Daily Clips
November 15, 2017
LOCAL
Kennedy happy to serve Royals' community
Right-hander teams with City Union Mission to feed homeless
November 14, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/261890938/ian-kennedy-proud-to-serve-royals-community/
Wilson's 'backup' experience a boon to Royals
New bullpen coach quickly rose up coaching ranks in KC system
November 14, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/261864226/bullpen-coach-vance-wilson-a-boon-to-royals/?topicId=27118382
Royals interested in Minor as starter or reliever
November 14, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/261899030/royals-interested-in-re-signing-mike-minor/
What team’s cap should be on Carlos Beltran’s Hall of Fame plaque?
November 14, 2017 By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/for-petes-sake/article184541823.html
Don Mattingly playfully made bid for Eric Hosmer to be a member of the Marlins
November 14, 2017 By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/for-petes-sake/article184503403.html
Eric Hosmer remains Royals’ top priority this winter … if the price is right
November 14, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article184637943.html
Blue Jays, Mets show preliminary interest in Lorenzo Cain
November 14, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article184656263.html
Royals grounds crews plan to finish massive field renovation this week
November 14, 2017 By Tom Dempsey/KSHB.com
http://www.kshb.com/sports/baseball/royals/royals-grounds-crews-plan-to-finish-massive-field-renovation-this-week
MINORS
Royals' Lopez named AFL Player of the Week
November 14, 2017 By Raven Boone/MLB.com
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/261841776/royals-nicky-lopez-is-afl-player-of-the-week/?topicid=151437456
Lopez, Needy honored by Fall League
Royals shortstop, Marlins right-hander take weekly AFL awards
November 14, 2017 By Sam Dykstra/MiLB.com
https://www.milb.com/milb/news/nicky-lopez-james-needy-honored-by-arizona-fall-league/c-261875478
NATIONAL
Lovullo, Molitor earn BBWAA honors
Twins, D-backs managers win award for first time in careers
November 14, 2017 By Richard Justice/MLB.com
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/261897234/torey-lovullo-paul-molitor-win-manager-honors/?topicId=27118122
Blyleven, Dawson honored by MLBPAA
Hall of Famers given Lifetime Achievement Awards
November 15, 2017 By Mark Newman/MLB.com
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/261925812/blyleven-dawson-honored-by-mlbpaa/
Speeding up games on MLB agenda for next season
November 14, 2017 AP
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2017/11/14/speeding-games-on-mlb-agenda-for-next-season/107694240/
Heyman | KC’s meeting on Hosmer and Moustakas could tell future
November 14, 2017 By Jon Heyman/Fanragsports.com
https://www.fanragsports.com/heyman-kcs-meeting-on-hosmer-moustakas-could-tell-future/
MLB TRANSACTIONS
November 15, 2017 •.CBSSports.com
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions
LOCAL
Kennedy happy to serve Royals' community
Right-hander teams with City Union Mission to feed homeless
November 14, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/261890938/ian-kennedy-proud-to-serve-royals-community/
Two years ago, right-hander Ian Kennedy had signed a five-year deal with the Royals and also vowed to make Kansas City his home.
Kennedy has done that, but not solely by setting up roots here. He has done so by becoming actively involved in the community as well.
For the second straight year, Kennedy took time out on Tuesday to serve a Thanksgiving meal to the homeless at the City Union Mission Men's Center near downtown Kansas City.
"I love it because a year ago, we heard what the Mission does with the Men's Center and the Family Center," Kennedy said. "It's kind of become a tradition with our family. Once a week, we serve the Family City Union with our kids and my wife.
"We don't get to spend a lot of time with the Men's Center, but we did this here last year and really enjoyed it. We really like their mission, and their goals and their passion. We love it."
For Kennedy, it's a way to stay connected to the community, especially with those less fortunate.
"You do feel connected when you do this," he said. "Sometimes, you get stuck in your own little bubble. There are a lot of things going on in the city where you can help. My faith is really important to me, so this is important. It's not only about giving them food, but to give them a sense of faith."
Kennedy and his family have done service like this in previous cities he played in, but not on this scale.
"In Arizona, we did some things," Kennedy said. "But once we got here, with what the Royals do in their community, it's different from other teams. It's so much more. So we decided to jump right in."
Wilson's 'backup' experience a boon to Royals
New bullpen coach quickly rose up coaching ranks in KC system
November 14, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/261864226/bullpen-coach-vance-wilson-a-boon-to-royals/?topicId=27118382
Not many backup catchers in the history of baseball can say they played behind not one but two Hall of Famers.
New Royals bullpen coach Vance Wilson can make that claim. Wilson played parts of eight seasons in the big leagues, serving behind Mets catcher Mike Piazza and Tigers catcher Ivan Rodriguez.
"I look back at catching behind those guys and the most amazing thing to me was watching those guys play every single day," Wilson said by phone. "They were getting beat up every day, they had the ups and downs of offense. But they were the face of the franchise and felt they couldn't let anyone down.
"Just watching them go about their business every day taught me how to watch guys while I managed and observe how my guys played every day. There was no letup with [Piazza and Rodriguez]. That's how you play this game."
Wilson, 44, was a part of the 2006 Tigers' American League championship team. He finished his career on a Minor League deal with the Royals in '09 before turning to coaching.
Wilson rose up the managerial ranks in the Royals' system quickly. He spent the past four seasons managing Double-A Northwest Arkansas, and the Naturals made it to the Texas League Championship Series in 2015 and '16.
Royals general manager Dayton Moore calls Wilson a coach with many talents who should be a positive influence as Kansas City goes through a transitional period at the big league level with younger players.
What does Wilson think he brings to the table?
"You have to be accountable, be prepared, as a coach and player," Wilson said. "The biggest thing I bring is the well-roundedness of being able to develop players, not only for their own benefit but also in terms of winning championships.
"I have been part of some winning cultures, at the Major League level and the Minor League level. I think that could help."
Several of the current Royals -- right-hander Jakob Junis, shortstop Raul Mondesi, right-fielder Jorge Bonifacio, third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert and second baseman Whit Merrifield -- played under Wilson.
"When you've had those players and all of a sudden they've gotten to the big leagues, it feels good," Wilson said. "It's not that hard to get to the big leagues, it's harder to stay. Being that I had those guys, most for multiple years, they know about accountability. They know you have to get better every day.
"For me, it's important that I did what I did in the big leagues. I want them to experience what I experienced. The game has been so good to me and my family, and I want them to stick in the Major Leagues."
Royals interested in Minor as starter or reliever
November 14, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/261899030/royals-interested-in-re-signing-mike-minor/
While much of the rumor mill regarding Royals free agents has focused on Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas and Lorenzo Cain, there's another name the Royals have expressed interest in signing back: left-hander Mike Minor.
Minor excelled in the closer's role after Kelvin Herrera lost that job late in the season. Minor went 6-for-6 in save opportunities in September, displaying a 95-97 mph fastball and a devastating cutter. He finished the season with a 2.55 ERA.
Minor, 29, certainly will draw interest this winter as either a starter or a reliever.
And even though Minor could potentially be a dominant closer for the Royals, general manager Dayton Moore told reporters at the General Managers Meetings in Orlando, Fla., that they would be interested in Minor out of the bullpen or as a starter.
"We would," Moore said. "He's at a stage in his career where he knows his body. He knows what he needs to do. We went down this trail with Zack Greinke, Wade Davis. You know they have a dominant role on the pitching staff as a reliever. We saw that in Wade before we traded for him. We started him out as a starter but we always knew we could revert back to him being a reliever.
"Zack Greinke was dominant in the bullpen and it worked in reverse for him. Even if Mike isn't as dominant as a starter, and he could be dominant, he certainly can, you know you'll get dominance from him in the bullpen as a one-inning guy or two-inning guy. He's proved it.
"But I wouldn't walk away from him if he wanted to start."
Near season's end, Minor talked of being genuinely excited about following in Davis' career path toward being a dominant closer.
"I don't mind it," Minor said. "It's an adrenaline rush. I think anybody would want that role."
Moore certainly was impressed with Minor's work as a closer.
"He quickly adjusted," Moore said. "Arguably, he might have been our best reliever down the stretch."
What team’s cap should be on Carlos Beltran’s Hall of Fame plaque?
November 14, 2017 By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/for-petes-sake/article184541823.html
It didn’t take long for the Hall of Fame talk to begin Monday once Carlos Beltran announced his retirement.
Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, Brian Kenny of the MLB Network and Jay Jaffe of Sports Illustrated were among those saying Beltran should be in the National Baseball Hall of Fame when his name comes on the ballot.
Here’s the question: what cap should Beltran be wearing on his Hall of Fame plaque? Players don’t have a choice in the matter, although Greg Maddux was granted his wish at having no logo on his cap in 2014.
The Royals picked Beltran in the second round of the 1995 draft, and he made his major-league debut three seasons later. In parts of seven seasons, Beltran played in 795 games with the Royals and had 156 doubles, 45 triples, 164 stolen bases and 123 home runs. For that reason, it would make sense for Beltran’s plaque to have a Royals cap.
In his 20-year career, Beltran played the most games for the Mets. In seven seasons, he appeared in 839 games with 208 doubles, 17 triples, 100 stolen bases and 149 home runs.
You’d think that a Mets cap would be another good choice, but there’s one catch.
As Mike Vaccaro of the New York Post noted in 2015, Mets fans don’t particularly like Beltran. Late in a season that would end with a NL pennant, the Mets were playing host to the Yankees when Beltran was with the Bronx Bombers.
“When Beltran stepped to the plate Saturday afternoon, top of the first, two on and none out, a majority of 43,680 stood up and booed, same as they did when Beltran showed up as a Cardinal, same as they surely will do Sunday for each of his plate appearances,” wrote Vacarro, the former Kansas City Star columnist.
The reason for the vitriol for Beltran? He struck out with the bases loaded to end Game 7 of the 2006 National League Championship Series. Adam Wainwright froze Beltran on a curveball and the Cardinals won 3-1.
So maybe it’s a no on the Mets cap.
Beltran found his greatest postseason success in 2004 with the Astros when he hit eight home runs in 12 games. But Beltran only played half of the 2004 season in Houston, where he finished his career as a part-time player and World Series champion in 2017.
The other teams Beltran has played for: the Cardinals, Yankees, Giants and Rangers.
Seems like the Royals could be the cap of choice, but what do you think? Should Beltran’s plaque have a Royals logo? Vote in our poll and leave a comment.
Don Mattingly playfully made bid for Eric Hosmer to be a member of the Marlins
November 14, 2017 By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/for-petes-sake/article184503403.html
Don Mattingly won nine Gold Glove awards during his 14-year career with the New York Yankees, and was one of the best defensive players of his era.
That’s why Mattingly, who is now managing the Miami Marlins, was chosen to hand out the hardware for first basemen Friday at the Gold Glove awards ceremony in New York. After announcing that Arizona’s Paul Goldschmidt was the National League winner, Mattingly made a little joke, according to a person who was on hand.
Mattingly said: “The American League Gold Glove award winner is ... Eric Hosmer of the Miami Marlins.”
Clever.
The Marlins have a good first baseman in Justin Bour, but he has yet to play a full season. However, Bour had a .902 on-base-plus-slugging percentage in 2017 after hitting 25 home runs with 83 RBIs in 429 plate appearances in 108 games. He’s 29 years old.
Hosmer, 28, grew up in south Florida and has a house there. But he’s expected to get a contract offer anywhere from $95 million to $126 million, per FanGraphs.
What was Hosmer’s reaction to Mattingly’s joke? He smirked, said the person who was there.
Eric Hosmer remains Royals’ top priority this winter … if the price is right
November 14, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article184637943.html
The meeting will come soon, if it hasn’t happened already, and it does not figure to last long. It will focus on the basics — the plan, the dollars, the years, and more — and then the offseason will continue. In some ways, it will be mere formality.
The Royals will convene with agent Scott Boras and discuss the future of first baseman Eric Hosmer. The contents of the meeting will underscore the core theme of the most intriguing offseason in years.
The Royals, in the midst of transition and facing an exodus of stars, are still focused on re-signing Hosmer to a long-term deal. As the calendar pushes toward December, they will attempt to do something that the industry once deemed unlikely: Sign a homegrown star for more than $100 million and acquire a pillar for the franchise’s next rebuild.
Royals general manager Dayton Moore acknowledges the challenge. The market for Hosmer could explode beyond numbers that make sense in Kansas City. Club officials cannot predict the future, nor will they publicly close the door on a reunion with third baseman Mike Moustakas, also a Boras client, and center fielder Lorenzo Cain, the other two members of the big three. Yet as Moore and his top lieutenants spent their second day at the GM Meetings at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando on Tuesday, they prepared to monitor the market for Hosmer while acknowledging the possible roadblocks.
“We’ll see what the market dictates,” Moore said. “We’ll stay engaged with our current free agents. But I’m not sure if it’s at the levels that everyone’s talking about. It may be extra challenging for us, truthfully.”
The challenge will come via the possible competition. The Boston Red Sox are in need of a first baseman and a middle-of-the-order bat. They are thought to be interested in Hosmer and free agent J.D. Martinez, a power-hitting outfielder who hit 45 homers in 2017.