Ian Kennedy Signs With Kansas City: Fantasy Fallout
By Bill Pivetz
The Kansas City Royals finally made a move to upgrade their rotation by signing Ian Kennedy. He had a shaky 2015, but 2016 will be a better season.
The 2015 World Series champions had a quiet winter, especially when it comes to upgrading their rotation. The team’s 4.34 rotation ERA was fourth-worst in the American League, so if they want to repeat, they needed a new starting pitcher. While his 2015 was a little rocky, Ian Kennedy joining the Royals will help his fantasy value for this season.
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After a couple of years with the New York Yankees, Kennedy spent three and a half seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks. In those years, he had a 3.82 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 7.9 K/9 and a 48-34 record. He was then traded to the San Diego Padres in the middle of the 2013 season. In two and a half seasons, he had a 3.97 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 9.2 K/9 and 26-30 record. This past season was particularly rough for Kennedy.
He went 9-15 with a 4.28 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 9.3 K/9 in 168.1 innings. He finished No. 70 among starting pitchers and No. 269 overall on the Player Rater. He was drafted as a top-50 starting pitcher with a 168.0 ADP (17th round), so the end result was a little disappointing.
Looking into the performance, Ian Kennedy posted some good numbers. His K/9 went up 0.3 points, BB/9 dropped 0.35 points, but his HR/9 skyrocketed. He allowed 31 home runs in 2015, almost double of the amount allowed in 2014 in 32 fewer innings. He allowed 1.66 HR/9 compared to 0.72 in 2014.
Overall, Petco Park is not that much of a hitter’s park. It ranked 20th in runs and 16th in hits, but 10th in home runs. Ian Kennedy allowed 19 home runs and a 4.43 ERA in 85.1 innings at home. Luckily for Kennedy, he moves to a park that is a little more pitcher-friendly and joins a team with an excellent defending outfield corps. The Royals outfielders ranked second in WAR and runs allowed per game. It also helps that the team brought back Alex Gordon, who had a 1.000 fielding percentage last season.
Ian Kennedy is not the superstar free agent that every team was trying to sign. Though, he is an upgrade to the Royals rotation compared to who they actually have. The American League Central was a decent-hitting division, so Kennedy may get rocked in a start or two, but I think he’ll have more value this season compared to his time with San Diego.
Projections: 10-11, 3.90 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 164 strikeouts
Draft: Round 14