The Kansas City Royals are nearing the end of an era with a good chance that this team looks very different in the coming years. Four key players are entering their free agent seasons and the Royals simply don’t have the cash to keep them around. However, Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Lorenzo Cain and Alcides Escobar will all be playing for new contracts in 2017 so that could mean career years as they attempt to cash in with some big numbers. Kansas City took a step back when they finished with a .500 record in the American League Central a year ago but if things go their way they could be back in postseason contention in 2017.
Key Additions: OF/1B Brandon Moss, SP Jason Hammel, RP Travis Wood, OF Jorge Soler
Key Losses: SP Edinson Volquez, DH Kendrys Morales, SP Kris Medlen, RP Wade Davis, OF Jarrod Dyson, RP Greg Holland
Strengths
Hosmer, Moustakas, Cain and Escobar should all be in for big seasons in their contract years and that could provide a boost for an offense that was far too inconsistent a year ago. Hosmer hit a career-high 25 home runs a year ago and if Cain can stay healthy his power will be a major boost to the Kansas City lineup. Salvador Perez is another intriguing piece as he has hit 60 home runs over his last three seasons and should be in line for another big year. The Royals added Brandon Moss to fill out their lineup and he could be another power option. Meanwhile, the pitching staff is in decent hands following a big year from Danny Duffy, who broke out in 2016. Kansas City needs another big year from Duffy as well as a strong season from offseason addition Jason Hammel to keep the rotation on point. Duffy, Hammel and Ian Kennedy will not be an elite trio but they are certainly capable of getting the job done.
Weaknesses
The lack of elite arms in the rotation should be a concern as the Royals will compete with some ace staffs within their own division as the Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers have some talented rotations. The bullpen is sound but Kansas City traded Wade Davis in the offseason and that means it will be up to Kelvin Herrera to prove he can hold down that role. The Royals are also dealing with question marks on offense even if the pending free agents all produce big seasons. Kansas City needs more consistent hitting numbers from its depth players in order to bounce back with a better season than they had in 2016.
2017 Kansas City Royals Depth Chart
| Catcher | Salvador Perez | Drew Butera | |||
| First Base | Eric Hosmer | Brandon Moss | Whit Merrifield | ||
| Second Base | Whit Merrifield | Christian Colon | Raul Mondesi | ||
| Third Base | Mike Moustakas | Cheslor Cuthbert | Whit Merrifield | ||
| Shortstop | Alcides Escobar | Whit Merrifield | Raul Mondesi | ||
| Left Field | Alex Gordon | Brandon Moss | Billy Burns | Whit Merrifield | |
| Center Field | Lorenzo Cain | Paulo Orlando | Billy Burns | ||
| Right Field | Jorge Soler | Paulo Orlando | Billy Burns | Brandon Moss | |
| Designated Hitter | Brandon Moss | Cheslor Cuthbert | Peter O’Brien | ||
| Starting Pitcher | Danny Duffy | Ian Kennedy | Jason Vargas | Jason Hammel | Nathan Karns |
| Relief Pitcher | Joakim Soria | Matt Strahm | Chris Young | Mike Minor | Kelvin Herrera |
| Closer | Kelvin Herrera | ||||
Projected Win Total: 80.5
World Series Odds: +3000
Outlook
The outlook for Kansas City seems more promising than it did a year ago but even then they will have an uphill climb trying to make it back to the postseason. The Indians and Tigers are both primed for big years and the Royals will need to find a way to finish ahead of at least one of those two teams if they are going to make the playoffs. Even though the Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox should provide some easy wins, the Royals still find themselves in a very challenging division. Kansas City certainly has the raw talent to improve their overall win total in 2017 but there is reason for caution when it comes to them contending for an American League Wild Card spot this coming season.
Prediction: 85-77
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