Kansas City Royals May Give Kendrys Morales Qualifying Offer
By David Hill
Hitting 30 or more home runs with the Kansas City Royals is quite the rare feat. Doing so this year might result in quite the payday for Kendrys Morales.
Since the Kansas City Royals came into existence in 1969, there have been 14 perfect games. Seven players have hit four home runs in a game, and another seven have turned an unassisted triple play. Meanwhile, the Royals have had only eleven players hit 30 home runs in a season, making that accomplishment one of the rarest in baseball.
Kendrys Morales became the latest player to hit 30 home runs for the Royals, and the first to do so since Jermaine Dye in 2000. It is quite the remarkable turnaround for the Kansas City designated hitter, who had been awful over the first two months of the season. Entering June, Morales had a .193/.262/.330 batting line with six home runs. It did not appear as though he would be in the Royals plans after the end of the year.
Instead, Morales’ hot second half may not only keep him in Kansas City, but it could result in quite the hefty payday. The Royals are reportedly considering extending a qualifying offer on their designated hitter, making him a one year offer worth $16.7 Million. That would be the highest contract ever given to a designated hitter.
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It is hard to argue the power aspect that Morales provides the Royals. His .302/.366/.546 batting line since the first of June, to go along with his 24 home runs, are the type of production that the team desperately needs. However, this is the first season that Morales has hit 30 home runs since 2009. At 34 years old next season, it is doubtful that he would be able to top his performance this year.
Likewise, the Royals could use that money to fill several other holes on the roster. Their pitching staff has been a disaster on multiple levels, and the Royals could desperately use another starter to help solidify the rotation. That money could be better spent elsewhere.
That is not to say that the Royals should not attempt to retain Morales for next season. However, they would likely be able to get him at a fraction of that price, allowing them to allocate those financial resources to other areas of need. Morales, for as well as he played over the past few months, is just not worth that price.
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The Kansas City Royals are expected to extend a qualifying offer to Kendrys Morales. That would be a mistake, regardless of how well he performs in 2017.