Kansas City Royals: A Wade Davis reunion makes sense

The Kansas City Royals are looking to add pieces to their bullpen during the offseason. A reunion with former closer Wade Davis could make perfect sense.

The Kansas City Royals still have a long way to go before they can come out of their rebuild. General manager Dayton Moore has made a point of stating that they need to change the way their lineup is constructed, focusing on getting players that can actually get on base.

But the Royals will not be done with the lineup. They could still potentially use another starting pitcher, especially as their top prospects work their way through a hypothetical season in the upper minors. Likewise, the bullpen still needs help despite the strides shown by several youngsters in 2020.

With the Royals still rebuilding, it makes sense to look at reclamation projects, hoping to find lightning in a bottle and potentially flip those players at the deadline. One such option is former closer Wade Davis.

After a stellar run in the Royals bullpen, and a year with the Cubs, Davis signed a three year, $52 million contract with the Rockies. However, as is seemingly always the case with any high priced pitching free agent that goes to Colorado, Davis fell apart. After a solid 2018, he imploded over the next two years, posting a combined 9.77 ERA and a 1.957 WHiP in his 47 innings, striking out 45 batters while issuing 32 walks.

But Davis’ problems appeared to come from Coors Field. Even in his disastrous 2020 season, where he allowed ten runs on nine hits and three walks in 4.1 innings, he was useful on the road. In his two outings on the road, he allowed just one run on a walk and a hit, notching saves in both outings.

Yes, it is a small sample size, but that performance on the road gives hope that Davis can be salvaged. And it is entirely possible that, as teams look at his overall body of work, they shy away. Davis could end up being a bargain, and even if he is not the dominant force he once was, may still be exactly what the Royals need.

The Kansas City Royals are going to be looking for bullpen help in 2021. Wade Davis is a free agent. A reunion could be exactly what both sides need.