GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- What should the Royals do with their bench? It¡¯s a question that has persisted from the start of spring, through the Cactus League schedule -- and still remains unanswered with a week to go before Opening Day.
With a plethora of options and no clear frontrunners, the Royals are considering everything, from performance this spring, track record or projection.
¡°We really are going to be taking this down to the wire,¡± manager Matt Quatraro said. ¡°... The handedness is part of it, the pinch-hitting ability, the on-base ability, the baserunning ability, all of those things we have to try to factor in and which one is going to make us incrementally better.¡±
Currently, the only lock for the Royals¡¯ bench is backup catcher Freddy Fermin. Dairon Blanco is a heavy favorite for a spot because of the valuable role he filled last year, stealing 31 bases with 21 coming as a pinch-runner. The 31-year-old dealt with right Achilles tendon tightness earlier this spring, but Blanco is now back on a normal buildup schedule. The Royals just have to be certain he¡¯s ready to go to fill that niche role that relies so heavily on his legs. If not, Tyler Tolbert might be able to step in.
Tolbert, 27, has stolen 241 bases across five Minor League seasons and has been caught just 16 times (93.8% success rate). While it remains unlikely, there have been discussions about having both Blanco and Tolbert on the roster because the Royals have two main players (Salvador Perez and Vinnie Pasquantino) they would want to pinch-run for late in games.
Both Blanco and Tolbert are right-handed and aren¡¯t huge offensive threats, but they could change a game with their legs. Tolbert also has the advantage of being able to play second base, shortstop and center field.
¡°[Tolbert is] a bon afide base-stealing option,¡± Quatraro said before Tolbert stole two bases Thursday in the Royals' 11-8 win against the Reds at Goodyear Ballpark. ¡°He¡¯s done everything he possibly could to show his value, and the way we use our roster, he¡¯s definitely in the mix.¡±
Also in contention for the final one or two spots on the bench are a whole bunch of players: Outfielders Nelson Velázquez, Drew Waters and Joey Wiemer; first baseman/outfielder Nick Pratto; and utility players Nick Loftin, Cavan Biggio and Harold Castro. The Royals also still have catchers Luke Maile and Brian O¡¯Keefe in camp.
Pratto (.684 OPS this spring) and Vel¨¢zquez (.571) are both out of options and could be considered power bats from the left and right side, respectively, but their track record is lacking.
Waters had an opportunity to win a spot this spring as a switch-hitter who can play all three spots in the outfield, hit for power and steal a bag. He¡¯s slashed .214/.353/.464 this spring, but has struck out 15 times in 28 at-bats. Wiemer has intrigued evaluators with his potential power-speed combination from the right side and went 2-for-2 with two RBIs Thursday.
Loftin has an edge in defensive versatility and has had a solid spring, but the Royals could also tab veterans Castro or Biggio, who would both need a 40-man spot. Relegated to the infield earlier this spring because of all the outfielders vying for spots, Biggio and Castro have begun to get reps in the outfield this week and are drawing more starts.
Biggio has a .463 on-base percentage this spring, while Castro is hitting .310. That sums up what they would each represent in a late-inning pinch-hit opportunity: Biggio is an on-base machine, Castro makes a lot of contact.
¡°I¡¯m a tough player to strike out,¡± Castro said. ¡°Anything can happen when you put the ball in play, and then just get on base and help the team for the guys coming behind me.¡±
The Royals have also been keeping an eye on several players who become available Friday. Any XX(B) free agent -- one who has six years of service time who finished the previous season on an MLB roster or injured list -- who signed a Minor League deal more than 10 days prior to Opening Day can opt out of that deal at three points if they haven¡¯t been added to the 40-man roster: Five days before Opening Day, May 1 and June 1.
The Royals only have two such free agents in camp: Maile and pitcher Ross Stripling. But they¡¯ve scouted potential candidates who might opt out from other teams. Someone like Mark Canha, a right-handed outfielder who is on a Minor League deal with the Brewers, could fit.
All that means the final few days in Arizona are going to be important -- for everyone.