Royals Rumblings - News for May 9, 2017

Royals Rumblings - News for May 9, 2017

Brandon Moss knows he is a big part of the team’s offensive struggles.

“The team is struggling, and I am the epitome of those struggles,” Moss said on Sunday, in the moments after a 1-0 loss to the Cleveland Indians at Kauffman Stadium. “I’m struggling the worst out of anybody.”...

“Sometimes you can’t do anything, just for the life of you,” Moss said. “I think he knows the same thing. Players with track records will get to or close to what they’ve always done. And sometimes some slumps and some losing streaks are just more pronounced than others.”

Ned Yost is trying everything to get the offense going.

"We're just throwing stuff up against the wall to see if something sticks," Yost said.

Chris Young will get the start in place of Ian Kennedy.

David Schoenfield looks at what the Royals could get for Lorenzo Cain.

Cain should have similar value as a guy like Ben Zobrist, whom the Royals acquired for the World Series run in 2015, giving up a B-plus pitching prospect in Sean Manaea (while the A's also included some cash). Erick Fedde, the Nationals' No. 1 pick in 2014, is in Double-A, or the Royals could gamble on somebody like 18-year-old outfielder Juan Soto, who has some big potential at the plate.

Buster Olney writes that Jason Vargas could have a bidding war this summer.

Jason Vargas has a chance to become one of the most coveted pitchers of the summer market. Not only is he pitching well -- with a 1.19 ERA in six starts -- but he's relatively inexpensive. The expectation among some executives is that with the compensation-pick rules altered, more teams will look to unload salary before the trade deadline this summer. But Vargas, in the last year of a four-year deal, is making just $8 million, much less than some of the other pitchers who might be available in deals in July.

The Royals offense is on pace to be record-setting in it futility.

Patrick Brennan at Kings of Kauffman looks at Statcast data for the Royals.

Royals catcher Meibrys Viloria makes the MLB Pipeline Team of the Week.

Jeremy Guthrie discusses the start that may have ended his career.

Lee Judge explains situational hitting.

Ken Rosenthal wants Matt Harvey to apologize to the Mets.

Pirates pitcher Jameson Taillon is suspected of having testicular cancer.

60 Minutes reveals that clubhouse character helped the Cubs win the World Series.

Stop me if you’ve heard this before - the Tigers are having bullpen issues.

The Giants are awful but they’ll never rebuild.

Yonder Alonso is into the flyball revolution.

Old friend Kevin Chapman is traded to the Twins for Danny Santana.

How ESPN’s woes may impact the next national television deal for MLB.

MLB Network coverage may be biased towards the Yankees.

Manchester United is putting all their eggs in one basket to make the Champions League.

Lonzo Ball’s shoes made $150,000 on the first day of sales.

Sinclair media buys the Tribune Company for $3.9 billion.

Are “fidget spinners” the new hula hoop?

Bill Clinton and James Patterson will team up to write a novel about a missing president.

Your song of the day is Belle & Sebastian with Step Into My Office, Baby.