Royals Rumblings - News for November 25, 2019
Anthony Franco at MLB Trade Rumors comments on a report that the Cubs are still interested in Whit Merrifield.
With the Royals’ resistance to trading Merrifield in the past, it seems unlikely anything will come to fruition with the Cubs or any other team in the immediate future. If Kansas City were to market Merrifield aggressively, other teams beyond Chicago would surely enter the fray. That said, it’s interesting that Theo Epstein and the rest of the Cubs’ front office have considered a Merrifield pursuit as one of the many options on the table for a team seemingly poised for a roster restructure this offseason.
Clint Scoles at Royals Academy tries to imagine a potential Merrifield deal to the Cubs.
That type of deal could look something like this:
Cubs - Whit Merrifield, Scott Barlow or Richard Lovelady
Royals - Kyle Schwarber (3yr control), Tyler Chatwood (2021 FA), Nico Hoerner (2025 FA) and Brailyn Marquez (full control)
This deal would end up adding anywhere from $14-15m to the Royals payroll but also give them a pretty significant first base offensive upgrade, a controllable middle infielder with some upside and a high-end upside starter or relief option longterm.
Jeffrey Flanagan looks at the most comical moments in Royals history, including, of course, that famous play from Ken Harvey.
Or the time he charged a slow roller from first base and tried to throw home to cut down a runner but instead nailed his pitcher, Jason Grimsley, right in the chest -- luckily both players were OK. Then there was the Fourth of July in 2004 in San Diego when the Padres’ Khalil Greene hit a fly ball in the bottom of the eighth inning to right to Royals outfielder Matt Stairs, who lasered a throw home to try to catch a runner tagging from third. Harvey positioned himself as the relay man, turned his back and took a knee. The throw hit him squarely in the back.
”I’ve never seen that happen before,” Peña said. “I don’t know that the throw would have gotten him, but it was on line.”
Nick Randall at Pitcher List has a list of the top 50 Royals prospects for fantasy baseball purposes.
Alex Gordon and Ian Kennedy sign autographs to raise money for a domestic violence organization.
More Nick Heath shenanigans in winter ball.
Here’s honorary Dominican/winter league superstar @inheathwetrust teaching me how to eat sugar cane pic.twitter.com/q8mIUS2BSd
— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) November 24, 2019
Mike Gillespie at Kings of Kauffman writes about the decline of Jorge Bonifacio.
Drew Osborne at Royals Farm Report looks at targeting Michel Baez in a trade.
Commissioner Rob Manfred comments on reports of a major reorganization of minor league baseball.
The Dodgers sign Andrew Friedman to an extension.
The Braves sign catcher Travis d’Arnaud to a two-year, $16 million deal.
Every team’s top free agent for next off-season.
MLB revises the streaming rights for clubs, which could bring us a step closer to the end of blackout restrictions.
The Athletic reportedly made a last minute offer to Sports Illustrated.
What happened to kicking in the NFL?
Teaching kids kindness may prepare them for success.
What it is like to narrate an audiobook.
All we want to do is love Baby Yoda, but Disney is removing Baby Yoda GIFs over copyright issues.
Your song of the day is Miike Snow with Black and Blue.