Royals Rumblings - News for November 22, 2016

Royals Rumblings - News for November 22, 2016

David Lesky at Baseball Prospectus Kansas City argues that doing nothing is not an option for the Royals.

Moves need to happen. The Royals can’t go into the 2017 season with the same cast and crew as they did in 2016. They need another starter. They probably need a second baseman (though don’t ask me where they find that this winter). They could use an outfielder. They could probably use two or three relievers, and that’s before trading Davis. There are quite a few needs with this team.

They were an 81-win team in 2016. I think you add in some injured players and hope for bounce back years from Alex Gordon and Hosmer (please don’t try to tell me he had a good season because of the home run and RBI totals). If I had to give you a 2017 win total based on the current roster, I’d say they’re somewhere between a 78-win team and an 86-win team. I know the free agent market is almost comical in its shallowness, but Moore needs to be creative and take some sort of action this winter.

At ESPN Insider, Jim Bowden looks at what each team is planning to do this off-season.

The Royals are hoping to make one more run at a World Series and are going to try to keep the team intact at least until the July trade deadline, then reassess based on the standings. However, they have to be realistic because Eric Hosmer, Alcides Escobar, Moustakas, Lorenzo Cain and Wade Davis are all free agents after next year. If the Royals don't tie them up this offseason, they can't risk losing all of them next year, even if they get back to the postseason. Therefore, I'm looking for either major contract extensions for a few of these players or industry-surprising trades even if they deny it. Going for it all next year and then losing most of their nucleus would mean the Royals wouldn't be contenders again for a long time, and that would just be bad baseball business.

Cheslor Cuthbert has felt good at second base while playing in Nicaragua this off-season.

"I felt good at second base," Cuthbert said after Sunday’s game, according to Nicaraguan publication El Nuevo Diario. "Let's see how it goes."

The Royals release more details about FanFest in January.

A Royals fan writes about the treat of taking batting practice at the K.

Ken Rosenthal thinks Mike Trout is not the face of baseball because of his market.

Jeff Sullivan at Fangraphs argues there is nothing weird about Brett Cecil’s contract.

Baseball America takes a look at some of the best players available for the Rule 5 draft.

Albert Belle has mellowed out since his playing days.

Rangers prospects are under investigation for sexually assaulting a teammate in a hazing ritual.

The Cardinals designate former Royals catcher Brayan Pena for assignment.

Former Negro League Museum director Don Motley passed away last week.

An analytical look at minor league free agents.

Tony Romo is looking at Denver as a landing spot.

Is Bruce Arena the right man to replace Jurgen Klinsman as coach of the US Men’s National Team?

Sexism may be bad for men’s mental health.

Kanye West cancels the rest of his tour after abruptly ending a show.

The best Westworld fan theories.

Your song of the day is Foo Fighters with The Pretender.