Royals Rumblings

Weekend Rumblings - News for December 1, 2018

Will the Royals be adding bullpen arms?

By Max Rieper@maxrieper Dec 1, 2018, 10:00am EST

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Weekend Rumblings - News for December 1, 2018

Rustin Dodd does a mailbag column, and looks at potential bullpen additions this off-season.

The Royals likely will have close to $8 million or so (perhaps more) to spend on possible free-agent acquisitions. (The club would like to have a payroll in the $90- to $92-million range.) Expect some additions in the bullpen — either in cheap guaranteed deals or non-roster invitations — and expect more action later in the winter rather than sooner.

Two other names to watch: left-hander Richard Lovelady, who had another strong minor-league season but remains off the 40-man roster; and right-hander Scott Blewett, a former top pick who, in terms of 2018 numbers and size, bears a passing resemblance to where Brad Keller was a year ago.

Marcus Meade at Royals Farm Report looks at the problem with trading Whit Merrifield.

Merrifield is far more valuable than that because he’s only 30 (or will be in January) and he has four years of team control. If the Royals had to give up their number 3 prospect to get three months of Zobrist, what must another team need to give up to get four years of Merrifield? Two of their top five and a couple of lottery tickets? Three of their top ten and an organizational depth player? What team would be willing to do that for Merrifield who, while valuable, isn’t Mike Trout?

MLB Pipeline lists a prospect with each team that could be traded.

Kelvin Gutierrez, 3B, Royals No. 17The Royals aren’t exactly in a position where they’re going to be dealing prospects. They have a pair of similar third basemen in the Minors in Emmanuel Rivera and Gutierrez, so perhaps one could get traded. Gutierrez, who has a line-drive bat with solid defensive skills, arrived from the Nationals as part of a package for Kelvin Herrera in June.

Let’s go ahead and look at next winter’s free agent class.

The Nationals acquire Yan Gomes from the Indians.

The Padres sign pitcher Garrett Richards.

The Mariners send Alex Colome to the White Sox for catcher Omar Narvaez.

Why the Cardinals need to make a big splash this winter.

What the heck happened to Jason Heyward?

The Athletics propose a gorgeous new ballpark, but can it actually happen?

MLBPA boss Tony Clark gets a three-year extension.

The Red Sox and Yankees are playing in London next summer and tickets are ridiculously expensive.

Why MLB partnering with a casino does not vindicate Pete Rose.

The Oakland Raiders can still make the playoffs depending on these 34 games.

St. Louis moves a step closer to building an MLS stadium.