The winter was quiet for the Royals -- no blockbuster trades, no shocking signings -- but that doesn't mean it was a silent one.
Kansas City added Kendrys Morales and Alex Rios to give the home run-deficient lineup some power, and also signed innings-eater Edinson Volquez to bolster their rotation.
Now, it's their turn to make some noise.
Morales, who signed a two-year, $15.5 million deal with a mutual option for 2017, will replace Billy Butler at designated hitter and should improve on a shortened 2014 season. Morales played his first game last season June 9, when the Twins signed him as a rare in-season free agent. He was later traded to the Mariners.
Morales played only 98 games in 2014, slashing a dismal .218/.274/.338 but hitting eight home runs and driving in 42 runs. With more at-bats, Morales should easily surpass Butler's power production (nine homers, 66 RBIs) from last season.
While it is unlikely Morales will hit 34 home runs like he did for the Angels in 2009, 20 dingers could be a realistic goal for the 31-year-old. He hit 23 for Seattle in 2013 and 22 for Los Angeles the season before. Twenty home runs would have accounted for more than a fifth of the KC total a year ago (95).
Rios, meanwhile, should fit in nicely in right field and in the Royals' lineup, given his combination of speed and power. His numbers were down in 2014 (four home runs and 17 stolen bases for Texas), but he has posted two 20-20 seasons in his career.
Rios' power dip didn't coincide with a decline in his batting. He still hit .280 with 30 doubles and eight triples, more than any Royal last season and good for fourth in the American League. Rios' on-base plus slugging percentage (.709) was nearly identical to Nori Aoki's from last year (.710), even though Aoki's on-base percentage was 38 points higher.
The Royals are, essentially, trading Aoki's walks and singles for Rios' extra-base hits. Kauffman Stadium's big outfield should result in more extra-base hits for Rios, while Kansas City's aggressive style of baserunning could put him in motion more on the basepaths. Rios' versatility also gives manager Ned Yost the option of moving him all around the lineup.
Unlike Morales and Rios, Volquez is coming off one of his best seasons a year ago. With Pittsburgh, Volquez posted a career-low 3.04 ERA after five straight seasons of a four-plus ERA. Batters hit a measly .235 off Volquez and .269 on balls in play (the major league average was .299).
He, along with Danny Duffy and Yordano Ventura, will be asked to help absorb the loss of James Shields' 227 innings. If the Royals can get six innings a start from Volquez across 32 starts, they'll be in good position to make up for the loss of Shields.
Morales, Rios and Volquez's contributions will be vital for the Royals this season, but anything from Kris Medlen, Joe Blanton and Ryan Madson will be a bonus.
None of the three pitched a major league inning last season, and Madson hasn't appeared in the bigs since 2011. Both Medlen and Madson are recovering from Tommy John surgery while Blanton, 34, is trying to make a comeback after retiring in 2014.
It is unclear how Medlen, who is expected back sometime around June or July, might fit into the Kansas City rotation, and even more uncertain is his ability to replicate his effectiveness in Atlanta (3.11 ERA in 197 innings in 2013). Any time in the majors for Blanton or Madson would be considered a reward for the Royals' minimal risk.
You can follow Matthew DeFranks on Twitter at @MDeFranks or email him at matthew.defranks@gmail.com.
