While they managed to stay in the playoff hunt until the end of August, the Royals fell apart down the finish and wound up 80-82. Their only payoff now for potentially losing Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas and Lorenzo Cain will come in the form of draft picks.

Kansas City began the offseason with the goal of attempting to retain Hosmer and Moustakas. Neither has seen much activity on the open market, which might help to drive at least one of them back to the Royals. Hosmer made sense for the Boston Red Sox, but they have filled their hole at first base with Mitch Moreland. Boston seems to be betting the house on being able to land J.D. Martinez to DH.

If Hosmer is forced back to the Royals by slow demand, it will be at a steep discount to his initial asking price. He is a great player, but his defense at first base is overrated. Potential suitors may also be scared off by the disastrous Jason Heyward contract in Chicago. Signing Hosmer to a nine-figure deal would represent an aggressive bet that his power stroke continues developing into his thirties.

It would have been wise for the Royals to pull the plug last year at the trade deadline and begin moving on from their World Series core. Their bullpen has taken a hit and the starting rotation is even worse than it was when they were winning it all. Even if Hosmer does come back, the Royals do not look like a winning team in 2018.

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