It’s rough timing coming one day after the World Series parade in Kansas City, but the Royals have declined their 2016 options on right fielder Alex Rios and right-hander Jeremy Guthrie.
Rios had some good moments in the playoffs, but hit just .255 with four homers and a .640 OPS in 105 games during the regular season, ranking among the worst corner outfielders in the league. At age 35 and with an option priced at $12.5 million, buying him out for $1.5 million was an easy call.
Guthrie was even more of a no-brainer. He had a 5.95 ERA this season, getting dropped from the rotation, and hasn’t posted an ERA under 4.00 since 2010. He’s a mediocre back-of-the-rotation starter at this point and at age 38 paying him a $3.2 million buyout instead of a $10 million salary was the obvious move.
Both players figure to be looking at one-year deals on the open market and the Royals now have an opening in right field.
