Royals Rumblings - News for July 15, 2019

Royals Rumblings - News for July 15, 2019

The Homer Bailey deal came together quickly, writes Martin Gallegos.

“Our starting depth has taken a hit,” A’s general manager David Forst said. “We checked around for some starting pitching. I had let Kansas City know a few days ago that Homer might be someone we were interested in, and it came together kind of quickly this morning.”

Jeffrey Flanagan has five things to know about the Homer Bailey trade.

“We liked him a great deal out of the Draft two years ago,” general manager Dayton Moore said. “He’s our type of player, speed player. We liked his potential versatility out of the Draft. Oakland selected him relatively high, a Comp pick. We liked him a great deal and he fits our profiles.

Flanagan also writes that Brian Flynn had no excuses for his poor outing Sunday.

“I wish I could make excuses,” Flynn said. “But we had enough time in here to get ready. I actually had to slow down a little. I wanted to make sure I didn’t overdo it.”

Alec Lewis at The Athletic looks at the big picture of where the Royals are at this point.

Last week, Royals manager Ned Yost leaned back in his office chair and pondered the question that had just been posed to him: “What is the goal right now?”

He paused his typical quick wit to think, tapping on his chair with his right hand.

“I look at trying to win today and have our players continue to get better,” Yost said. “Keep developing.”

Yost’s response revealed the obvious short-term goal in the most coach-speak manner possible: Have young hitters such as Hunter Dozier, Adalberto Mondesi, Jorge Soler, Nicky Lopez and now Bubba Starling adapt to big-league pitching and preparation. Help young pitchers such as Brad Keller, Jakob Junis and others become more consistent with their command.

Billy Hamilton knows his days in Kansas City may be numbered.

“Coming into the season with a one-year deal,” Hamilton told MLB.com on Sunday, “you know it’s possible [to get traded]. And that’s especially true when the team isn’t winning. If we were winning, it’d be different maybe.”

Hamilton talks regularly with his agent about his potential future.

“There’s definitely interest out there,” Hamilton said. “We don’t know anything specific. But I just have to keep doing my job, and if it happens, then it happens.”

Ken Rosenthal reports the Nationals are considering Jake Diekman.

Bubba Starling’s mom was so excited for his first hit.

Miguel Cabrera jokingly acted like Bubba Starling’s ovation was for him.

Vahe Gregorian write about the legacy of Negro League Baseball Museum President Bob Kendrick.

Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Gibson has pancreatic cancer.

Mike Trout exits the game Sunday with calf tightness.

An Atlantic League player becomes the first player ever to steal first base.

Do the Rays have what it takes to make it to the post-season?

How Orioles minor league pitchers are increasing their strikeout rates.

Here’s who the Yankees would want for outfield prospect Clint Frazier.

Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen has “low expectations” for the second half.

How MLB decided how to split teams into divisions in 1968.

How to design a perfect Tour de France route.

Nobody had more fun watching Wimbledon than Woody Harrelson.

Scientists are giving dead brains new life, what could go wrong?

Can sci-fi writers prepare us for an uncertain future?

All the rumors on the newest Bond movie.

Your song of the day is Rancid with Roots Radical.