Royals Rumblings - News for July 5, 2017

Royals Rumblings - News for July 5, 2017

Sam Mellinger considers a return by Jarrod Dyson.

I do wonder if Dyson could come back, however. Lorenzo Cain will be a free agent, and likely seeking a long-term contract with a salary of $15 million or more. He’ll also turn 32 next year, and if he — as he absolutely should — looks for the biggest contract then someone is likely to outbid the Royals.

That would create a potential opportunity to bring Dyson back. He’d be cheaper, is a terrific defensive player, carries real offensive skills, and would be a confident clubhouse personality for a franchise that values confident clubhouse personalities.

There are moving parts. Dyson’s free agent value is hard to predict. He’ll be 33 in August, and assuming continued health this will be his first season with more than 337 plate appearances.

If the Royals believe Bubba Starling can keep his head above water against big league pitching, it would be tempting to go with his defense, talent, future and league minimum salary.

But it does feel at least possible that Dyson could return.

Mike Moustakas is glad to get Danny Duffy back.

"We were playing some pretty good baseball," Moustakas said. "Then you get your No. 1 guy back in the rotation again. It’s a pretty big lift."

Duffy dedicated his start to Noah Scott, a teenager from his hometown who died of leukemia this week.

"He didn’t lose the fight," Duffy said. "He did it. He battled his butt off. He’s a good kid. He was in his teens. He was out there during the middle of his treatment; he was watching Cabrillo games, my high school. He just loved baseball. A very inspirational kid.

"It’s a bummer that cancer continues to do what it’s doing to everyone, let alone children," Duffy continued. "But like I said, I just wanted to dedicate my performance to him and his family."

ESPN writers David Schoenfield, Eddie Matz, and Scott Lauber consider the Royals’ chances at a run.

Lauber: After going 17-9 in June, the Royals stand a better chance than the Blue Jays of recovering from their dreadful start and sneaking into the playoffs. They also don't figure to get significant returns for Lorenzo Cain, Moustakas, Hosmer or Jason Vargas, all of whom can be free agents after the season. It's no wonder, then, that GM Dayton Moore said he intends to keep the band together for one more playoff push. It might just happen, too, with the division title and both wild-card spots within reach.

Jim Bowden of MLB Network think it is a mistake for the Royals to go for it.

.@JimBowdenMLB: "(The Royals) are all in... I think it's a mistake... What is this Royals team going to look like in '18, '19 & '20?" pic.twitter.com/LdLYqbDQKe

— MLB Network Radio (@MLBNetworkRadio) July 5, 2017

Miguel Almonte was optioned down to make room for Duffy.

Matt Strahm will get a second opinion on his knee Thursday.

How does Mike Moustakas and this year’s Home Run Derby class compare to past years?

Logan Morrison is not happy Gary Sanchez is in the Derby.

Is Jose Ramirez an MVP candidate?

Marcus Stroman says there is a blister epidemic in baseball.

Projecting the participants in the Futures Game.

The inside story on Jameson Taillon’s return from cancer.

Former big league catcher Ivan Rodriguez will lobby Congress for Puerto Rican statehood.

Gordon Hayward is headed to Boston.

This 73-year old was the real hero of the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Bixby, the new artificial intelligence assistant from Samsung, is struggling to learn English.

Should artist Anish Kapoor be granted exclusive use to a scientifically-created blacker-than-black color?

EuropaCorp has a LOT riding on the upcoming film Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.

Your song of the day is Public Image Limited with Seattle.