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Royals Sign Franmil Reyes To Minor League Deal

By Darragh McDonald | February 15, 2023 at 3:45pm CDT

The Royals have signed outfielder/designated hitter Franmil Reyes to a minor league deal, per a report from Anne Rogers and Juan Toribio of MLB.com. He has been invited to major league Spring Training.

One year ago, the idea of Reyes settling for a minors deal would have been quite surprising, as he had seemingly established himself as a reliable middle-of-the-order threat. From his 2018 debut through the end of the 2021 season, he had launched 92 home runs in 529 games. His 29.5% strikeout rate was certainly on the high side, but he paired that with a solid 9% walk rate. His 119 wRC+ in that stretch indicates that he was 19% better than the league average hitter.

Unfortunately, 2022 was easily the worst season of his career. His walk rate dropped to 6.3% while his strikeout problem got worse, as he was punched out in 33.2% of his trips to the plate. The Guardians designated him for assignment in August and he was claimed by the Cubs, but the latter team cut him from their roster at season’s end. He finished the campaign with 14 home runs and a batting line of .221/.273/.365, wRC+ of 80.

That drop was quite disastrous for a player like Reyes who doesn’t really bring anything else to the table. He’s not a burner on the basepaths and he’s not a strong defender either. He was given poor grades for his glovework at the start of his career and has been mostly a designated hitter of late. He played more than 500 innings in the outfield in each of 2018 and 2019 but hasn’t reached even 100 innings in any of the past three.

With that kind of profile, Reyes really needs to get back on track at the plate in order to have any value. There are reasons to think that his power is still in there, as he still made loud contact last year when he did connect. Statcast placed him in the 92nd percentile in terms of average exit velocity last year, in the 85th percentile in terms of maximum exit velocity, 79th in hard hit rate and 80th in terms of barrel rate.

The Royals are an interesting team to have brought Reyes aboard, since they seemingly already have a number of candidates for corner outfield work and the designated hitter slot. The trade of Michael A. Taylor opened up center field for someone like Drew Waters, but they still have Kyle Isbel and Edward Olivares as candidates for the corners. There are also players who could get bumped to the outfield from other areas, including MJ Melendez. With Salvador Perez taking the bulk of the work behind the plate, Melendez will end up in the outfield or serving in the DH often. Corner infielders like Hunter Dozier, Nick Pratto and Nate Eaton could also see some time on the grass, with Vinnie Pasquantino likely taking first base and Nicky Lopez perhaps getting some time at third since Bobby Witt Jr. and Michael Massey could be the primary middle infield combo.

It will be a challenge for Reyes to force his way into that mix, but most of those other players are young and can be optioned to the minors. If he can make 2022 seem like a fluke and get back to being the 30-homer per year kind of guy that he was prior to that, the club would likely find a way to make it work. If Reyes can get his way back onto the roster, he still has a couple of option years and could also be retained for 2024 via arbitration since he has between four and five years of service time.

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Kansas City Royals Transactions Franmil Reyes

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26 Comments

  1. Rsox

    2 years ago

    I like the signing. Could be a cheap power bat for KC

    8
    Reply
    • Motor City Beach Bum

      2 years ago

      I agree. I was hoping the Tigers might grab him and see what he has left.

      Reply
      • sergefunction

        2 years ago

        He hasn’t been nearly terrible enough yet to pique the attention of the Tigers.

        If they’re looking at 45 wins, which is what it seems, it’s too risky to sign a guy who might luck into 3 or 4 walkoffs. By next offseason he should attain their desired overripeness.

        1
        Reply
        • Motor City Beach Bum

          2 years ago

          Mildly entertaining.

          Reply
    • Jacobpaul81

      2 years ago

      Weird. Guess he could be worth something mid season

      Reply
  2. This one belongs to the Reds

    2 years ago

    Always liked his power for the team up north.

    2
    Reply
  3. In nurse follars

    2 years ago

    Anyone remember Steve Balboni?

    9
    Reply
    • nowheredan

      2 years ago

      Bye Bye!!

      1
      Reply
  4. Brew88

    2 years ago

    mlbtr I would have listed him as designated hitter/outfielder, rather than outfielder/designated hitter

    Reply
    • Sid Bream Speed Demon

      2 years ago

      I’m sure that they are thankful for knowing how you would have done it. A full quarter-step ahead of the “WOW!” guy….

      4
      Reply
      • Brew88

        2 years ago

        c’mon the wow guy can’t be outdone by the mlbtr I would have guy, and you know it

        1
        Reply
  5. Old timer 78

    2 years ago

    Great Team Player, needs to be more selective. Platoon player?

    1
    Reply
  6. El Chupacabra

    2 years ago

    I don’t totally get it, but it seems like a no to low risk move for KC.

    Reply
  7. Lyman Bostock

    2 years ago

    Yeah, why not? Typical moves a bargain bin bottom dweller team needs to make. Hopefully he has a Soler type of year and then flip him for a prospect newr the deadline. Royals making Royals moves.

    2
    Reply
  8. Cora the Destroya

    2 years ago

    The Franimal!

    4
    Reply
  9. MLB Top 100 Commenter

    2 years ago

    With Morel and Reyes in the Cubs dugout, you could always find a big smile.

    3
    Reply
  10. Homerunbunt

    2 years ago

    Hope he doesn’t playing time away from guys that need regularity,but glad he got swooped. KC should play him hard early, build value and trade. Didn’t know he did some corner outfield (does he? Thought he was dh/1b). That gives him a chance longer term. Baseball is so close, hell yeah

    Reply
  11. PaulyMidwest

    2 years ago

    I would’ve loved him as a cub again but I understand we are pretty deep. Such a positive dude. Hope he hits some Homer’s for KC this year.

    Reply
  12. User 3595123227

    2 years ago

    Fanmail Reyes lol.

    Reply
  13. RoyalsFanAmongWolves

    2 years ago

    If he doesn’t make the 40 man which the only way he probably would be, is, if somebody got injured, he could always be depth in AAA Unless thr minor league contract has an opt out option If he doesn’t make the 40 man?

    Reply
  14. Tdat1979

    2 years ago

    Watch him put up 2019 Jorge Soler numbers.

    Reply
  15. ClevelandSteelEngines

    2 years ago

    What exactly is the explanation for his down year? I know he struggled out of the gate and then was hit with hamstring issues, only to never recover his season. His exit velocity dipped a couple mph’s and he struggled to square up on fastballs let alone anything else. Reyes is young enough that this was abnormal. Yet there hasn’t been any information as to what caused this tailspin. IMO, it is either a health issue or a personal matter crushing him.

    Reply
  16. CKinSTL

    2 years ago

    He was swinging at pitches out of the zone and couldn’t hit breaking pitches

    Reply
  17. CKinSTL

    2 years ago

    Franmil is an easy guy to root for. Lots of good energy and he can really put a charge into a ball. I really hope he can make it back this year.

    2
    Reply
  18. Cora the Destroya

    2 years ago

    Bloom could’ve signed this guy way cheaper than Duvall.

    Reply
  19. Marco waller

    2 years ago

    I don’t even know man, go royals, could’ve been a worse signing

    Reply

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