With Butler and Aoki likely to exit K.C. Torii Hunter may become target
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Royals will need to do some lineup revamping this winter, and with Billy Butler and Norichika Aoki unlikely to return, one player that may interest Kansas City is Torii Hunter.
Butler and Aoki were inserted back into Ned Yost's lineup with the World Series back here for Game 6, but the Royals are thought unlikely to pick up Butler's $12-million option, and Aoki is a free agent. Kansas City quietly made a play seven years ago for Hunter when he signed with the Angels for $90 million over five years, and could do so again. The outfield market is rather thin so there aren't a lot of choices, but the Royals could also give Jarrod Dyson, an extraordinary defensive player, an expanded role.
Hunter, 39, still is producing at a high rate, with 17 home runs, 83 RBI, a .286 batting average and .765 OPS, and he could fit nicely in place of both players. Kansas City tried for a big outfield upgrade last winter, but former Royal Carlos Beltran signed with the Yankees for $45 million over three years, which is about what Kansas City offered.
The Royals, a team that likes to have versatility in their roster, may try to get away from a full-time DH, meaning Butler is likely to go elsewhere, though he played a decent first base when Eric Hosmer was out. They looked into trades for Butler last winter.
The Royals made a nice trade to acquire Aoki from Milwaukee for reliever Will Smith, and he was a nice bargain for him for about $3 million including incentives this year, but he is expected to explore the free-agent market.
Butler, a Royals staple since 2007, had only a so-so regular season, batting .271 with nine home runs and 66 RBI, but he's a .295 career hitter and fan favorite who made the All-Star team in 2012, the year the game was in Kansas City. Aoki, 32, hit .285, stole 17 bases and scored 63 runs this year.
Kansas City's payroll was about $90 million this year, 19th highest in baseball, but could rise slightly, to perhaps close to $100 million with increased revenues thanks to their World Series run.
