Weekend Rumblings - News for July 30, 2016
Sam Mellinger thinks the Royals should consider tanking soon.
After next season, Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Wade Davis, Lorenzo Cain, Alcides Escobar and Danny Duffy are among those scheduled to be free agents. With the exception of Escobar, all figure to be worth a compensation pick at the end of the first round.
That will cut both the team’s payroll and talent, though the most effective way back to contention will not be chasing the quick fixes of free agency. The Royals, like most teams in baseball, are proof that free-agent contracts are woefully inefficient and best made to patch up a final hole or two rather than to build the road.
This is amplified by the fact that even if a free agent proves worth the money, he would then diminish the Royals’ ability to build back up through the farm system.
In fact, if the Royals want to really embrace the hit-rock-bottom plan after next season, they could field offers for Sal Perez, Alex Gordon and Yordano Ventura. If he stays at catcher, Perez could be one of the game’s most valuable potential trade assets, considering his age, position and contract.
That would be extreme, and even in a rebuilding phase each of those players would still be valuable for the Royals.
Jim Bowden at ESPN (INSIDER) lists four trades he’d like to see.
2. Kansas City Royals trade RHP Wade Davis to the Washington Nationals in exchange for RHP Reynaldo Lopez and RHP Koda Glover
The Nationals shouldn’t include Lucas Giolito in a trade under any circumstances, but they can’t let their other top pitching prospects stand in the way of making a deal of this magnitude. Whether it’s Erick Fedde or Lopez, they’re going to have to give up at least one of their top young arms. In addition, it’s going to take a second pitcher to make a deal work, and Glover is a bullpen arm that everyone who talks to the Nationals asks for.
Wade Davis shrugs off the trade rumors.
"People talk about it, even the players do," Davis said. "But we play baseball for our teammates and for our families, and because we love baseball.
"I'm sure teams talk about players and trades all year long, but it just gets emphasized here over the next four days. It's just a lot of hype."
Richard Justice at MLB.com thinks the Royals have a tough choice whether to be buyers or sellers.
MLB denies the Angels’ protest over Thursday night’s game against the Royals.
Meg Rowley at Baseball Prospectus tries to break down the entire 12-minute game stoppage from that game to understand what is going on.
Clint Scoles at Baseball Prospectus Kansas City has his Royals midseason top ten prospect list with an interesting name at the top.
A Royals fan recounts his once-in-a-lifetime visit to the White House to see the Royals.
USA Today ranks the Royals as the most likable team, while the Cardinals are least-likable.
Former Royals infielder Carlos Febles, now a manager in the Red Sox organization, will manage Royals prospects in the Arizona Fall League.
Paul Hagen at MLB.com breaks down all 30 MLB General Managers.
Fangraphs talks to players on what it is like to get traded, including Mike Aviles getting dealt from Kansas City.
The Padres are taking advantage of a seller’s market.
What’s a fair price for Chris Sale?
Mike Trout impersonates David Ortiz.
No criminal fraud charges will be filed against Curt Schilling’s video game company.
The bankruptcy of The Sports Authority has spooked the retail industry.
PlayStation is making up most of Sony’s profits lately.
Everyone is flipping out about this 20 year old video of people doing the Macarena at the 1996 Democratic National Convention.
Your song of the day is Hank Mobley with "No Room for Squares."