Kansas City Royals could have had Ronald Acuna
By David Hill
Oh, what could have been… Instead of struggling to find answers in the outfield, the Kansas City Royals could have had the hottest prospect in baseball on their roster.
The Kansas City Royals outfield situation, particularly heading into this season, has been a mess. Center field was wide open after the departure of Lorenzo Cain. Right field has been a revolving door, with the Royals hoping that Jorge Soler can finally prove to be the answer they have been seeking. Alex Gordon has been a disappointment since signing his four year contract at the end of the 2015 campaign. As the Royals languish towards the bottom of the standings, the outfield has been a black hole.
However, that did not need to be the case. The Royals could have had the hottest outfield prospect in baseball in Ronald Acuna. Instead, they were outbid at the last minute, with the Atlanta Braves scooping the outfielder up for a mere $100,000 bonus. Even the presence of his cousin, Alcides Escobar, could not overcome the extra money.
Ronald Acuña told me in spring training he was really close to signing with the Kansas City Royals as a 16-year-old. Alcides Escobar is his cousin and had encouraged it.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 26, 2018
Then on July 2, Acuña said, the Braves called and offered more money. They signed him that day for $100,000.
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The Royals could certainly use Acuna now. They have had a dearth of worthwhile outfield prospects for some time now, particularly in regards to being close to the major league level. While players like Khalil Lee, Seuly Matias, and Michael Gigliotti could end up making an impact on the major league club, they are still a couple of years away at best. Meanwhile, the upper levels are filled with the likes of Billy Burns and Tyler Collins, depth pieces who would not be considered an answer, even at AAA.
While Acuna would not have changed that singlehandedly, his presence would certainly help the Royals current rebuild. With Soler showing some promise to potentially salvage the trade of Wade Davis, pairing him with Acuna could have given the Royals quite the tandem for years to come.
It is laughable to think that a few thousand dollars may have been the difference in the Royals landing one of the top prospects in the game. However, back when Acuna was first eligible to sign, he was not considered to be one of the better international free agents. He did not make MLB.com‘s top 30 international prospect list that year, with prospect gurus like Ben Badler considering him more of a well rounded player than a potential superstar as recently as two years ago.
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The Kansas City Royals could have had Ronald Acuna. Instead, a few extra dollars sent him to the Atlanta Braves, leaving Royals fans to wonder what could have been.