When the KC Royals signed Ian Kennedy to a five-year, $70 million contract ahead of the 2016 season, the envisioned getting the version that posted a 74-64 record between 2010-2015. They ended up getting a less-than-ideal Kennedy as he went over the age-30 hill. The former 21-game winner from 2011 with the Arizona Diamondbacks is long gone, but he found new life in 2019.
After back-to-back disappointing seasons in the starting rotation, Kennedy was moved to the closer role in 2019. Recording 30 saves and posting a 3.41 ERA in 63 games last year, he experienced his best campaign in years.