It was a sad day as a Royals fan when Billy Butler decided to sign with the Oakland A’s. He was a long time Royal and fan favorite. His bat sure was valuable especially in the playoffs. So after losing him, the Royals were faced with the question of how to replace him.
Now a few weeks later the Royals come up with a solution. According to a person familiar with the negotiations told the associated press on Thursday December 12 that Kendrys Morales has agreed to a 2 year $17 million deal to play DH for the 2014 American league champs. Morales will get $6.5 million next year and $9 million in 2016. The deal includes an $11 million mutual option for 2017 with a $1.5 million buyout. Morales can make an additional $750,000 in performance bonuses in each of the first two seasons based on plate appearances: $50,000 for 375 and $100,000 apiece for 400 and each additional 25 until 550. Its not a lot of money considering what players are asking for now a days. Plus it is a smaller contract than Butler’s in Oakland, so in essence the Royals saved money between the two.
What kendrys brings to the K is power. For his first couple years in the majors with the Angels, he struggled to get much playing time, but he eventually got a starting role in 2009 where he flourished, finishing 5th in the MVP voting with 34 homers, 108 RBI’s, 43 doubles and a .306 batting average. Then in 2010 the switch hitter severely injured his ankle during a walk off celebration. This injury sidelined him for a year and a half before returning to the Angles lineup in 2012. Since the return he is averaging to play in 130 games with 18 homers, 65 RBI’s, and a .271 batting average. Despite contract disputes, reoccurring pain in his ankle, and just getting used to playing again, those numbers are not too bad. Morales bring a switching hitting bat that produces solid results for a player getting around $7.5 million a year.
Considering that Ned Yost desperately needed some power in his lineup and not to mention a switch hitter, he has got to be pretty happy with this addition. In 2014 the Royals finished dead last in homers, not even breaking 100. For a while there it seemed like power was what was missing to put the Royals over the edge, but by the end of the postseason that wasn’t the case. Although with this Royal lineup already proving their lethalness, imagine a potential 25-homerun bat in the middle of the order.
Overall this signing is an A due to the fact that Morales is a great replacement for Butler, and that the Royals regular season offensive problem is now not so much of an issue.
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