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Numerous sources cited the Pittsburgh Pirates and Washington Nationals as possible landing spots for veteran starter Cliff Lee, but only the Kansas City Royals can say they’ll raise a World Series Championship banner on Opening Day 2016. Lee’s agent said his client wants to pitch this upcoming season, but only with “the perfect fit.” No team in baseball could pave a better road for Lee’s return than Kansas City.
The Royals will bring back a stellar defense and a historically great bullpen in 2016. They’ll still play half their games in a huge, pitcher-friendly ballpark. Also, they’re the champs. That undeniably counts for something. A wise veteran starter would use that defense and that ballpark to his advantage. A proven swing-man like Chris Young and the aforementioned awesome bullpen would protect a 37-year-old hoping to return from an elbow flexor injury without needing surgery.
It certainly seems like this would be the right fit for both the player and the club. The only factor that could stop it from being perfect is how much Lee will cost to sign. KC isn’t the only team that could use the help of a former Cy Young winner, and numerous teams could be more desperate to sign him. Any attempt at outbidding could raise the asking price above what the Royals are willing to pay.
The philosophy behind signing Lee would be to bring in a fifth starter with tremendous upside for cheap – as in, for less than what a mid-tier starter would be worth. If Lee’s projected contract puts him in the middle of the pack of remaining free agent starters, KC would have to pass. If Lee wants to sign an affordable, incentive-laden deal with a championship club that will pave his way to success, the Royals and their fans would be happy to have him.
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