3 Players That Definitely Won't Be on the Royals Roster Next Season

For the second consecutive season, the Kansas City Royals will lose over 100 games. The team is obviously in a transition, shedding their beloved manager in the process, so expect plenty more changes to happen on this roster. The World Series run is over and it's time move on, completely.

With the winds of change in mind, here are three players that definitely won't be on the Royals roster next season.

3. LHP Danny Duffy

Cleveland Indians v Kansas City Royals / Ed Zurga/Getty Images

Danny Duffy has spent his entire nine-year career in Kansas City, and he's proven to be an on-and-off dominant lefty, but not quite a rotation anchor. He still has two years of control left, and he's proven he can pitch out of the bullpen when times are tough. Don't be surprised if a team picks him up in trade and places him in the back end of their bullpen, as his arm is still electric.

2. RHP Ian Kennedy

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Just like Duffy, Ian Kennedy is still under club control for next season, and with his personal transition to the bullpen complete, Kennedy has been pretty effective as Kansas City's closer. They need to take advantage of that and move him to the highest bidder.

1. OF Alex Gordon

Kansas City Royals v Atlanta Braves / Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images

Alex Gordon has been a staple of this Royals franchise for over a decade, but he hasn't been a league average hitter since 2015. With transitions in mind, why would they pick up Gordon's $23 million option for 2020? On top of that, there's a chance Gordon hangs it up and retires. If that's even a possibility, the Royals should be prepared to cut bait and begin a new era of baseball in Kansas City.