We’ll finish our series (it only took half of a calendar year) in which we look at how each 2015 playoff team could have gone about the offseason in order to chase a ring with the Kansas City Royals. After making it to the World Series in 2014 and failing to take home the championship, the Royals came back even stronger, with a more developed offense and a bullpen and defense that remained excellent. Let’s see how we can bring them back to baseball’s biggest stage this year. For more of an introduction, see the first piece in the series about the Yankees.
Previous Teams
Yankees
Pirates
Astros
Dodgers
Rangers
Cardinals
Cubs
Blue Jays
Mets
Done Deals
Since the offseason is already over, I will be looking at the deals that each team has made and giving my input. I will keep the mostly inconsequential ones, but for the most part I will be making my moves as though the offseason has not yet started, all of the free agents are still out there, and all traded players are back on their original teams.
1. Traded a minor league infielder to the St. Louis Cardinals for Tony Cruz
Under normal circumstances, I would keep this one, since adding Cruz as a backup catcher doesn’t really change much. However, Drew Butera made the Major League roster anyway, so I guess we can’t keep Cruz on the roster even if we do keep this trade. The difference between Butera and Cruz is negligible and basically comes down to how much you value familiarity with a pitching staff. Either way, the Royals have a fine backup catcher provided that neither player has to play more than thirty or forty games.
2. Re-Signed Chris Young to a two-year contract