Many Royals rumors suggest the team is trying to upgrade the offense. Wily Mo Pena could be a cheap solution for the Kansas City Royals need for a right-handed power bat.

The soon-to-be 33 year old Pena has not played in the major leagues since 2011. The first baseman and designated hitter Pena has spent the last 3 seasons in Japan where he has both become a feared power hitter and has reduced his strikeouts. He even played 30 games in the outfield.

In three Japanese seasons, Pena has hit a solid .262/.339/.464 with 54 home runs despite missing most of 2013 with an injury. Pena indicated he is seeking a major league deal, and the Twins are said to be interested according to Pioneer Press (St. Paul) writer Mike Berardino.

Wily Mo Pena, slugging 1B-OF, has been declared an international free agent after ending talks w/Orix club in Japan, source says. — Mike Berardino (@MikeBerardino) November 22, 2014

Pena hit .255/.355/.486 with 32 home runs for the Orix Buffaloes in Japan in 2014. He has also reduced his strikeouts to 124 in 572 plate appearances to go with 59 walks.

Clearly, Pena’s walk and strikeout rates have improved from his major-league rates of 6.0% and 30.3%.

Pena’s best major league season came with the Reds in 2006, when he hit .259/.319/.527 with 26 home runs in only 364 plate appearances. However, Pena’s lack of plate discipline and high strikeout rates limited him even in the high run scoring environment of the last decade.

While Pena is not going to be Kansas City’s first choice to upgrade their offense, he could be a cheap solution if general manager Dayton Moore decides to indulge in an expensive pitching solution, or stretch his free-agent dollars to add an extra offensive lottery ticket in Pena after also adding an outfield bat.

The Royals interest will largely depend on Pena’s asking price and their other, higher priority signings. Pena, however, could be useful in the current power-starved environment in major-league baseball.