Weekend Rumblings - News for December 23, 2017

Weekend Rumblings - News for December 23, 2017

Alex Duvall at Royals Farm Report has a theory about Eric Hosmer’s free agency.

Here’s my theory: The Boston Red Sox decided that they only had enough money to sign Eric Hosmer OR JD Martinez. They then decided that they would rather have JD Martinez over Eric Hosmer. They signed Mitch Moreland to a two-year deal because he’s played in Boston before and they were comfortable with him in the clubhouse. The hope is that by signing Mitch Moreland, they will threaten Scott Boras with, “We’re not going to pay more than we’re comfortable with for your free agents, we don’t care who they are.” Ideally, Boras will come down on his negotiations for JD Martinez, making him more affordable for the Red Sox who have already proven that they’ll sign someone cheaper if they don’t get a price they’re comfortable with.

David Lesky at Baseball Prospectus Kansas City warns not to overlook Raúl Mondesí.

One thing I’ve been thinking about a lot lately is how hesitant Royals fans are to trust Raul Mondesi at shortstop, which I both completely understand and find hilarious. Show me a player who handled shortstop well in Triple-A and hit .305/.340/.539 in his age-21 season and I’ll show you a prospect who should be considered one of the best in the game. If he had zero big league service time, he’d be one of the most awaited young players in baseball in 2018. Because the Royals inexplicably rushed him to the big leagues in 2016 and then doubled down on their mistake in 2017, he’s no longer prospect eligible and he’s lost some of his shine because he’s actually struggled at the big league level. So now there are questions of if he can actually hit big league pitching and all that. The other reason I find it hilarious is we’ve spent the last seven seasons watching Alcides Escobar hit at a vaguely passable level at times and now we’re all worried about a legitimate top prospect taking over in a season where competing isn’t even really on the table.

Bleacher Report lists Jose Guillen as the biggest Royals free agent bust of the last decade.

Guillen hit 20 home runs with 97 RBI in his first year with Kansas City but managed only nine homers with a .242/.314/.367 slash line the following season.

In 2010, he was traded to the San Francisco Giants and was linked to performance-enhancing drugs.

Add his reputation as a hotheaded clubhouse malcontent, and Guillen's K.C. contract was the opposite of money well spent.

It's possible the four-year, $72 million pact the Royals gave Alex Gordon will be worse in the end, but for now we're giving the ignoble nod to Guillen.

A look at how some Royals have fared in winter league ball.

Royals prospect M.J. Melendez gives to the Boys and Girls Club in Puerto Rico.

Royals broadcaster Ryan Lefebvre talks about Christmas.

A bailout to save Frank White’s house is raising questions about conflicts of interest.

Former Royals outfielder Brett Eibner signs with the Rangers.

Meet Royals fan Maren Ludwig, who has an amazing ballcap collection.

The Diamondbacks sign Japanese pitcher Yoshihisa Hirano.

Where teams get their information from in the post-Moneyball era.

The Dodgers are trying to find the next cheap, solid reliever.

Omar Minaya is back with the Mets as an assistant GM.

Darryl Strawberry used to make whoopee between innings.

A MLB executive is forced out after allegations of troubling workplace behavior.

RIP broadcaster Dick Enberg.

Is sports journalism moving away from objectivity?

Do the Chiefs have their mojo back?

Specialized high schools may just be sending students down traditional college paths.

A Space X rocket flying over southern California freaked people out.

The ten best podcast episodes of 2017.

Your song of the day is John Coltrane with A Love Supreme.