Royals Rumblings - News for January 18, 2018

Royals Rumblings - News for January 18, 2018

Rustin Dodd makes some predictions on 2018, and he thinks Eric Hosmer will return.

Yes, Hosmer would likely prefer to be in a situation in which he could compete and win. Neither San Diego or Kansas City can provide that now. But the Royals can offer two things that other teams cannot. Hosmer is comfortable here. He can also burnish his legacy.

This is no sure thing. Put another way: If we were assessing the chances for Hosmer’s return, we might still rank the possibility at close to 30 or 40 percent. But for now, that might make the Royals the favorite.

Ned Yost is more optimistic the Royals could retain some of his guys.

Clint Scoles at Baseball Prospectus Kansas City is a bit perplexed by this market.

The winter is grinding for major league free agents as we’ve almost reached February with many of the major products still on the board. While some have blamed Scott Boras and his methodical approach, that shouldn’t affect all the players. For example, the best value on the board in my eyes is Lorenzo Cain, non-Boras client, and his outstanding defense combined with this hitting ability. It’s mind-boggling to me that Dexter Fowler just last year got 5-82.5m from the Cardinals and teams aren’t falling all over themselves for Cain at a similar or reduced figure. Yes, there are age and injury issues, but they are the same ones Fowler brought to the table and he couldn’t play centerfield at nearly the ability that LoCain can. As more and more teams look to pass on free agency in an attempt to cut payroll, then there is major value adds to be had.

Royals minor leaguers visit Yordano Ventura’s hometown.

Drew Osborne at Royals Farm Report profiles the starting pitchers in the organization.

Dan Szymborski at ESPN tries to find a home for free agents, predicting the Royals keep Mike Moustakas, but lose Hosmer to Boston.

The offers for J.D. Martinez may be lower than we thought.

Is it silly to blame this slow off-season on Scott Boras?

Grant Brisbee think the off-season has been slow because teams like young players.

Craig Edwards at Fangraphs has a radical proposal to fix arbitration.

Commissioner Rob Manfred may unilaterally impose a pitch clock next year.

Why the MLBPA has no leverage right now.

The first baseball player from Myanmar has made his debut in Japanese pro baseball.

What if Central Florida had made the college football playoff?

How Case Keenum revived his career.

A Bitcoin exchange accused of being a Ponzi scheme is being shutdown.

Nintendo unveils Labo which will allow users to make stuff and OMG, is that really the date they’re releasing it and the price?

Someone made a map to trace all the “leaps” in the 80s NBC show Quantum Leap.

Your song of the day is The Decembrists with Sixteen Military Wives.