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Royals KCR

199767–94 (0.416)
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GM: Herk Robinson

Overview

Ranks vs the 30 teams in 1997, or a custom range (defaults to every team-season since 1985, when our data starts).

to

Front Office

PoorAverageGreat
Value
Payroll $M
$35M
Surplus $M
-3
Win %
0.416
TAB
-0.2
WAB
-12.9
Roster composition
Roster fWAR
32.4
Dead money %
25%
Depth Players
5.0
Dead WAR
-3.2

Offense

PoorAverageGreat

Pitching & Defense

PoorAverageGreat

Roster

1997 depth chart — stacked by playing time

C

RMike Macfarlane81
RMike Sweeney76
RTim Spehr⇄17
RSal Fasano12
RAndy Stewart4

1B

RJeff King150
LLarry Sutton12
LScott Cooper8
RJoe Vitiello1

2B

BJose Offerman101
BDavid Howard34
RJed Hansen31
RShane Halter18

3B

RCraig Paquette72
RDean Palmer⇄49
LScott Cooper39
RShane Halter12
BBip Roberts⇄10
BDavid Howard7
RJay Bell4

SS

RJay Bell149
BFelix Martinez12
BDavid Howard9
RShane Halter5

LF

LJohnny Damon48
RYamil Benitez31
LRod Myers13
RJoe Vitiello12
RShane Halter9
BDavid Howard5
RCraig Paquette4
RJermaine Dye1
LLarry Sutton1
RRyan Long1

CF

LJohnny Damon65
RShane Halter10
LRod Myers8
BBip Roberts⇄2
BDavid Howard2

RF

RJermaine Dye75
LJohnny Damon47
RYamil Benitez22
BDavid Howard17
RShane Halter17
RJoe Vitiello16
LRod Myers10
RRyan Long4

DH

BChili Davis131
RJoe Vitiello10
LScott Cooper3
RJeff King2
RMike Sweeney2
LLarry Sutton2
RAndy Stewart1
BJose Offerman1

Starters

RKevin Appier5.1 WAR
LJose Rosado2.5 WAR
RTim Belcher1.8 WAR
LGlendon Rusch1.5 WAR
LChris Haney0.6 WAR
RJim Pittsley0.5 WAR
RRicky Bones⇄0.4 WAR

Bullpen

★ RJeff Montgomery14 sv
LJamie Walker0 h
RHipolito Pichardo0 h
RGregg Olson⇄0 h
LLarry Casian⇄0 h
RHector Carrasco⇄0 h
LMatt Whisenant⇄0 h
RRandy Veres0 h

Each position shows its top 3 by games (top = starter) — click "+more" for the rest. The letter is bats/throws; ⇄ marks a player traded mid-season. Starters are ranked by WAR, bullpen by holds; ★ marks the closer (most save chances). MLB Stats API.

Key additions (new vs 1996)

PlayerfWAR
Jay Bell5.4
Jeff King3.4
Chili Davis2.5
Glendon Rusch1.5
Dean Palmer0.9
Jed Hansen0.7

Key subtractions (gone from 1996)

Player1996 fWAR
Doug Linton2.2
Keith Lockhart1.3
Michael Tucker1.0
Joe Randa0.9
Mark Gubicza0.7
Bob Hamelin0.7

Contract Value

WAR translated into tier-adjusted market value, then compared with what the player was paid by Royals. Guaranteed contracts from the 2015-present contract-data period use the known contract period through 1997; everyone else is shown as a 1997 season snapshot.

PlayerPeriodfWARTier Market $MPaid $MSurplus $M$ / WARTierContract
Kevin Appier 1997 +5.1 +101.8 4.8 +97.0 $0.9M 2.50× –
Jay Bell 1997 +5.4 +65.1 5.0 +60.1 $0.9M 1.51× –
José Rosado 1997 +2.5 +29.5 0.2 +29.3 $0.1M 1.49× –
Jeff King 1997 +3.4 +29.2 2.5 +26.7 $0.7M 1.07× –
Chili Davis 1997 +2.5 +26.8 3.8 +23.0 $1.5M 1.33× –
Tim Belcher 1997 +1.8 +21.1 2.3 +18.8 $1.3M 1.49× –
Johnny Damon 1997 +1.6 +15.7 0.2 +15.4 $0.1M 1.22× –
Glendon Rusch 1997 +1.5 +12.1 0.1 +12.0 $0.1M 1.02× –
Bip Roberts↔ 1997 +1.4 +6.4 1.6 +4.8 $1.2M 0.58× –
Jose Offerman 1997 +1.4 +6.1 1.6 +4.5 $1.2M 0.56× –
Rod Myers 1997 +0.7 +4.5 0.2 +4.3 $0.2M 0.83× –
Ricky Bones↔ 1997 +0.4 +3.6 0.3 +3.3 $0.6M 1.02× –
Jed Hansen 1997 +0.7 +3.4 0.1 +3.2 $0.2M 0.56× –
Mike Sweeney 1997 +0.8 +3.3 0.2 +3.1 $0.2M 0.52× –
Dean Palmer↔ 1997 +0.9 +4.0 1.6 +2.3 $1.9M 0.58× –
Randy Veres 1997 +0.5 +2.5 0.2 +2.3 $0.4M 0.67× –
Shane Halter 1997 +0.5 +2.4 0.1 +2.3 $0.3M 0.56× –
Gregg Olson↔ 1997 +0.4 +2.3 0.3 +2.0 $0.7M 0.67× –
Jeff Montgomery 1997 +0.4 +4.0 2.3 +1.7 $6.1M 1.34× –
Chris Haney 1997 +0.6 +3.1 1.7 +1.4 $2.9M 0.67× –
Tom Goodwin↔ 1997 +0.3 +2.1 0.7 +1.4 $2.2M 0.83× –
Matt Whisenant↔ 1997 +0.3 +1.5 0.1 +1.3 $0.5M 0.67× –
Larry Sutton 1997 +0.2 +0.9 0.1 +0.8 $0.7M 0.56× –
Mike Macfarlane 1997 +0.4 +1.6 0.9 +0.7 $2.3M 0.52× –
Yamil Benitez 1997 +0.1 +0.8 0.1 +0.7 $1.2M 0.83× –
Brian Bevil 1997 +0.1 +0.7 0.1 +0.6 $1.1M 0.67× –
Hector Carrasco↔ 1997 +0.1 +0.5 0.2 +0.3 $2.6M 0.67× –
Jon Nunnally↔ 1997 -0.0 -0.0 0.0 -0.1 – 0.83× –
David Howard 1997 +0.1 +0.2 0.8 -0.5 $14.3M 0.56× –
Larry Casian↔ 1997 -0.0 -0.3 0.3 -0.5 – 0.67× –
Tim Spehr↔ 1997 -0.1 -0.6 0.2 -0.8 – 0.52× –
Jason Jacome↔ 1997 -0.3 -1.4 0.1 -1.4 – 0.67× –
Jamie Walker 1997 -0.2 -1.3 0.1 -1.5 – 0.67× –
Scott Cooper 1997 -0.3 -1.3 0.4 -1.6 – 0.58× –
Craig Paquette 1997 -0.4 -2.1 0.3 -2.4 – 0.58× –
Hipolito Pichardo 1997 -0.2 -1.6 0.8 -2.4 – 1.34× –
Joe Vitiello 1997 -0.4 -3.0 0.2 -3.2 – 0.83× –
Jermaine Dye 1997 -0.5 -3.3 0.2 -3.4 – 0.83× –
Allen McDill 1997 -0.2 -1.0 – – – 0.67× –
Andy Stewart 1997 -0.0 -0.1 – – – 0.52× –
Felix Martinez 1997 +0.3 +1.4 – – – 0.61× –
Jim Converse 1997 -0.2 -0.9 – – – 0.67× –
Jim Pittsley 1997 +0.5 +3.7 – – – 1.02× –
Jose Santiago 1997 +0.0 +0.0 – – – 0.67× –
Mike Perez 1997 +0.2 +0.9 – – – 0.67× –
Mike Williams 1997 +0.0 +0.2 – – – 0.67× –
Mitch Williams 1997 -0.1 -0.6 – – – 0.67× –
Roland DeLaMaza 1997 -0.1 -0.3 – – – 0.67× –
Ryan Long 1997 +0.0 +0.3 – – – 0.83× –
Sal Fasano 1997 -0.1 -0.4 – – – 0.52× –
Scott Service↔ 1997 +0.5 +2.8 – – – 0.67× –
Total—+32.5+346.334.7+305.5—

Trades

Every graded 1997 deal involving the Royals — best expected value first. Surplus is realized value in $M; 8 total.

1997 · MIA / KCR
MIA · Dave Dombrowski +$7.2M
Blaine Mull
KCR · Herk Robinson −$7.2M
Jeff Conine
MIA came out ahead by $7.2M
1997 · KCR / MIL
KCR · Herk Robinson +$6.4M
Jason Grimsley
MIL · Sal Bando −$6.4M
Jamie Brewington
KCR came out ahead by $6.4M
1997 · KCR / WSN
KCR · Herk Robinson +$0.0M
Yamil Benítez
WSN · Jim Beattie +$0.0M
Melvin Bunch
Even trade
1997 · KCR / CLE
KCR · Herk Robinson +$6.4M
Roland de la Maza
CLE · John Hart −$6.4M
Bip Roberts
KCR came out ahead by $6.4M
1997 · KCR / MIA
KCR · Herk Robinson +$5.6M
Matt Whisenant
MIA · Dave Dombrowski −$5.6M
Matt Treanor
KCR came out ahead by $5.6M
1997 · KCR / ATL
KCR · Herk Robinson +$20.0M
Jermaine Dye, Jamie Walker
ATL · John Schuerholz −$20.0M
Keith Lockhart, Michael Tucker
KCR came out ahead by $20.0M
1997 · CIN / KCR
CIN · Jim Bowden +$34.4M
Jon Nunnally, Chris Stynes
KCR · Herk Robinson −$34.4M
Héctor Carrasco, Scott Service
CIN came out ahead by $34.4M
1997 · TEX / KCR
TEX · Douglas Melvin +$11.2M
Tom Goodwin
KCR · Herk Robinson −$11.2M
Dean Palmer
TEX came out ahead by $11.2M

Current & Historical Payroll

1997 payroll
$34.9M

What the front office was committed to as of 1997, 1997–2003. Pre-2015 has no contract-terms data — forward italic $ are realized actuals (hindsight, not commitments known then). Control labels (ARB/FA) are point-in-time.

current $ guaranteed $ actual $ (hindsight) arbitration (proj) pre-arb (proj) free agent

Guaranteed / signed (22)

PlayerAgeSvc1997199819992000200120022003
Jay Bell3111.000$5.0MFREE AGENT
Kevin Appier298.000$4.8M$4.8M$3.1MFREE AGENT$9.5M
Chili Davis3716.000$3.8MFREE AGENT
Jeff King328.000$2.5M$4.0M$4.0MFREE AGENT
Tim Belcher3510.000$2.3M$2.3MFREE AGENT
Jeff Montgomery3510.000$2.3M$2.8M$2.5MFREE AGENT
Chris Haney286.000$1.7M$1.6MFREE AGENT
Dean Palmer288.000$1.6M$5.8MFREE AGENT
Jose Offerman287.000$1.6M$2.0MFREE AGENT
Bip Roberts3311.000$1.6MFREE AGENT
Mike Macfarlane3310.000$888k$698kFREE AGENT
David Howard306.000$762kFREE AGENT
Tom Goodwin286.000$679kFREE AGENT
Scott Cooper297.000$375kFREE AGENT
Gregg Olson309.000$302kFREE AGENT
Ricky Bones286.000$277k$400kFREE AGENT
Larry Casian317.000$255kFREE AGENT
Randy Veres318.000$185kFREE AGENT
Tim Spehr306.000$177k$187k$330kFREE AGENT
Mike Perez327.000—FREE AGENT
Scott Service309.000—$230k$745kFREE AGENT
Mitch Williams3211.000—FREE AGENT

Arbitration-eligible (6)

PlayerAgeSvc1997199819992000200120022003
Hipolito Pichardo275.000$780kFREE AGENT
Craig Paquette284.000$340kARB 3FREE AGENT
Hector Carrasco273.000$238kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jason Jacome263.000$55kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jim Converse254.000—ARB 3FREE AGENT
Mike Williams285.000—FREE AGENT

Pre-arbitration (23)

PlayerAgeSvc1997199819992000200120022003
Johnny Damon232.000$240kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Joe Vitiello272.000$210kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
José Rosado221.000$200kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jermaine Dye231.000$175kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Mike Sweeney232.000$175kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Rod Myers241.000$155kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Brian Bevil251.000$150kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Yamil Benitez242.000$150kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jamie Walker250.000$150kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jed Hansen240.000$150kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Shane Halter270.000$150kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Larry Sutton270.000$150kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Glendon Rusch220.000$150kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Matt Whisenant260.000$124kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jon Nunnally252.000$32kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Roland DeLaMaza25–—
Sal Fasano251.000—Pre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Ryan Long24–—
Felix Martinez230.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Allen McDill250.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jim Pittsley232.000—ARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jose Santiago220.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Andy Stewart26–—

Graphs

How each 1997 acquisition stacked onto Royals's playoff-odds curve. The side table is ranked by PPA.

Rosternomics — front-office performance, roster value, and transaction history. Follow @rosternomics on X.
Decision-maker records extend to 1933; resource-controlled WAR and payroll metrics cover 1985–2026. Data sources include FanGraphs, Baseball-Reference, the Chadwick Bureau register, the Lahman Database, prospect rankings from Baseball America, MLB Pipeline, and FanGraphs, and public payroll records. Transaction and trade data was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by Retrosheet. Executive birth/death data via Wikidata (CC0).
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