Report: Royals won't concede to losing several key members to free agency in 2018
Although it's safe to assume the Kansas City Royals will look much different at this time next year, the organization isn't ready to let several key members depart during the 2018 free agency period.
The Royals' front office won't concede to losing Lorenzo Cain, Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, and Alcides Escobar when the core group hit the open market, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, who cites major-league sources.
| Player | 2017 salary | WAR Projection |
|---|---|---|
| Eric Hosmer | $12.2M | 1.8 |
| Lorenzo Cain | $11M | 3.2 |
| Mike Moustakas | $8.7M | 3.3 |
| Alcides Escobar | $6.5M | 1.0 |
Additionally, the Royals might prefer replacing Escobar internally with Raul Mondesi in order to conserve funds to make a run at the other three, Rosenthal notes.
With free agents expected to cash in significantly in 2018, the Royals' desire to keep all four in the fold is essentially impossible. However, club officials don't consider it a foregone conclusion they won't be able to sign Hosmer and Moustakas, in particular, despite the latter being represented by agent Scott Boras who encourages his clients to maximize their value on the open market.
Before the death of Yordano Ventura, the team had approximately $2.5 million to spend on free agents. Because the club has the right to void his contract ($3.25 million this season and a combined $16 million in the following two years) it could create added payroll flexibility.
The Royals have already seen a few key members from the 2015 World Series roster depart through trade and free agency. Kendrys Morales, Jarrod Dyson, and Wade Davis no longer remain but general manager Dayton Moore did fill some holes by signing Brandon Moss, Jason Hammel, and Travis Wood all to small, back-loaded contracts.