Weekend Rumblings - News for January 26, 2019

Weekend Rumblings - News for January 26, 2019

David Lesky thinks Jorge Lopez is the favorite to get a rotation spot, but questions if that is the best role for him.

Can he be a guy who can help get the most out of pitchers and turn someone like Lopez into a good starter? I really don’t know, but I do know that Lopez flashes stuff that could make him a hell of a late-inning reliever. It does make me wonder if rather than going after reclamation relievers, the Royals are going to go after a starter. The issue is there’s not much left out there, but then again, this is what makes them reclamation projects. I just feel like they’re going to try to get a starter, which makes me wonder what kind of reception James Shields will get in his first game back with the Royals. I kid, but really I don’t.

Kyle Zimmer update:

Who is the best prospect from each organization in the last 15 years?

Royals: Alex Gordon, 3B (No. 2 in 2007)Gordon was the No. 2 overall pick in that vaunted 2005 Draft, just behind Justin Upton, and was in the big leagues by 2007, when he was the No. 2 prospect behind Delmon Young. It took Gordon a while to find his footing in the big leagues, but he’s a three-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove winner in the outfield, leading a career WAR of 35.2, good for a tie at No. 41 on the career active WAR list.

The Royals are replacing “GordoNation” with “The Keep.”

Tickets to “The Keep,” as the new section has been nicknamed, will be for games that are played on various days of the week. It is part of a ticket package that covers 15 games (April 13, 27; May 10, 24; June 6, 11, 21; July 2, 13, 29; Aug. 13, 17, 30; Sept. 14, 28).

Members will receive a “The Keep” T-shirt, dress socks, baseball cap and koozie, as well as sunglasses that have a built-in bottle opener. The Royals said fans who purchase the 15-game package also “will have access to Royals Charities volunteer opportunities as well as other unique experiences built for the most loyal fans.”

M.J. Melendez is ranked the 62nd-best prospect in baseball by Prospects Live.

The Kansas City Star hires a new beat writer for the Royals, Lynn Worthy.

Ned Yost talks Disney World with Bob Fescoe on 610 Sports.

Wichita unveils designs for the new minor league ballpark.

The Athletics sign pitcher Marco Estrada to a one-year deal.

Reliever Justin Wilson signs a two-year deal with the Mets.

What are the latest advanced stats you need to know?

Nike signs a 10-year deal to become the official uniform and shoe provider for MLB.

The MLBPA hires former ESPN writer Jerry Crasnick.

Major League Baseball is trying to exempt minor league players from a minumum wage hike in Arizona.

Tropicana Field will go cashless this year.

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy took his grievance on the Saints game to the floor of the Senate.

Why the Pro Bowl still matters to players.

Google Fiber isn’t working so well in Kansas City following outages due to the snowstorm.

Mark Zuckerberg once killed a goat with a stun gun and served it to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey.

The Good Place season finale embraces pandeominum.

Your song of the day is Dexter Gordon with Tanya.