The 2021 Royals stand as tangible proof that the bosses have been serious.
Owner John Sherman has spent the last 11 months telling everyone who works for him to make sure the Royals come out of the pandemic stronger than they went in. General manager Dayton Moore has spent the last year telling anyone who would listen that the rebuild is over.
Here, then, are your 2021 Royals: a front office bolstered as several other organizations pulled back, and a roster that at least on paper is improved in every way but one.
We’ll get to that soon.
The Royals begin to officially gather this week for the first time. It will be their best group in four years, and one that should expect to compete for a playoff spot, particularly if the field is expanded.
We can see that most clearly with the trade for Andrew Benintendi, and everything it represents. But before we dive in there it’s worth inventorying the moves and pieces that put them in this place.
The Royals can realistically expect their lineup to be improved in virtually every way — more power, more on-base, and improved athleticism that should mean they’re above average defensively at every position except third base.
The market worked in their favor, with Carlos Santana and Mike Minor being available for less than they would have cost in a more normal offseason. Michael Taylor needs to be better with the bat, but his athleticism is the prototype of what the Royals’ front office wants in centerfield.
Broad-stroke reasons for optimism: Carlos Santana and Benintendi bring proven track records of success; the lineup is deeper, with diverse skill-sets that can hit opponents from different angles; and this pitching staff has age on its side, with the potential to improve as the season progresses.
Reasons for skepticism: Santana and Benintendi were each ineffective in 2020; Adalberto Mondesi remains an enigma; and an offense that finished third-to-last in runs last year retains potential dead spots at second base and center field.
So you can make whatever case you want, but here’s why a growing group of those in the industry believe the Royals are generally well-positioned.
This is a club on the come. The trade for Benintendi is the franchise saying this group is ready to compete now, a bet that any excess long-term value they might be giving away is a fair price for Benintendi’s right-now talent and what it says to his new teammates.
The Royals tentatively planned on giving Franchy Cordero regular time in left field, so this is the Royals buying increased certainty at the position. This is the Royals believing that their culture and Benintendi will be good for each other, that their coaches will help bring out his best, and that they believe in minor-leaguer Kyle Isbel.
One other interesting part of this trade is the existence of two players to be named later. Those will not come from the Royals’ collection of top-shelf pitching prospects, a source confirmed, but their mere existence is worth noting.
Moore and his assistants generally dislike deals with PTBNLs. It goes against their core beliefs about being driven by what’s best for the players. Because what’s best does not include players wondering whether they’ve already been traded.
