Royals reportedly made three-year offer to free agent Anthony Santander

They also pursued free agent Jurickson Profar.

Despite having the third-worst offense from an outfield last year, the Royals have yet to acquire an outfielder this off-season. But they haven’t been completely sitting on their hands, according to a recent report from Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic. He writes that as free agent slugger Anthony Santander was waiting on a slow-moving market, the Royals made a three-year offer.

The Kansas City Royals made Santander a three-year offer and increased it to $66 million, according to sources briefed on the talks. But by the time they presented Santander with their enhanced proposal, which included an opt-out after the second year and deferrals that were still being negotiated, he had committed to the Blue Jays.

Santander ended up signing a five-year, $92.5 million deal with Toronto, but with significant deferrals that put the net present value closer to $70 million. The 30-year-old hit .235/.308/.506 with 44 home runs for the Orioles last year, earning his first All-Star appearance.

Rosenthal writes the Royals had concerns about Santander’s ability to play the field in the later years of the contract. Santander was below-average defensively in right field last year. Had the Royals signed Santander, he writes they would have had a platoon in the other corner outfield spot with Hunter Renfroe and MJ Melendez.

The Royals also reportedly pursued free agent outfielder Jurickson Profar, but would not commit to a third year. The 31-year-old hit .280/.380/.459 with 24 home runs last year with the Padres, earning his first All-Star appearance. He ultimately signed a three-year, $42 million deal with the Braves.

Both Santander and Profar had spotty track records with a career year before hitting free agency, so the hesitancy to commit to either is understandable. Back in December, Picollo lamented that the price for free agency was quite high, insisting they would wait out the market to see if salary demands would drop.

Upon missing out on the two biggest free agent outfielders remaining, the Royals pivoted to addressing the bullpen, signing All-Star reliever Carlos Estévez to a two-year, $22.2 million deal.

As for the outfield, the Royals have insisted they will try some of their infielders in the outfield, to increase positional versatility. General Manager J.J. Picollo has mentioned that Michael Massey and newly acquired Jonathan India will both try the outfield in spring training. Rosenthal reports that Maikel Garcia will spend some time there this spring as well.

The Royals also intend not only to bounce third baseman Maikel Garcia around the infield, but also to play him in center field against left-handers. Kyle Isbel will remain the primary option in center against righties.

At Royals Rally this weekend, Picollo echoed the sentiment that Garcia would get some outfield time in the spring.

The Royals could still add to the outfield, although there are not many remaining options left. Rosenthal reports that the Royals could be looking for a platoon player to enhance the outfield.

An additional move for a right-handed hitting free-agent outfielder such as Randal Grichuk or Adam Duvall is not out of the question, but the team is unlikely to make a significant investment in a player who only will be part of a short-side platoon, sources said.

A trade might make more sense, with Garcia, Massey, Alec Marsh, Kris Bubic, and Hunter Harvey possible trade chips, as well as prospects in an improving but still thin farm system. The glacial baseball hot stove has begun to move in the last few weeks as spring training nears, which could spur teams to make trades to round out their rosters.