Royals may consider free agent slugger Kendrys Morales

Jon Heyman reports the Royals may be interested in first baseman free agent Kendrys Morales to aid their struggling offense. The thirty-year old Cuban slugger hit .277/.336/.449 with 23 HR 80 RBI last year for Seattle, but has found few offers after turning down a Qualifying Offer from the Mariners, requiring any team that signs him to forfeit a draft pick. Any team that signs Morales after Thursday's draft would no longer have to forfeit a draft pick.

The switch-hitting Morales had been looking for a 3-4 year deal in excess of $10 million per year, but those demands have likely dropped since he has found the market so soft. He could perhaps be had for a pro-rated one year deal similar to what Stephen Drew signed a few weeks ago.

MLB Trade Rumors lists some of the other teams that may be vying for Morales' services, including the New York Yankees. The Royals are certainly a surprise candidate, even with their struggling offense, since they have first baseman Eric Hosmer at first base, and veteran Billy Butler at designated hitter. Heyman reports the Royals would have to move salary to sign Morales, which almost certainly means moving Butler, but it seems a long shot that a team would give up anything AND pay for Butler's salary when he is struggling so badly, especially when they can sign Morales right now and not give up anything but money.

In other words, this makes no sense. Morales is represented by Scott Boras, who has been known to be Heyman's source for some of these scoops. It would not surprise me at all if this was a report floated by Boras to generate some interest in his client to drive the price up for other teams.