6:52pm: The Royals have non-tendered Franco, infielder Jeison Guzman, infielder/outfielder Erick Mejia and outfielder Bubba Starling, Lynn Worthy of the Kansas City Star tweets. This could end Starling’s tenure in KC. He was the fifth overall pick in 2011 but hasn’t come close to living up to his draft status.
3:22pm: The Royals are expected to non-tender third baseman Maikel Franco, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projected Franco to earn between $4.5MM and $8MM in his final year of arbitration eligibility, but those figures were too rich for the Royals’ blood.
Although he was a star prospect with the Phillies, Franco didn’t pan out in their uniform after an excellent rookie showing in 2015. The Phillies non-tendered him after last season as a result, and Franco then caught on with the Royals on a $2.95MM guarantee. It ended up as a decent investment for Kansas City, with which Franco slashed .278/.321/.457 (106 wRC+) and totaled eight home runs in 243 plate appearances. He also chipped in playable work at third base with zero Defensive Runs Saved and a plus-1.3 Ultimate Zone Rating in 51 games.
While Franco took a step forward this past season, the Royals obviously don’t think that production merited a sizable raise in arbitration. That means the 28-year-old Franco will head back to the open market, where he’ll join the likes of Marwin Gonzalez and Todd Frazier after top option Justin Turner.
Should’ve non tendered Junis instead
He had a solid season, kind of surprising
Yea, I figured they would at least try and keep him around as a trade chip.
Too much cheaper, comparable talent available! That said, good luck to him.
I fully expect them to leave that door wide open and try to re-sign him, just at a lower rate than his intimidating high end arbitration figure. I would not be surprised one bit to see him start at 3B in KC this season.
Unless they already have something worked out, this would surprise me because it exposes him to the rest of the market.
I don’t love Maikel Franco as our 3B, but it’s not like we’re teeming with better alternatives. As exciting as it would be, Bobby Witt, Jr probably isn’t the OD 3B. I’m quite surprised by this move.
I think you’re overestimating his market a bit. The only reason he slipped to the Royals in the first place was because nobody wanted to pay him even $3mil. Did he improve this year? Yeah, he was solid. But I don’t expect any team to match his $8mil projection, so the Royals should be at least in the running once again.
Neither do I, but if we can re-sign at a lower rate ($2m guarantee?), so can any other club.
That’s a good point!
I know it’s crazy, but just for fun part of me hopes we go after Ha-Seong Kim.
He could be a nice stop-gap option for the Rangers at 3b in 21.
Yep was just thinking that myself. Keep it warm for Jung.
Yes, with the Rangers having first dibs, Franco would be a good fit for them at 3B.
Brewers will be all over Franco
Well he’s not going through waivers so he’s free to whoever. No dibs.
Could re-sign him for a lower rate. If not after the signing of Michael Taylor it could be Hunter Dozier back to 3B and Merrifield to RF (or 2B)
I’m pretty sure Whit is gonna be starting at 2B. Nicky Lopez needs to be sent down to the minors.
You are very wrong on that.
Hypothetically, would Royals fans take a World Series loss to the Braves just to be relevant again? Or is the pain of losing in the final round so much that they would rather just continue winning 70 games?
No we’d much rather win 70 games per year than go to the World Series. Losing in 2014 ended up ok for us. Also who we lose to is irrelevant to me.
I only said Braves for two reasons.
1. They’re knocking on the door for a title.
2. I’m a Braves fan.
Anyway, a White Sox fan before this season said that he would be fine with a Braves over White Sox outcome (which is what I posted back then) because it would mean that his White Sox are actually relevant again.
World Series loss and Braves just go together so well.
Are the Braves ready to lose another World Series and be relevant again?
Royals won WS in 1985 & 2015. 2-2 in World Series appearances.
Braves won WS in 1995. 1-4 in World Series appearances.
Royals still more relevant than a lot of teams with that 2015 win!
The Royals already got a fairly fresh blueprint that won’t take long to recreate if they can find some bullpen magic again.
Just a sad Jays fan that hasn’t had much beyond a few playoff appearances and All-Star players to really cheer for since 1993.
Even Braves fans got bragging rights on me!
Might’ve been able to cheer a WS appearance in 2015 if it wasn’t for those pesky Royals. That bullpen was electric. Not huge, expensive names either.
this is a guy the Jays should get.
Jays would be better off signing Wong and moving Biggio to 3B than to hope Franco hits well. Franco is not a strong defender by any means.
Agreed. Defensively Franco is no better than Vlad Jr. I think the Rangers make a lot of sense for Franco. Maybe the Tigers too if they keep Jeimer Candelario at 1B
On a one year contract he could be a nice bridge to Jordan Groshans. I feel like Groshans is the Jays 3B of the future at this point.
It all depends on 2021 and how his foot holds up too. With Biggio he can swing to the OF, and that is still possible. Biggio’s versatility and willingness to move around is a great asset.
Biggio could be that Mark McLemore/Marwin Gonzalez/Kike Hernandez type player that can get 500 AB’s playing all over the field
Was non-tendered with Philly. He should find work with an AL team next season.
I was drinking the Bubba Starling kool aid when he was drafted. I was hoping for a lot more from him. Missed completely on what I thought he should have been. Figured he was going to be out the door this year.
Franco also makes sense. Would be nice to see him come back but I think another team will give him a deal over the Royals price range.
Phillies might as well bring him back if the DH returns. put Maik at 3rd and DH Bohm.
Starlings spent 5 seasons in 3A. Kinda crazy! Lots of other jobs out there
AAA ball is a better job than many he could get with just a HS diploma. He should be OK signed a $7.5 mill rookie deal. He also had a full ride at Nebraska to play QB. Have to wonder were he would be if he went to college. I know I wanted Seattle to take him. I doubt he would have signed here. Rumor was he would only sign with KC. Amazing how so many of these high rated players fail. Draft is acrap shoot.
Franco was a total Met killer when he was with Philly so the Mets should make an offer just to keep him out of the NL East
Franco at 3B and J.D. Davis to LF
While I’ve been hoping the Mets sign Franco for about 2 years, I don’t think it’ll be to move Davis to left. Davis is one of the few trade chips we actually have that other teams want.
I really like Davis, but a Franco signing improves the defense and gives us some flexibility.
Left field is going to be Nimmo or Dom Smith, unless one is traded. Since Smith led the team in rbi and can easily shift to 1b allowing Alonso to DH, JD Davis probably is the odd man out unless rosters are larger than 26. It’s a shame, looks like the numbers might bump Davis again.
I think the Brewers will be all over Franco. He’s better than Phillies’ brass, media and fans believe.