Royals: 3 free agents to sign and 1 to avoid this offseason
By Mike Luciano
The Kansas City Royals should look to stay aggressive in the 2020-21 offseason.
After a few years of sitting on the sideline in the offseason, Dayton Moore and the Kansas City Royals are making a steadfast commitment to getting better this offseason. Not only did they choose to add a potential Opening Day starter in Mike Minor, but they added some much-needed pop in the form of veteran first-baseman Carlos Santana.
First baseman Carlos Santana and the Kansas City Royals are in agreement on a two-year, $17 million deal, sources confirm to ESPN. Royals had been heavy in the first base market and get a veteran with power and on-base skills. @JonHeyman was first on the deal.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 8, 2020
Kansas City could really raise some eyebrows in a wide-open AL Central, but they need to add these three free agents and avoid one potential time bomb in order to do so.
The Royals need to take a hard look at these three free agents, but avoid one potential disaster
63. Pick Analysis. 2B. Jonathan Schoop. 3. player. Scouting Report. Detroit Tigers
Schoop has been one of the most underrated players in all of baseball for the last few years, largely by virtue of playing on some bad teams. A former All-Star with a .293/32 home run/105 RBI season under his belt in Baltimore, Schoop mashed 40 home runs in 2018 and 2019. As one of the few offensive threats on an awful Tigers team, Schoop hit .278 with eight home runs. Kansas City still needs some extra power, even after the Santana signing, and Schoop represents a high-upside option that could start over Nicky Lopez at second base.
Whit Merrifield played more center field and right field than anywhere else last year, which leaves an opening for Schoop in the Kansas City infield. Despite the fact that he’s been in the league for what feels like forever and has played with four different teams in the last three seasons, Schoop is just 29 years old, potentially leaving the door open for an offensive resurgence that sees him return to the elite offensive player he was in Baltimore. With Schoop and Santana back-to-back, Kansas City will be a power threat.