Offseason Outlook: Kansas City Royals

theScore's baseball editors break down the past year for each team, and look ahead to the offseason.

Free agents: James Shields, Billy Butler, Josh Willingham, Raul Ibanez, Luke Hochevar, Jason Frasor, Blake Wood, Justin Maxwell, Scott Downs, Noel Arguelles

Arbitration-eligible players: Jayson Nix, Greg Holland, Aaron Crow, Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Tim Collins, Jarrod Dyson, Danny Duffy, Lorenzo Cain, Louis Coleman, Kelvin Herrera

2014 payroll: 96,157,514

What went right?

Nearly everything went right for the Royals in 2014. The club advanced to its first postseason and World Series since 1985, sending the city of Kansas City into a frenzy. Strong pitching, the ability to manufacture runs, and a little luck contributed to an incredible October run.

The dominant trio of Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland out of the bullpen is perhaps the biggest reason the club was successful. Herrera and Davis combined for 53 holds and Holland racked up 46 saves during the regular season, but it's the trio's performance in the postseason that was truly memorable. The opposition touched them up for a combined three earned runs in just over 40 innings of work. 

Eric Hosmer and Lorenzo Cain rose to the occasion in October. Hosmer hit a smoking .351 with two home runs and 12 RBIs in the playoffs, while Cain hit .333 with eight RBIs. Cain also dazzled with his glove, making multiple run-saving catches in clutch situations.

What went wrong?

The Royals held a two-game advantage over the Detroit Tigers in early September for the American League Central lead and ultimately slid back into a dreaded wild-card spot. The Royals found themselves in a 7-3 hole after six innings to the Oakland Athletics in the AL wild-card game, but rallied to prevail 9-8 in 12 frames. The season would have been looked upon as a huge disappointment if it wasn't for the dramatic comeback.

Perhaps the only knock against the Royals last season may have been their lack of ability to hit the long ball. Kansas City hitters combined to blast only 95 home runs - the worst mark in the majors. Alex Gordon led the squad with 19 homers and 74 RBIs - not the kind of production you'd expect from a top bat. The Royals did, however, lead the bigs with 153 stolen bases, and averaged 4.02 runs per game (14th) despite the lack of power.

Offseason needs

Replacement ace

James Shields is now a free agent, leaving a huge hole at the front of the team's rotation. The Royals likely can't afford to pay Big Game James the money he's looking for on the open market, and will need to seek more affordable options to replace him.

Top Targets

• Francisco Liriano - The southpaw posted a 3.38 ERA in 29 starts for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

• Ervin Santana - The righty went 14-10 with a 3.95 ERA for the Atlanta Braves and is no stranger to pitching in the AL.

Outfielder/designated hitter

The departure of Billy Butler to Oakland and the loss of Nori Aoki to free agency has left a few holes. Acquiring a hitter capable of hitting 20 home runs that won't break the bank is something this team desperately needs.

Top Targets

• Melky Cabrera - Luring him back to Kansas City could stretch their purse strings, but the Royals have to be interested in his .301 average and 16 home runs.

• Torii Hunter - The 39-year-old's best days are behind him, but he proved last year he can still hit and field with the best of them.

Impact prospect

Raul Mondesi - The shortstop is the team's top-ranked prospect, but he likely needs one more season to be groomed in the minors before getting the call to the bigs. Technically, left-hander Brandon Finnegan is still considered a prospect after tossing only 13 innings last season. The 21-year-old demonstrated his composure during the postseason in high-leverage situations, and will be a huge asset for the team out of the bullpen in 2015.