Royals Rumblings - News for October 19, 2020

Royals Rumblings - News for October 19, 2020

Jeffrey Flanagan takes questions for his mailbag, with an interesting answer for the immediate future of Bobby Witt, Jr.

Does Witt have a shot to make the Opening Day roster? — @hanan_kent

The one organizational consensus about Bobby Witt Jr., the team’s No. 1 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, is that he could hold his own at the big league level right now. He’s that good, and we saw that at Summer Camp. The Royals have control of Franco at third base through 2021, and Adalberto Mondesi is their shortstop. So keep an eye on where Witt gets his reps in Surprise, Ariz., next spring. If Witt starts getting a look in the outfield, especially center field … hmmm.

Royals coach Pedro Grifol has interviewed for the Tigers managerial opening, according to Jon Paul Morosi.

Tigers general manager Al Avila has known Grifol for more than 30 years, dating back to Grifol’s standout playing career at Miami’s Christopher Columbus High School. Avila was a baseball coach at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens during the late 1980s, and Avila became familiar with Grifol through amateur baseball in South Florida at that time.

Avila also considered Grifol for the Tigers’ managerial opening in the fall of 2017, before hiring Ron Gardenhire. The Tigers have watched Grifol assume greater responsibilities with a division rival over the past several years, working as Royals manager Mike Matheny’s bench coach in ‘20 after previous roles as a quality control, catching and hitting coach.

Grifol is not the only member of the Royals being considered for another position.

Clint Scoles at Royals Academy thinks it may be possible to bring back an old friend.

A deal built around Hosmer and Hunter Dozier with the Padres sending back a good prospect and a little cash to offset the early money could make sense for both sides. Someone like Hudson Head, a five-toolish outfielder, would fit the Royals likes. Along those same lines, Wil Myers prior to his 2020 season made sense as well. Perhaps that short sample was enough for the Padres to buy in as they can dump some money by non-tendering Tommy Pham. We know AJ Preller is aggressive though and the Royals and GMDM have a good relationship with the Padres GM which could line up well for a number of possible trades.

Kevin O’Brien at Royals Reporter looks at what the Royals may do with Carlos Hernandez next year.

Mike Gillespie at Kings of Kauffman doesn’t think the Royals will rush Asa Lacy.

The Rays won by being the kings of chaos.

What does the Clayton Kershaw playoff narrative mean?

Here’s how the World Series teams were built.

The Marlins part ways with General Manager Michael Hill.

Outfielder Starling Marte will have his club option picked up by Miami.

Phillies pitching coach Bryan Price retires after just one year with the club.

What will it take to sign Fernando Tatis, Jr. long-term?

The posting period for Korean baseball players has been pushed back due to the pandemic.

What would the Pirates do with Kumar Rocker, widely expected to be next year’s #1 pick?

Daryl Morey’s departure in Houston leaves James Harden with an uncertain future.

Was it a lack of ruthlessness that caused Tottenham to blow a 3-0 lead to West Ham?

Scientists observe a black hole destroy a star by “spaghettification.”

15 recent sci-fi books that shaped the genre.

What’s fact an what’s fiction in Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago 7.

Your song of the day ix XTC with The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead.