What are you referencing with your 18/yr question? Where does that figure come from?

After reading the Mets forum, Bob Dole figured he was already on our payroll.

Gordon can be had for 5/$75 & Zobrist for 4/$50.

Can the Royals afford that?

How about Colby Rasmus?

Rasmus:
Low-priced dingers, with extra potential attached. When Rasmus is right, he looks like the power demon he was in the postseason.

The Astros were glad they scooped him up. His next team probably will be, too, unless we're talking a four or five-year deal.

I don't think we could get them at that price. However, we would easily be able to afford both at that price and would do it in an instant.

I am on board with Dyson and Orlando in RF. They don't cost too much and the combination of those two is definitely serviceable. You also basically know what you are going to get from them. Their style of play works so well here.

I saw Dexter Fowler mentioned as well. His defense kind of sort of sucks and he strikes out a bit too much. He is not our kind of player. No thanks.

That's to be expected on declining Rios' and Guthrie's options.

Rios was projected to be paid $12,000,000 - buyout of $1,500,000 = $10,500,000 saved.
Guts was projected to be paid $10,000,000 - buyout of $3,200,000 = $6,800,000 saved.

Royals saved $17,300,000 by declining their options, only paying off $4,700,000 of their buyout.

Gotta pay for our success too...all our arbitration guys figure to get hefty increases.

Alex Gordon has declined his player option, and is now a free agent

PAY THE MAN DAVID

Hope he comes back. He's been around for so long that I like the idea of having a career Royal.

That's the strange thing about being in the World Series. The season ends and bam, right into free agency. No time to decompress from the season. Most everyone else has been waiting a month.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ben Zobrist tells me: “Gordo is their top priority and he should be. He is the face of the franchise. But we would love to come back, too.&quot;</p>&mdash; Jeffrey Flanagan (@FlannyMLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/FlannyMLB/status/662067968008826880">November 5, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Yeah, kind of crazy how quickly it turns back to business.... but, usually in these parts the offseason changes can't come quick enough.