The Royals have had a mixed offseason, with the surprisingly inexpensive (in relative terms) deal to bring Alex Gordon back and a good buy-low deal with Dillon Gee on one side and the huge deal with declining Joakim Soria on the other. The reigning World Series champs certainly have money to spend, and they still had a need for some bulk innings in a rotation filled with potential but light on pitchers who are solid bets to throw 180 innings.

But Ian Kennedy's contract is way beyond a rational projection of his performance, giving $14 million a year to a chronically homer-prone pitcher who's performed like a fifth starter in two of the last three seasons.