Kansas City Royals still atop Logan Morrison’s wish list
If the Kansas City Royals are unable to convince their incumbent first baseman to stay in town, they may not have to wait long for a replacement.
It is not a secret that the Kansas City Royals are aiming to keep their All Star first baseman Eric Hosmer. They have already made him an offer for seven years, reportedly worth more than $140 million over the lifetime of the contract. And yet, Hosmer remains unsigned, holding out for an eighth year that may not come.
While Hosmer is not a sure thing to return to Kansas City, there is one first baseman who is longing to play for the Royals. Logan Morrison, a Kansas City native, has been open about his desire to play for his hometown team. Naturally, it is not a surprise that other MLB executives feel that the Royals are his priority, unless Hosmer ends up returning.
A couple of #MLB execs think Logan Morrison, a Kansas City native, has his eye on the #Royals as a landing spot if Eric Hosmer doesn't return. Hunter Dozier currently tops the 1B depth chart in K.C. Lomo and Lucas Duda are among the bats still available in painfully slow market.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) February 9, 2018
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If Hosmer does end up elsewhere, they may have a new first baseman within minutes of his departure, and a bargain at that. Last year, Morrison produced a solid .246/.353/.516 batting line, belting a career best 38 homers. He would give the Royals a player with patience at the plate, and a power bat to help replace Mike Moustakas, who is likely to depart as a free agent himself.
Morrison would also give the Royals a more proven option at first. Currently, former Royals top prospect Hunter Dozier is atop the depth chart at the position, which may be a scary proposition for Royals fans. At 26 years old, he has long lost that prospect shine, and his injury plagued 2017 campaign in the minors did nothing to assuage concerns of whether or not he could be the answer.
No matter who the Royals bring in at first, they may simply be a placeholder for the next few years. Top prospect Nick Pratto had an impressive debut, and showed potentially elite defense at the position. If his bat comes along as expected, he could be in Kansas City by the end of 2020. Bringing in a player on a two or three year deal, such as Morrison, could prove to be a better investment than having Hosmer return on a seven or eight year contract.
Next: Royals still believe in Soler Power
The Kansas City Royals are still hoping that Eric Hosmer comes back. If he does not, they have an option waiting for them in Logan Morrison.