KC Royals DFA 7-Year Veteran ; Eat $15M In Guaranteed Money

After seven seasons with the Kansas City Royals — and consistently waning production over the past four years — the team has decided to cut ties with infielder/outfielder Hunter Dozier. 

The Royals have DFA'd Hunter Dozier pic.twitter.com/yMyCCU5f6s

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) May 22, 2023

The Royals have designated Dozier for assignment, with just over half of his 4-year, backloaded $25M guaranteed contract having played out. They'll have to eat the last $15M or so. 

The 31-year-old was the 8th overall pick in the 2013 MLB Draft by the Royals, and after a slow start to his major league career, caught fire in 2019 (when just about everyone in baseball did, incidentally), blasting 26 homers to go along with 84 RBIs, an ML-leading 10 triples, and an .870 OPS. 

But he's been well below average since then, this season posting an untenable OPS+ of 54, while batting .183 in 91 plate appearances with a .558 OPS and just two home runs. 

The Royals will now have a week to either trade Dozier, or, failing a waiver claim which is an impossibility given the money he's owed, release him.

Photo: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports