Royals Rumblings

Royals Rumblings - News for December 17, 2015

We would like to offer a five-year deal for Alex Gordon to write for us.

By Max Rieper@maxrieper Dec 17, 2015, 8:00am EST

Royals Rumblings - News for December 17, 2015

Craig Brown at Royals Authority tries to sort out the free agent pitching market for the Royals.

So – and remember this is just a broad look – I’d probably go for Chen at the top of the group. He’s been fairly consistent his four years in the league and his fly ball tendencies would play better in KC. But he’s going to cost the most. I’d stay away from Gallardo who has seen his strikeout rate decline, along with his fastball velocity, over the last couple of seasons. Now, having said all that, if you could get Kazmir on a three year deal, that’s where I’d go. Aaaarghhh. Decisions, decisions.

Darin Watson at Pine Tar Press wonders which current Royals will end up in the franchise Hall of Fame.

One player I don’t see making it in is Alcides Escobar. He too is a free agent after 2017, assuming the Royals use their team option on him for the 2017 year. Yet he’s only 48th on the career WAR list, and I wonder how much he can add. He’s had three nice seasons (3.4, 2.7, and 2.5 WAR), and two lousy ones (0.3 and 0.6). Even two years that match his best one are only going to get him to around 30th place. On the plus side, he’ll likely finish 2017 in the top 10 in career hits. He’s already 10th in career stolen bases. And he can certainly point to his defense and the "key part of two World Series teams" argument. In my mind, he falls just short, but if he sticks around beyond 2017, I could change my mind.

The Angels could still be pursuing Alex Gordon.

Not ruling out Cespedes/Upton for #Angels, but MGR Mike Scioscia told me yesterday that strong preference is to add LH bat in LF.
— Mike DiGiovanna (@MikeDiGiovanna) December 16, 2015

The White Sox pick up Reds slugger Todd Frazier in a three-team trade with the Reds and Dodgers. The Royals were in on him.

The #Whitesox beat out #Indians and #Royals who also wanted Frazier
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 16, 2015

Andy McCullough lists his five favorite Royals stories from 2015.

Royals fans are ranked the 14th-least miserable fan base in MLB.

In his latest podcast, Clubhouse Conversation talks to Royals World Series hero Dane Iorg.

You can visit Santa Sluggerrr this weekend.

Make it a Blue Holiday! Visit the Team Store this weekend for special deals & to see Santa @Sluggerrr on Saturday! pic.twitter.com/NZMGXpcHR2
— Royals (@Royals) December 14, 2015

The Indians land first baseman Mike Napoli and outfielder Rajai Davis on one-year deals.

Mike Bates of MLB Daily Dish writes about the evolving importance of bullpens.

Eno Sarris at Fangraphs presents a different way of looking at sliders.

Does the Hall of Fame have a bullpen problem?

Jonathan Papelbon does not list the Royals among the 17 teams on his no-trade list.

The long history of the stirrup sock in baseball.

Thursday Night Football may stream online next year .

Wisconsin basketball coach Bo Ryan abruptly retires mid-season.

NBA player Gilbert Arenas think WNBA players should wear less clothing.

The U.S. Figure Skating championships are coming to Kansas City.

Now it is anti-depressants that are being falsely accused of causing autism.

Nevada is building an airport for drones.