The Kansas City Royals already have to deal with the potential impending free agency of outfielder Alex Gordon, but they have a few other things they may need to take care of when the 2015 MLB season comes to a close. Rumors suggest it could be a busy offseason for Kansas City.
Could general manager Dayton Moore look to lock up first baseman Eric Hosmer and outfielder Lorenzo Cain? Both youngsters are under club control through the 2017 season, but it could be smart to get them under long-term contracts as they're both experiencing career campaigns this year.
"The Royals are starting to think about a long-term deal for Eric Hosmer, and while they have a good rapport with agent Scott Boras (they signed Alex Rios and Kendrys Morales, adding to an almost Nats-like stable of Boras players), they know it won't be easy. Hosmer, a young team leader, has a 1.086 OPS since the break," writes Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. "Lorenzo Cain is another one worthy of a very long deal ... His 6.2 WAR is sixth best in baseball."
Hosmer, 25, is currently under a two-year, $13.9 million contract after the two sides agreed to avoid arbitration this offseason. However, he's outperforming that deal thanks to his .317/.379/.480 stat line with 76 runs scored, 14 home runs and 74 RBIs in 120 games this season.
As for Cain, the 29-year-old officially broke out this year and earned his first bid to the All-Star Game. He's batting .307/.361/.487 with 77 runs scored, 12 home runs, 54 RBIs and 24 stolen bases in 109 games and also boasts a .975 fielding percentage in center field. He and the Royals also avoided arbitration in the offseason with a one-year, $2.75 million deal.
He asked for $3.6 million and the Royals countered with $2 million, even after the outfielder won MVP of the ALCS.
Hosmer and Cain will be due for big raises in each of the next two offseasons, so giving them long-term deals now would avoid future headaches.
There's also one veteran other than Gordon the Royals need to keep an eye on - utility man Ben Zobrist.
Zobrist was acquired from the Oakland Athletics prior to the non-waiver deadline amidst incessant trade rumors. Kansas City surrendered two prospects for the 34-year-old, who is batting .321/.402/.536 with 14 runs scored, 4 home runs and 13 RBIs in 22 games since joining the team.
He apparently likes his new club.
"I mean, yes," Zobrist told Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com when asked if he could envision himself being a Royal in 2016. "Certainly, this had been one of the teams I liked the look of. And now, since I've been here, it's a place I want to stay longer. Being here has certainly done nothing but make this [team] go up on my list.
"And I live in the offseason in Nashville, so it's not far. I've been back to the Kansas City area a lot in the past. My sisters went to college in the area. My brother went to college in the area. I've got friends there, so there's some ties to the area."
It's unknown what type of deal Zobrist would command considering he'll be 35 next season and his offensive numbers have been declining since 2012. However, his value is much greater than the average free agent in his mid-thirties because Zobrist can play multiple positions, which allows managers to have great flexibility with their lineups. The veteran has already logged games in left field, right field, second base and third base in 2015.
Zobrist could be an essential free agent for the Royals to prioritize because Gordon could be gone if the team can't match his market value. Kansas City has about $20 million coming off the books this offseason, so retaining Zobrist is definitely possible.
