Kansas City Royals: Five Moves for the Offseason

Change the philosophy of the pitching staff

Playing in cavernous Kauffman Stadium, it is understandable that the Kansas City Royals would favor fly ball pitchers. As their own lack of success with the long ball would indicate, it is quite difficult to hit the ball out of the K, and with their stellar defensive outfield, a fly ball pitcher should do quite well.

That mindset led to the Royals bringing back Chris Young on a two year contract, and signing Ian Kennedy to a five year deal with an opt out clause after two years. Edinson Volquez, who signed as  a free agent prior to 2015, was also a fly ball pitcher. And last year, those tendencies led to the Royals giving up over 200 homers despite playing in such a large ballpark.

This season, power numbers were up throughout the game. That proclivity to bring in fly ball pitchers came back to bite the Royals, as they were unable to keep their opponents in the yard. The game may be changing back to a more power laden version, rendering the Royals previous advantage with their flyball pitchers obsolete.

For all the credit the Royals have gotten for their power bullpen, they do not have nearly the same talent in the starting rotation. While it costs quite a bit to bring in that top of the rotation starter, changing their philosophy to a more ground ball oriented starter may work to their advantage. For as solid of a defensive outfield the Royals have, the infield is just as good. Those ground balls could help erase quite a few mistakes, whereas their flyball tendencies only magnify those problems.

This will not be a change that can happen overnight, but the Royals can start that process this offsesaon. Bid Young adieu, let Volquez depart in free agency, and find a a couple of pitchers capable of getting ground balls.