This will be the most interesting off-season in Royals' history. So many key players are eligible for arbitration. The KCR will not pick up Billy's $12.5 million option--but will they bring him back for less $, which Billy clearly indicates he's willing to do? Will they pick up Luke? Too many uncertainties there with Luke's TMJ surgery, so I don't think they will. And so many players are arb-eligible, who will cost the Royals' a lot of money to keep.
Bottom line? They search for a big bat, and that's it. And they decline on on Downs, Ibanez (the Yanks are talking to hm as their hitting coach). No reason to keep Downs. Release Kratz because they have Pena in the pipeline and just traded for another backup catcher.