Royals DFA Veteran Speedster Billy Hamilton

Billy Hamilton used to be one of baseball's most feared baserunners during his heyday with the Cincinnati Reds. The outfielder would consistently eclipse the 50-steal threshold, and was always a threat to turn a double into a triple.

Well, in order to be an effective baserunner, you need to get on base. And that's something Hamilton just hasn't been able to do over the past few seasons. The Royals took a chance on the 28-year-old this offseason, but his woes continued.

After 93 games in KC, the Royals have cut bait with the speedster, designating him for assignment on Friday.

Hamilton, for the third straight year, has posted a sub-.300 on-base percentage, slashing .211/.275/.269 across 305 plate appearances in 2019. He's stolen 18 bases out of 23 attempts, but the added value on the base paths simply wasn't enough production.

In a corresponding move, the Royals promoted Brett Phillips from Triple-A Omaha. The outfielder will act as Hamilton's replacement, getting his first taste of MLB action since September of last season.

It'll be interesting to see if anyone takes a chance on Hamilton, as many teams may be intrigued by his pace. He could possibly latch on as a pinch running option for contending teams, though he'll likely clear waivers before finding a new home.