Royals Rumblings - News for January 29, 2016

Royals Rumblings - News for January 29, 2016

Craig Brown at Royals Authority gives his thoughts on the backloaded Ian Kennedy deal.

It’s still a ways off, but this feels like a trap contract. Kennedy will be in his age 32 season in 2017. It’s possible he does well enough and pitchers salaries escalate to the point where it would make sense for him to walk away from $49 million covering his age 33 to 35 seasons, but there’s a real risk here. If Kennedy stumbles at any point in the next two seasons… If he suffers an injury… That big money looks like a potential albatross. ...

You may think I’m down on this signing, but I’m not. Not really. I think there’s a strong chance Kennedy rebounds and delivers a couple of decent seasons for the Royals. In fact, I’d take his Steamer projection of 2.0 fWAR and tack on at least another win. We’ve discussed this before, but I fully expect his home run rate to normalize and for Kennedy to benefit with a real outfield defense behind him for 30-plus starts. Call it the Volquez Effect. And if Kennedy can hit that fWAR, he’s already paid for his first two seasons with that kind of value. At $7.5 million, the Royals are paying him as a sub 1.0 fWAR starter.

Our sister fantasy baseball site, Fake Teams, previews the 2016 Royals.

Alex Gordon is a tough player to value in fantasy. He is consistent, but doesn't dominate in any category and is just above average in a few categories. He fades into the background like beige walls. He was #90 on ESPN's 2015 OF player rater, but he missed lots of time and just didn't rack up the counting stats. In a healthy 2014 season, he finished at #27. The more I look at his 2014 stats, the more I think that would be my prediction for his 2016, so you should value him based on those numbers and a rank of about 27 among outfielders.

The Royals have high hopes for Raul Mondesi.

One of the fun internal debates #Royals are having is whether Raul Mondesi projects as a leadoff hitter or No. 3 hitter in the big leagues.

— Jeffrey Flanagan (@FlannyMLB) January 28, 2016

Sam Miller and Ben Lindbergh at Baseball Prospectus discuss a Salvador Perez contract extension on the Effectively Wild podcast.

The Royals announced team awards to Lorenzo Cain (Les Milgram Player of the Year), Wade Davis (Bruce Rice Pitcher of the Year) and split the Joe Burke Special Achievement Award between Ben Zobrist, Alcides Escobar, and Mike Moustakas.

FanFest begins today at Bartle Hall downtown, here's what you need to know.

The Royals' new spring training caps are a hit.

Chris Young makes Richard Justice's all 35-and-over team.

The World Series trophy is going on tour around the Midwest.

In a fanpost, Mas Cervezas looks at what the Royals should do next this off-season.

The Rockies deal outfielder Corey Dickerson to the Rays.

The Astros sign pitcher Doug Fister to a one-year deal.

How is the rise of the opt-out clause screwing up free agency?

What are the ten best under-the-radar pickups this off-season?

What would be the worst possible entrance songs for relievers?

Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is getting a reality dating show on E!

Quarterback Matty Mauk has been dismissed from the Mizzou football team after a video emerged on Twitter showing him doing cocaine.

Radio host Mike "Mad Dog" Russo loses it.

NHL player John Scott talks about the experience of fans voting him into the All-Star Game and how the NHL tried to get him out of it.

The FCC wants to get rid of your cable box.

Barbie is now making "curvy", "tall", and "pettite" dolls (h/t Gross(est))

Animals don't have chins, so why do we?

Your song of the day is Katrina and the Waves with "Walkin' on Sunshine."