Royals Rumblings - News for February 13, 2018

Royals Rumblings - News for February 13, 2018

Eric Hosmer has been talking with the Padres this week.

The Padres have engaged in regular dialogue with Hosmer’s agent, Scott Boras, over the last several days, sources told The Athletic. This followed a period in which neither side seemed to feel much urgency. The Royals, meanwhile, have continued their quest to retain a homegrown star. In a radio interview last Monday, general manager Dayton Moore said he’d had “a lot of discussion” with Hosmer’s camp over the previous week. Sources say Kansas City has kept in contact with the free agent.

Kelvin Herrera talks about turning the page in 2018.

In his first season as the Royals’ primary closer, Herrera posted a career-high 4.25 ERA and required a safety net in multiple high-leverage situations. The official diagnosis was forearm tightness as he battled erratic command and composure. He eventually relinquished the closer role in September. But on the eve of a new season, Herrera offered a more blunt description for his problems.

“I was a mess,” Herrera said. “I was completely a mess — the first half and the second half, pretty much the whole year.”

Dayton Moore thinks this rebuild will be quicker than last time.

“We’ve got several players who are young but who have had a taste of success at the big league level,” Yost said. “Guys like [Jorge Bonifacio] and [Jorge Soler] and [Paulo Orlando] and [Whit Merrifield] and [Cheslor Cuthbert]. We didn’t have that advantage last time around.”

Brandon Maurer has his arbitration hearing scheduled for this week.

The Royals sign pitcher Jacob Condra-Bogan of the independent Frontier League.

With camps opening this week, the slow free agent market looms over everything.

The player’s union will open up their own camp this week.

The union could do a better job winning the public over, writes Meg Rowley at Fangraphs.

The Athletic announces another round of baseball hirings and plans to cover all 30 teams this year.

The Cardinals sign reliever Bud Norris.

The Twins are pursuing Rays pitcher Chris Archer.

The Cubs made a quick call to Jake Arrieta before inking Yu Darvish.

MLB has interest in moving the draft to Omaha, with possibly a MLB game there as well.

Former Major League pitcher Esteban Loaiza is apparently a drug kingpin.

A bombshell lawsuit alleges a sports agency - Danny Duffy’s agency - directed players to take PEDs.

A Cubs minor leaguer has been arrested in Venezuela over an accidental shooting that killed his pitching coach.

The Blue Jays will retire the number of Roy Halladay.

College basketball analyst Doug Gottlieb opens up about his credit card thefts in college that derailed his career at Notre Dame.

Figure skater Adam Rippon has emerged as an early star at the Olympics.

Is Netflix giving up on prestige films?

People are boycotting the movie Peter Rabbit for making light of food allergies.

Boston Dynamics robot dogs can now open doors so humanity is probably doomed.

Your song of the day is Elvis Costello and The Attractions with Sour Milk Cow Blues.