Weekend Rumblings - News for June 22, 2019

Weekend Rumblings - News for June 22, 2019

Dayton Moore tells Jeffrey Flanagan says that the team is unlikely to move Whit Merrifield or Alex Gordon.

But just like Moore once said about catcher Salvador Perez, the Royals do not envision any scenario in which they would trade Merrifield.

“I’m still the same on that,” Moore told MLB.com on Thursday. “It’s our job to do our due diligence with any proposal and listen. But we’re motivated to keeping our good players here.”

Flanagan also reports that Jorge Soler has a clause that allows him to opt into arbitration this winter.

Soler would be in line for a significant raise to his scheduled $4 million for 2020 if he goes to arbitration.

By going to arbitration, the rest of Soler’s contract that he signed with the Cubs in 2012 would be voided. But the Royals still would have Soler under club control through 2021, his final year of arbitration. He could become a free agent after the ‘21 season.

Josh Herzenberg at Fangraphs writes that Ian Kennedy may be a trade asset.

Kennedy’s addition to a team like the Phillies or a team like the Braves would likely not be overly costly and could help bolster a bullpen that could use solidification. Should, say, the Royals be willing to pay down some of Kennedy’s remaining time under contract, a middle-tier prospect from the depth of either the Philadelphia or Atlanta farm systems could be an attractive commodity in return.

Marcus Meade at Royals Farm Report explores whether Homer Bailey can be a trade asset.

In his Friday notes, David Lesky wants to get a look at Humberto Arteaga.

He isn’t much of a hitter, but has done his best work at the highest level with a combined .292/.322/.387 line in AAA over the last two seasons. I’m not sure if this is still true with some of the new guys in the system over the last couple years, but basically from the minute he was signed, he was the best defender in the entire organization and while he probably won’t hit much in the big leagues, he’ll be fun to watch pick it at shortstop. One guy who I’ve always thought he compares to is Rey Sanchez, who never hit much, but did occasionally have a pretty decent average and provided some outstanding defense. The game has changed since Sanchez played, so Arteaga isn’t terribly likely to have a long career as a starter, but it’ll at least be fun to watch him play shortstop while Mondesi is on the shelf.

Clint Scoles looks at recent promotions in the minors.

The Royals announced quite a few moves on Thursday moving pitchers Bryan Brickhouse and Tyler Zuber to Double-A. Those two pitchers, in particular, have some upside in terms of the bullpen. After working his way back last year Brickhouse hit a roadblock at Double-A without feel for his breaking ball. There he showed that Double-A hitters can still crush triple digits if they know that it’s coming. If he can find his breaking ball then he’s got a chance to move quickly to the bigs with his fastball regularly touching 100 mph.

Alec Lewis profiles Royals’ second-round draft pick Brady McConnell

“He was the heart and soul of the team this year,” Florida assistant Lars Davis says. “He ranks right up there with one of the best offensive years we’ve ever had.”

Brady had always had the ability to barrel fastballs, but in 2019, he began to recognize breaking pitches better. He also learned how to drive outside pitches.

Buckley and the Royals liked what they saw and were pleased to get him with the 44th pick. But why grab a shortstop just after drafting Bobby Witt Jr. with the No. 2 pick, especially with the team knowing it had 23-year-old Adalberto Mondesi there currently?

The answer: Shortstops are known to be versatile.

The Royals sign infielder Chase d’Arnaud to a minor league deal.

Salvador Perez is expecting another child.

The Mets fire pitching coach Dave Eiland.

Commissioner Rob Manfred tries to explain the rise in home runs, attributing it to the center of the ball.

Asdrubal Cabrera gets a four-game suspension for throwing his batting gloves at umpire Bill Miller.

Aaron Judge returns after missing two months with an injury.

The Dodgers organist has fun with the Max Muncy/Madison Bumgarner feud.

Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. will participate in the Home Run Derby.

A’s pitcher Frankie Montas is suspended 80 games for a banned substance.

The Reds are open to adding a controllable hitter.

Dan Szymborski has a ZIPS update for the American League.

College World Series players talk about their superstitions.

The winners and losers from the NBA draft.

The NHL holds their draft.

What does speedy delivery mean for climate change?

Toys ‘R’ Us is back from the dead and will open stores this year.

The best TV of 2019 so far.

Your song of the day is Sonny Rollins with Brown Skin Girl.