Looking For A Designated Hitter
With Kendrys Morales gone, what do the Royals do at DH? Here’s a look at potential free-agent bats.
Adios Kendrys Morales, we wish you well. That being said, we have no idea who replaces you in the lineup.
With Morales signing a three-year, $33 million deal with Toronto, the Royals are in need of a designated hitter for the 2017 season. The club has floated the idea of using the position as an “active rest day” for regulars, an idea that seems to have been suggested to soften the blow if no one is signed for to replace Morales. Our friends at Royals Review explored this option, which sounds more like a National League club’s plan for inter-league games than a reasonable strategy for a team trying to win the American League.
More likely, the Royals find a hitter who performed less than ideally during his walk year and sign him to a short-term contract so that he can re-establish their market value.
You know this move. It worked for the Royals in signing Morales, not so much with Alex Rios.
So who’s out there on the open market who might be willing to take a short-term deal? We’ve got a couple of ideas:
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So who else is out there? Mike Napoli, Steve Pearce, Luis Valbuena and Pedro Alvarez all have big sticks and gloves best viewed on radio that make them better American League options. We’ll see who the Royals chase, if anyone. Until them, party at Napoli’s!
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