With the end of the week, I decided to post a quick “Jottings” post as I analyze a few Royals-based moves as well as share an important episode of the “KC Chase the Pennant” podcast that was hosted by Cristian and Preston Farr of “Farm to Fountains”.
Royals Avoid Arbitration With Remaining Eligible Players
Last year, the Royals went into an ugly arbitration battle with Brady Singer. The year before they went into arbitration battles with Andrew Benintendi and Nicky Lopez. While going to arbitration is part of the nature of the baseball business, it can also sour negotiations between players and the organization regarding possible long-term deals.
This offseason though, the Royals avoided going to arbitration hearings with their remaining players, as Anne Rogers reported that they came to deals with those who were arbitration-eligible before Thursday afternoon’s deadline.
After the announced dollar amounts on those players, as well as estimates regarding the remaining non-arbitration players, David Lesky announced that the Royals’ payroll comes right under $100 million for the upcoming season.
It does seem like JJ Picollo and the Royals probably have one more move to make, though what kind of move that will be is to be determined and up for debate.
Will it be another left-handed bat off the bench? Will it be another reliever? Will it be an extension to Bobby Witt, Jr., who’s been identified as one of the Royals’ main priorities this offseason after a breakout sophomore season?
In terms of major transactions to improve the current roster, the Royals are probably done, especially with more free agents coming to deals this week (more on that later).
However, the Royals still seem to have some flexibility to iron out a Witt extension before Spring Training…
That would be a huge win for the Royals in both the short and long term.
Marcus Stroman Signs With Yankees
Before the Royals eventually signed Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha, former Blue Jays, Mets, and Cubs starter Marcus Stroman was identified as a target for the Royals this offseason.
Yesterday, the Yankees announced that they signed Stroman to a multi-year deal that would be guaranteed at least two years and $37 million.
Over the last week, it emerged that the Yankees and Stroman both had mutual interest in each other. Not only did the Yankees get a deal done, but they also were able to sign Stroman to a deal with an AAV (average annual value) of $18.5 million. That is less than the $21 million player option that Stroman declined with the Cubs early this offseason.
Now, some Royals fans may wonder why didn’t Picollo pony up a little more for Stroman after giving out $16 million per year for Wacha and $15 million for Lugo?
My guess is that Stroman was asking a lot more from the Royals in the negotiations process and the Royals walked away and settled on those amounts with Wacha and Lugo. If Stroman was willing to settle for $18.5 million per year with the Yankees, he probably was asking somewhere in the $20 million AAV range with the Royals at the very least.
Was it a wise move for the Royals to choose Wacha (and Lugo) over Stroman? That is to be determined but already it seems like the Stroman move is generating some mixed fanfare among Yankees fans.
My guess is Stroman also wanted to play for a bigger market team, as he has done throughout his career. Sure, Kansas City would’ve allowed him to lead and mentor a young rotation and roster, but I think he would rather be with a big-name franchise in a much bigger market.
The Yankees check both of those boxes off for Stroman in a way that the Royals couldn’t. I’m fine with that and think the Royals did the right thing by jumping on Wacha before things got too expensive in free agency, as they did with Stroman and Lucas Giolito, who signed with the Red Sox for $38.5 million (an AAV of $19.25 million).
Interview With Chandler Champlain on KC Chase the Pennant
Life happened on Thursday and I wasn’t able to be present for our special interview with Royals prospect Chandler Champlain (No. 11 on my list). However, normal co-host Cristian and guest Preston Farr of “Farm to Fountains” hit it out of the park.
The full interview dropped this morning at 10 a.m. on YouTube. Check it out and subscribe to the podcast if you haven’t already! Here’s a sneak peek.
The full interview and our page can be found here. I hope to be on next week as welcome another guest next Thursday!
Photo Credit: Matt Dirksen/Getty Images
[…] Kevin O’Brien at Royals Reporter compares the signings to what Marcus Stroman got from the Yankees. […]
[…] week, Cristian and Preston Farr talked with Chandler Champlain, one of the better pitching prospects in the Royals system and a Top-20 guy in the Royals system […]