Royals Rumblings - News for November 29, 2016

Royals Rumblings - News for November 29, 2016

Jeffrey Flanagan previews what the Royals may do at the Winter Meetings.

Translated: The Royals are going to have their ears wide open at the Winter Meetings for possible trades that could reduce payroll.

"But we're only going to make deals that help us immediately and into the future," Moore said.

That means the Royals very well could trade someone like Davis, one of the game's elite closers. And that's the tricky part: Moore's No. 1 priority this offseason is to restore the Royals' bullpen to shutdown status, which it wasn't in 2016. And that will be hard to do if the GM trades his best bullpen piece....

It all depends on what type of value Moore can get from the trade market. That is why he likely will listen, at least, to all trade proposals. There are no untouchables.

Anthony Castrovince at Sports on Earth would like to see some players reunite with their old clubs, including Carlos Beltran.

So now the Royals' de facto DH is… Cheslor Cuthbert? We'll see.

The Royals say they simply don't have much (any?) money to spend after extending themselves for '16 in the hope of postseason revenues that never arrived. But the market is loaded with DH slugger types, and Beltran will turn 40 next year, which could potentially limit him to a one-year deal. The Royals' window to win might narrow considerably after '17, when Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Wade Davis, Lorenzo Cain and Danny Duffy are all eligible for free agency, so a one-year splurge on Beltran, who could make the occasional starts spelling Paulo Orlando or Jarrod Dyson in right field, makes sense.

The Rangers could re-sign Beltran, and a reunion with either the Yankees or Astros is also possible, but it's hard not to love the idea of Beltran going back to where his potentially Hall-worthy career began.

ESPN’s Jim Bowden has some wacky trade ideas.

Royals get 2B Kolten Wong, CF Tommy Pham and RHP Sandy Alcantara.

Cardinals get CF Lorenzo Cain.

Why it works For the Royals: Cain is a free agent after this coming season, and if the Royals can’t sign him to a long-term contract, they should consider moving him now since they’re in the same boat with several of his teammates, including Eric Hosmer, Alcides Escobar, Mike Moustakas and Wade Davis.

In return, the Royals would get Wong, who they could immediately put in center field for this year and then move to second base for the long term next year if they don’t re-sign Escobar, moving Raul Mondesi to shortstop for 2018. Wong had a down year last season, but he profiles as a .330 OBP hitter with 12-homer power and 20-steal capability.

The best part for the Royals is that he’s signed through 2021. Pham, 28, has battled injuries but still has the tools to be a solid fourth outfielder who can play all three positions and provides everyday protection for injuries. Alcantara is a 6-foot-4, 180-pound power right-hander with good downward plane and late life. If his command and control comes, the Royals could hit it big here -- he’s a high-risk, high-reward arm.

Lee Judge looks at whether Cheslor Cuthbert can transition to second base.

Everything you need to know about a ballplayer is right there on display; you just have to know what to look for. Once you know where to look you can see which guys are afraid and which guys have guts, which guys are bad teammates and which guys are good ones, which guys are protecting their numbers and which guys are putting the team first. To me this is the fun of watching baseball: there are a thousand story lines if you know where to look, but you actually have to watch the games to see them.

You want to know if Cheslor Cuthbert can play second base?

Watch him play.

Team may just skip the Winter Meetings if there is no collective bargaining agreement in place.

Latino players are pushing back against the international draft idea.

There is no rational argument for a work stoppage in baseball.

The 2017 World Baseball Classic might be the last one.

A look at the worst football players who tried playing baseball.

How Donald Trump’s tax plan could affect MLB free agency.

Without Qualifying Offers, MLB free agency could become the freest free agency in sports.

Six teams that could dominate shopping this off-season.

Here are some bowl projections, and what should be done about the Big Ten?

The strange case of a serial high school track and field cheater.

Sling will unveil a cloud-based DVR.

NASA is looking for your help in dealing with their space poop problem.

Twin Peaks is back - in Lego minifigure form!

Your song of the day is Joe Jackson with Steppin’ Out.