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Royals Rumblings - News for August 2, 2021
Dayton Moore talks about his moves - or lack of them - at the trade deadline with Lynn Worthy.
“It’s important to transition young players to the major leagues,” Moore said. “You’re more successful doing that when you have guys like Carlos Santana and Whit Merrifield and Mikey Minor a part of your major-league team, veteran guys who have won and can help stabilize a lot of things, can hit behind or in front of young hitters, help balance out the lineup, take the ball and give you innings in Mikey Minor’s case.”
Reportedly, multiple teams expressed interest in Merrifield, Santana and relief pitcher Scott Barlow at the deadline.
Interestingly, Moore didn’t completely close the door on potential trades involving his established veterans after the season.
Brad Keller discusses the back injury that forced him out of Sunday’s game early.
The back issue initially cropped up before the game.
“As soon as I stepped on the mound and threw a couple pitches, it just kind of locked up on me,” Keller said. “I tried to pitch through it, thinking it’s one of those things. I’ve dealt with this in the past. I thought it was just one of those things that would eventually loosen up. For some reason, this time it just never really loosened up.”
Lynn also talked to Danny Duffy about leaving Kansas City.
“It was tough. I love those guys to death, and I always will. I’ll always be pulling for them,” Duffy said when asked by The Star about leaving the Royals. “We’ll still have the shenanigans in the inbox and text messages and stuff, but just the reality of leaving the guys I grew up with and have watched grow up too — a guy like Nicky (Lopez) and (Tyler) Zuber, (Daniel) Lynch, I could go up and down the board — it was a really tough day.
“But I’m also very excited about what’s to come, and I’m excited about what they have in store for their future too.”
I asked Danny Duffy about the conversation when #Royals GM Dayton Moore first raised the topic of him being traded.
— Lynn Worthy (@LWorthySports) August 1, 2021
Duffy said: “That guy means a lot to me. I’m thankful for everything that guy has done for me in my life to get me to this point.
Jim Bowden gives each team a grade for the deadline moves.
Kansas City Royals Grade: D
Trades: Traded LHP Danny Duffy and cash considerations to Dodgers for a player to be named later (PTBNL). Acquired RHP Joel Payamps from Blue Jays for cash. Traded Jorge Soler to Braves for RHP Kasey Kalich.
The Royals dealt two of their impending free agents in Duffy and Soler, but an injury-filled season for Duffy and a down year for Soler led to very little in return. They did at least listen to offers for 32-year-old infielder/outfielder Whit Merrifield, but general manager Dayton Moore didn’t think the prospects floated were strong enough to move the major-league leader in stolen bases.
Salvador Perez hit the ten-year MLB service time milestone this weekend.
“Overall, when you look at bat, glove, arm, what he can do, it’s kind of Salvy and everybody else in my opinion,” second baseman Whit Merrifield said. “He’s still young. It’s crazy that he hit his 10 years already because he’s still young.”
Clint Scoles at Royals Academy lists some Dodgers prospects he has an eye on as a return for Duffy.
Kevin O’Brien at Royals Reporter lists the roster decisions he wants to see the Royals make for the rest of the season.
Bubba Starling drove in two runs for Team USA in an 8-1 win on Friday. Team USA also beats Korea and will face Japan in the knockout stage.
Former Cubs Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, and Javier Baez each homered in their debut with the new teams.
Fernando Tatis, Jr. is out with a shoulder injury.
The Mets fail to sign first round pick Kumar Rocker.
Phillies minor leaguer Daniel Brito suffered a medical emergency, causing his game to be postponed.
Scott Boras disputes a report that he countered a long-term contract offered by the Rangers with a $300 million proposal.
Dan Szymborski looks at some of the minor trades you have missed at the deadline.
One Olympic pitcher thinks he has the solution to baseball’s sticky problem.
A look back at baseball’s first agent - who was also a “legend maker.”
The sports card-collectible industry remains robust.
The wife of NHL played Evander Kane alleges he gambled on his own games.
The Tokyo Olympics could cost four times more than expected.
A programmer couldn’t bear the death of his fiancee, so he created a chatbot to speak with her.
Your song of the day is The Buggles with Video Killed The Radio Star.