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On the heels of a World Series title, the Kansas City Royals enter 2016 with a great deal of uncertainty. Johnny Cueto and Ben Zobrist are already gone. Alex Gordon should be gone as soon as the free-agent market’s floodgates are opened. Alex Rios, who played right field last year, is also a free agent. With the losses of Gordon, Zobrist, and Rios, the Royals are seeking mid-tier replacements for left and right field. Either Jarrod Dyson or Terrance Gore could claim one of the starting spots, but it does not seem plausible the Royals would run out an Opening Day lineup that features an unproven player in both corner outfield positions. At least one mid-tier outfielder must be signed.
With the impending free agencies of Eric Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain, Alcides Escobar, and Mike Moustakas to worry about, the Royals need at least one outfielder, preferably on a short-term deal who will not break the bank, but will also provide decent production. Luckily, this year’s free-agent class is well-stocked in both the upper echelon and lower tiers when it comes to outfielders. The offseason remains at a standstill, waiting for the bigger names to come off the board, but there are quite a few mid-tier outfielders who could fit in well in Kansas City.
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