Kansas Metropolis missed out on bringing again Mike Yastrzemski, however the membership may need its sights set on an even bigger prize. Katie Woo and Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic report the Royals are occupied with Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez. The veteran’s title has come up in commerce talks just lately, although common supervisor Brandon Gomes has stated a deal “doesn’t appear seemingly.”
Studies surfaced earlier this week that the Royals had been wanting so as to add a number of outfielders. President of baseball operations J.J. Picollo has already stated he’d be keen to deal a pitcher for an outfielder. Kansas Metropolis had been occupied with a reunion with commerce deadline acquisition Yastrzemski, however he finally landed a two-year cope with Atlanta.
Discovering an impression bat within the outfield has been an ongoing pursuit for the group. Kansas Metropolis was linked to Jarren Duran forward of the commerce deadline. The membership got here up brief in signing Anthony Santander and Jurickson Profar final offseason. Whereas the Royals aren’t anticipated to be procuring within the Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger tier this winter, they’ve been linked to Harrison Bader and Austin Hays. Jake Meyers and Brendan Donovan have been talked about as commerce targets.
Hernandez supplied league-average manufacturing as LA’s main proper fielder final season. He didn’t observe up on his 33-homer, 12-steal debut marketing campaign with the staff, slipping to a 102 wRC+ over 134 video games. Hernandez hit .257 with one homer within the postseason for the eventual champions. The 33-year-old is getting into the second season of a three-year, $66MM deal.
The primary downside with Hernandez lately has been his protection. He’s totaled -19 Outs Above Common over the previous two seasons with the Dodgers. Statcast grades Hernandez’s arm as near common, however his vary has fallen considerably from the early days with Toronto, when he was able to taking part in heart subject. The defensive shortcomings may lead the Dodgers to think about a extra versatile different. The membership actually has the sources to make an outfield addition in the event that they had been to ship out Hernandez.
Kansas Metropolis’s outfielders ranked among the many weakest offensive contributors final season. The membership’s heart fielders mixed for a .645 OPS, and that was their finest mark among the many three outfield positions. The Royals did their finest to discover a righty slugger so as to add to the combination final yr, however none of Randal Grichuk, Hunter Renfroe, or Mark Canha panned out. The lineup would seemingly have the left-handed trio of Jac Caglianone, Kyle Isbel, and John Rave manning the grass if the season began at the moment.
The Royals scored the fifth-fewest runs final season. They had been additionally backside 5 in residence runs. The highest of the lineup is about, however there are many query marks previous Salvador Perez within the cleanup spot. An addition within the outfield looks as if the best route to enhance the membership’s offensive outlook. Prime prospect Caglianone will get an opportunity to stay as an everyday, however Rave had middling ends in the minors earlier than struggling in his MLB debut, and Isbel has by no means hit for an prolonged stretch as an enormous leaguer. Isbel has routinely graded out as a stellar defender, so he may doubtlessly alleviate among the defensive points that may include buying Hernandez.
Picture courtesy of Kiyoshi Mio, Imagn Photos
