The Hot Stove is slowly heating up, with free agents picking new destinations. The Royals have already signed a few free agents, notably Billy Hamilton and Chris Owings, although they are not expected to be particularly active in the market this winter.
The Royals have not historically signed a lot of free agents. From the advent of free agency in 1976 until the signing of catcher Bob Boone in 1989, the Royals signed just one player through Major League free agency - utility infielder Jerry Terrell. But it was not from a lack of trying as Ewing Kauffman tried unsuccessfully to lure stars like Pete Rose, Carlton Fisk, and Joe Carter to Kansas City.