Chicago Cubs: Breaking down LCS teams and their payroll

Oct 14, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher

reacts after retiring the Houston Astros in the 8th inning in game five of the ALDS at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Kansas City Royals – $125,375,000

Cost Per Win: $1,319,736

After reaching the World Series last season, only to run into the buzzsaw that was Madison Bumgarner, Dayton Moore and the Royals front office went back to work this year with one goal in-mind: win it all.

They parted ways over the winter with fan favorite Billy Butler, opting to bring in pieces such as Kendrys Morales and Alex Rios – moves that were somewhat criticized at the time. At the Trade Deadline, the Royals made a huge splash, trading for Cincinnati Reds ace Johnny Cueto to bolster the starting rotation.

Rios was hardly an impact bat, driving in just 32 runs for KC, but he earned more than every other Royals player not named Alex Gordon. The Kansas City outfielder, who is set to hit free agency after the 2015 campaign, earned $16 million this year – putting up an .809 OPS, his best mark since the 2012 season.

Set to square off with the powerful Toronto Blue Jays offense, the Royals will have their hands full; their success will likely be decided by how Cueto and Yordano Ventura perform in the ALCS, which seems to be a feast-or-famine outcome too often for most fans’ liking.

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