Fans praise Kansas City Royals owner John Sherman for MLB free-agent spending
The Royals likely will announce Monday that they’ve signed pitcher Michael Wacha to a deal that could pay him as much as $32 million over two seasons.
It’s been a busy offseason for the Royals, as general manager J.J. Picollo restructures the roster following a 106-loss season.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan noted the Royals have spent $105 million on free agents this offseason, the fifth-most of any Major League Baseball team. Royals fans have taken note of the team opening the pocketbook.
Those fans are happy with CEO/chairman John Sherman spending big, even if some think it’s an attempt to generate support for the team’s efforts to build a new stadium.
Here is what Royals fans have been saying about Sherman on X (once known as Twitter) and Reddit.
“What’s the opposite of dread? That’s what I’m starting to feel now,” a fan wrote on Reddit in response to a post with the headline, “Shoutout to Sherman for putting up Money ... to buy some great free agents this year.”
Another shared this: “Hell yeah. Is this….optimism I’m feeling???”
John Sherman opening the checkbook for our @Royals man these signings are great to see! Pitching add ons and Hunter Renfroe!! Wacha just signed!! Let’s go!!! #Royals
— Aaron Bell (@Royals1st) December 15, 2023
People want to criticize John Sherman for the new stadium, but at the end of the day he’s spending money like never done before to put a good product on the field. #Royals
— Logan Mantz (@0Mantz) December 16, 2023
At least John Sherman finally got the message on the needing to win a few games to even get anyone excited about a stadium.
— Local. (@TheSmokingPun) December 15, 2023
“If anybody was listening, this was his plan from the start,” a fan on Reddit wrote. “But I get it! Franchise has a long history of doing the opposite. But if we really want to shoutout the man, maybe it comes along with an apology!”
He's been criticized by some, but for the most part he has been solid. Too the heat last year when he let the kids play so the Royals could see what they had. Now he has evaluated the roster and is trying to build a winner.
— Mike Taylor (@85royal) December 15, 2023
The Royals are actually spending money in the off-season instead of signing washed up veterans again! pic.twitter.com/6gJdlud8ir
— Irrational 1941 Jay (@Irrational41Jay) December 12, 2023
Most excited I’ve been about the Royals in awhile now.
— Aaron (@AaronHohl) December 15, 2023
A fan shared this on Reddit: “It’s really a win-win. These guys could push us up to contention for the division and/or we’ll be able to get more than just warm bodies at the trade deadline to build the farm system back up. I think they saw what they got for Chapman and want more of that type of return.”
The Royals actually spending money in the offseason to try and make the team better pic.twitter.com/z1Dg1xe51Z
— ️ (@kevbo9) December 15, 2023
I take back all the slander
( for now )— kristen “ 105 milly”b (@KristenParlay23) December 15, 2023
I think the Royals are trying to compete this year. Props to John Sherman for spending the money.
— Royals Hive (@Royals_hive) December 15, 2023