Royals Rumblings - News for October 27, 2016

Royals.com beat writer Jeffrey Flanagan reports that Kyle Zimmer’s thoracic outlet syndrome surgery has been a success:

Royals right-hander Kyle Zimmer, the organization's No. 5 prospectaccording to MLB Pipeline, recently completed a four-week throwing program as protocol following thoracic outlet syndrome surgery last summer.

Royals assistant general manager J.J. Picollo reported all systems were go for Zimmer, 24.

"He's back home in San Diego and getting ready for his normal offseason with training and conditioning," Picollo told MLB.com. "So everything looks good on that end."

It’ll only be days before some other injury befalls him.

At BP Kansas City, David Lesky tries to see how the Royals’ pen could be built on the cheap:

The first one who comes to mind is a former Royal who hasn’t thrown a pitch for anyone since his last with Kansas City, and that’s Greg Holland. You remember Greg, right? He’s the guy who from 2011-2014 threw 256.1 innings with a 1.86 ERA and struck out about four times as many batters as he walked. He also 113 out of 124 saves, and even that number is a little misleading because a few of those blown saves were before he was closer.

Anyway, he’ll be 18 months out of Tommy John surgery when the 2017 season opens up, which is pretty much the perfect recovery time. If the Royals are trading Davis, they would do well to bring back a potential closer in a high-quality arm like Holland’s. I’m thinking a two-year deal with a mutual option, so maybe two years, $11 million with a third year mutual option for $11 million and a $3 million buyout. Go $3 million in 2017 and now we’re at $22.75 million for five pitchers.

But still, we need to find cheaper options for the final two spots. For my money (and I guess ownership’s money too), I’ll take Brian Flynn for a middle relief role. He posted a 2.60 ERA in 55.1 innings, but that ERA was misleading as he had one disaster start when the Royals had a need. He had a 2.21 ERA in 35 relief outings, but what I like about him so much is his ability to go multiple innings. He gave up just 34 hits in 53 relief innings. No, he’s not dominant, but he’d be one of the best fifth or sixth relievers in baseball.

Clint Scoles reminisces about seeing Francisco Lindor as a prospect:

The sun would stay out that day, which justified another writer’s use of his Fedora in front of me. I noted the Royals prospects as usual as Trapp had a strong day, hitting a home run while driving in six to help give Kane County a lead late until the Lake County bats erupted in the eighth inning. It was Luigi Rodriguez and Bryson Myles that stood out the most that day for the Indians young and speedy roster, both showing off their athleticism and aggressiveness, stealing bases off Jin-Ho Shin at will and aggressively turning in extra bases. Despite all those players having solid games, it was Lindor who went about his business and flashed what one day would become a superior talent.

The young shortstop hit his first minor league home run that afternoon, a blast to right off big and physical Michael Giovenco that cleared the two tiered right field fence a close to 400 foot home run, if I was to guess. A surprising turn of events after a few less than spectacular plate appearances that up to that point had featured just a walk and a stolen base. It shocked me so much that I didn’t even get video of it after watching his batting practice and first few at bats. Still, it was what the veteran scouts and this still virgin eyed one had come to see; a future stud flashing a bit of everything. That afternoon in just three hours, he had showed off the ridiculous talent in the field, the speed on the bases and a little bit of pop.

Why didn’t Royals’ season ticket holder and Cleveland Racists’ minority owner John Sherman sell all of Cleveland’s best pieces to the Royals?

John Viril posits that the Royals’ non-tender decisions may tip Dayton Moore’s hand in regards to whether the budget for 2017 will get slashed.

The Hardball Times’ Jack Moore wonders from whence the next Willie Hernandez will come.

Get to know Kansas City’s very own lightrail Don Quixote, Clay Chastain.

The world’s wild animal population is on track for shockingly low levels by 2020.

Man Booker winner Paul Beatty was turned down 18 times in trying to get the award-winning book The Sellout published.

Bryan Fuller is stepping down as showrunner on Star Trek: Discovery.

But seriously, what happened to those 100 brains?

Matthew Weiner’s next project has been ordered to series by Amazon.

The song of the day (with a delightful video) is “Because I’m Me” by The Avalanches.