Daily Clips
March 14, 2018
LOCAL
Royals view Dozier as future first baseman
Right-hander Almonte enjoying impressive spring camp
March 13, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Royals unveil annual organizational awards
Moose recognized for earning AL Comeback Player honor
March 13, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Late rally not enough to take Danny Duffy off hook in Royals' 10th loss of the spring
March 13, 2018By Maria Torres/KC Star
Mellinger Minutes: Royals
March 13, 2018By Sam Mellinger/KC Star
Kansas lawmakers consider legalizing sports betting as NCAA tournament gets underway
March 13, 2018By Peter Hancock/Lawrence Journal-World
MINORS
Kansas City Options Six To Omaha
Dozier, Stout, Zimmer & Machado among those optioned
March 13, 2018By Andrew Green/Omaha Storm Chasers
Royals Option Samir Duenez to Northwest Arkansas
Kansas City moved a total of 15 players to Minor League Camp as part of a flurry of Spring Training moves
March 13, 2018Northwest Arkansas Naturals
NATIONAL
For Royals GM Dayton Moore, anti-porn message worth the scorn, scientific scrutiny
March 13, 2018By Bob Nightengale/USA Today Sports
MLB TRANSACTIONS
March 14, 2018 •.CBSSports.com
LOCAL
Royals view Dozier as future first baseman
Right-hander Almonte enjoying impressive spring camp
March 13, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
When camp opened, Hunter Dozier appeared to have at least a fair chance at becoming the Opening Day first baseman.
Of course, that all changed when the Royals signed veteran Lucas Duda. And on Monday, Dozier, ranked as the club's No. 7 prospect by MLB Pipeline, was optioned to Triple-A Omaha, which means he'll spend the rest of camp playing in Minor League games.
But the Royals still see Dozier as a potential future first baseman.
"I saw him get better at first base," manager Ned Yost said. "It's important that he get down to the Minor League side and get more playing time and experience.
"He'll play mostly first base [at Omaha]. I would say primarily first base, right field and third base, in that order."
Also optioned to Omaha was right-hander Kyle Zimmer, who has battled several injuries and surgeries over his Minor League career.
"He has to get over this hump," Yost said. "He feels pretty confident. He threw really, really good in live sessions. Didn't feel as great in the game [situation]."
Almonte making a move
Yost and his coaching staff have been very impressed with right-hander Miguel Almonte, the club's No. 12 prospect, this spring. Almonte has thrown seven scoreless innings over four outings with six strikeouts and zero walks.
"I like the fact he battled back from last year when he never got on track, and he has had a great spring," Yost said. "He's pitching with a lot of confidence. He's looking like the guy we always thought he could be."
Duffy gives up seven
Left-hander Danny Duffy made his third start this spring in the Royals' 9-8 loss to the A's on Tuesday. Duffy gave up seven hits and seven runs over 3 2/3 innings. He allowed three home runs, two of them to shortstop Jorge Mateo.
"I think he swung at every pitch but one," Duffy said. "If it's the regular season, you probably back him off a little. But you don't want to see anyone get hurt down here."
Camp battles
Non-roster invite Ryan Goins and Ramon Torres continue to battle for the utility infielder role. Goins went 2-for-3 on Tuesday, raising his spring average to .429. Torres went 1-for-2 and is hitting .400. Right-hander Kevin McCarthy continues to make a case for the setup role. He pitched a scoreless inning and lowered his ERA to 3.68.
Injury update
Outfielder Paulo Orlando remains out for a few more days because of a grade one hamstring strain that occurred while lunging for a line drive on Saturday.
Infielder Adalberto Mondesi continues on his no-throw program for another day or two because of shoulder impingement. Mondesi was the DH on Tuesday for the second straight day and homered.
Up next
Listen live on Gameday Audio as right-hander Ian Kennedy makes his third spring start at 3:05 p.m. CT on Wednesday when the Royals take on the Cubs at Surprise Stadium. Left-hander Brian Flynn and right-hander Brad Keller also are expected to pitch. Flynn is out of options and Keller is a Rule 5 Draft acquisition.
Royals unveil annual organizational awards
Moose recognized for earning AL Comeback Player honor
March 13, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Just before the Royals unveiled their annual organizational awards here on Tuesday morning, the club wanted to informally recognize a veteran player whom few thought would even be in attendance.
Third baseman Mike Moustakas, who signed a one-year deal with the Royals last weekend, was honored for two special achievements in 2017 -- the American League Comeback Player of the Year Award, and for breaking the franchise record for home runs with 38.
Moustakas stood and smiled as he received a nice ovation.
Then it was on to the organizational awards. Royals general manager Dayton Moore said of those, "This is a special celebration that brings the past and the present together. I think good families and good organizations recognize success and honor that."
Here's a look at the winners:
• Shortstop Angelo Castellano was the recipient of the Carlos Fortuna Award, which recognizes a player who is dedicated to improving his English. Castellano, 23, played in 116 games at Class A Lexington in 2017 and batted .245 with 14 doubles and 43 RBIs.
• Left-hander Foster Griffin received the Paul Splittorff Award as the top Minor League pitcher. Griffin, 22, who is ranked as the club's No. 10 prospect by MLB Pipeline, went 15-7 with a 3.35 ERA between Class A Advanced Wilmington and Double-A Northwest Arkansas.
• Outfielder Elier Hernandez took home the Mike Sweeney Award, which recognizes the player who best represents the organization on and off the field. Between Wilmington and Northwest Arkansas, Hernandez, 23, hit .317.
• Infielder Nicky Lopez, who made the all-prospect team in the Arizona Fall League, received the Frank White Defensive Player of the Year Award. Lopez, 23, who is the club's No. 6 prospect, made just eight errors in 129 games last season at shortstop between Wilmington and Northwest Arkansas.
• Outfielder Rudy Martin received the Willie Wilson Baserunner of the Year Award. Martin, 22, was 26-for-30 in stolen base attempts at Lexington.
• First baseman Frank Schwindel received the George Brett Hitter of the Year Award. Schwindel, 25, had 43 doubles, 23 home runs and 97 RBIs between Northwest Arkansas and Omaha.
• Current Royals hitting coach Terry Bradshaw took home the Dick Howser Award for the most outstanding player development person. Bradshaw had been the club's roving hitting instructor.
• Jeff Diskin, the team's cultural development coordinator, received the Matt Minker Award for most outstanding Minor League affiliates employee. Minker was the former managing partner of the Wilmington Blue Rocks.
• Matt Price, area scouting supervisor, received the Art Stewart Award for most outstanding scout.
Late rally not enough to take Danny Duffy off hook in Royals' 10th loss of the spring
March 13, 2018By Maria Torres/KC Star
The Royals rallied late but lost 9-8 to the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday at Surprise Stadium, falling to 8-10-1 in Cactus League play.
Starting pitcher Danny Duffy was not able to use his slider effectively in a 3 2/3-inning outing. A's leadoff hitter Jorge Mateo took advantage of some fastballs over the plate to hit two of the three home runs Duffy allowed.
"I think if I could go back and redo anything today it would have been just getting fastballs, four-seams, glove-side down in the zone as opposed to leaving them out over," Duffy said. "They went and got a couple of them."
The A's scored seven times off Duffy, then added a run each off relievers Brandon Maurer and Kelvin Herrera, the only two pitchers in camp who are guaranteed to join the Royals bullpen.
The Royals mounted a four-run comeback in the fourth inning and sent nine hitters to the plate in doing so. Cheslor Cuthbert, who led off the inning, was sent to first base after taking a pitch on his right wrist. But he remained in the game until the Royals subbed out starters in the sixth inning.
Cuthbert eventually scored on non-roster invitee Ryan Goins' double to right field. Adalberto Mondesi and Drew Butera also drove in a run each off A's starter Kendall Graveman. Ramon Torres greeted reliever Chris Hatcher with an RBI single to left field. But Hatcher retired the next three batters and stranded two Royals to get out the jam.
Mondesi capped a three-run rally in the ninth when he turned on a 1-2 pitch for a two-out, two-run homer to right field.
The Royals went 6 for 17 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight runners.
The Royals host the Chicago Cubs at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Surprise Stadium.
Mellinger Minutes: Royals
March 13, 2018By Sam Mellinger/KC Star
Chris Hessenflow: What are the Royals doing? I thought the last few years made it clear that teams should either try to win or try to rebuild, but not both at the same time. Seems like the Royals still can’t commit to either strategy.
I have a fundamental disagreement with the people who run the Royals. I believe they absolutely need to commit to winning or rebuilding, that trying to do both means being able to do neither, and I'll always wonder whether the Royals could've made up the five games difference between them and the second wild card last year by keeping Wade Davis and signing Josh Reddick.
That said, I will say two things in the front office's defense.
First, and this should be obvious, but they are smarter than me. They have more brainpower, more information, and live this in a way I just don't. Doesn't mean they're right, but it does mean it's worth remembering, and considering.
Second, I don't know anyone in the front office who doesn't believe they are rebuilding, and this is the critical point.
They believe they can do both at the same time or, perhaps more accurately, they believe maintaining a certain level of competitiveness at the big league level is critical for rebuilding.
I'll probably write more about this at some point, but basically the Royals believe their edge has to come from developing talent better than others. All teams have scouts, all teams have analytics, so if all teams are able to acquire roughly the same level of talent through the draft and internationally than the difference will be made by who is able to get that talent closest to the ceiling.
Part of that, they believe, is maintaining an everyday urgency and focus in the big leagues. Sort of a rising-tide-lifts-all-boats philosophy, where staying competitive is the best way to get the best efforts and production out of veterans like Danny Duffy and also more unproven talents like Adalberto Mondesi and Jorge Soler.
It's an interesting debate to have, but again, the most important part is that the front office doesn't believe it's no longer rebuilding.
They went 80-82 last year with Eric Hosmer and Lorenzo Cain having very good years. I don't believe anyone with the front office, or even coaching staff, thinks they have more than a puncher's chance at the postseason and that would be true with or without Moose.
Andy Slaughter: With moose, Jay, and duda signings does the Royals success (or lack of) now hinge on the pitching?
Yeah, I think that's probably true.
But, well, the holes elsewhere should not be undersold. The Royals were 13th out of 15 American League teams in runs last year and will be without two of their three most productive hitters from last year.
The Duda signing is good value, but he's not a replacement for Hosmer. Jay is a fine big leaguer, but that signing (I assume) only happened because they knew the Jorge Bonifacio suspension was coming. Moose is a very good player, but are you expecting him to match 38 homers?
Anyway, the pitching. Yes. Depending on how much you knock Duffy for missing eight or so starts, the Royals will be replacing their most productive or second-most productive starting pitcher with Nate Karns, who has gone 149 2/3 innings combined the last two seasons.
But the biggest weakness on the roster is the bullpen. Kelvin Herrera is back, and even if you agree with me that he'll be much better in 2018 than 2017, they're still without Scott Alexander, Mike Minor, Peter Moylan, Ryan Buchter, and more. And the bullpen was rather mediocre last year.
That's a lot to make up.
This is probably a 70-or-so win team. Baseball is funky, and there's a scenario out there in which this group is good enough to compete into the late summer, but yeah. The pitching needs to be better, for sure.
Eric Fuentes-Ruiz: Even in free agency, seemed like our boys in blue didn’t get much interest. Hos was a bigger deal than any of other ones but market was flat? Moose came back with tail between his legs (love to have him back)? Collusion? No one seemed overpaid. Head scratcher. Thoughts?
I don't agree with the notion that it was about the Royals, specifically. Hosmer signed a terrific contract — three years and $105 million guaranteed, with a three-year, $39 million parachute if he doesn't opt out. Lorenzo Cain got $80 million over five years, which certainly seems fair if you balance his talent with age and position.
Alcides Escobar didn't get much interest and, let's be honest, that was deserved. He's a fine enough shortstop, but he's also 31 and one of the least productive hitters in baseball.
Mike Moustakas got a raw deal, and I assume we're all adults here so we can keep perspective while talking about a man whose new contract guarantees him $6.5 million to play baseball.
But in a typical year, according to people who live in this world, he would've been worth a contract of four or five years and $60 million or more. When the Royals made the qualifying offer of $17.4 million, they did it with the full expectation that he would turn them down, and provide a higher comp pick by signing a contract worth $50 million or more.
The problems are varied, and complicated.
The market was screwy for nearly everyone. That has to do with the players getting worked over in the current CBA, which means more teams than ever are incentivized not to spend, and additionally are valuing players differently.
This was especially true for Moose, because homers are being devalued, there weren't a lot of spenders in need of third basemen, and those who did took different routes.
The Angels opted for positional versatility and athleticism with Zack Cozart. The Giants traded for Evan Longoria, at least in part to protect their draft picks. The Yankees would've made the most sense, but they wanted to stay under the luxury tax.
Look, fans aren't going to feel sorry for Moustakas. He's an adult, paid handsomely to play baseball, and we should all be so good at our jobs that the system screws us and we still have a chance to make $8.7 million if we hit our performance bonuses.
But his agent Scott Boras — who, yes, absolutely, 100 percent misread the market like pretty much everyone else — was dead right when he said the system failed Moose.
Owners are going to make tens of millions of dollars more in profits this year because the system of paying players their market worth has broken down.
After this season, Manny Machado and Bryce Harper and others are going to sign massive contracts and people are going to clap back at the idea of salaries being diminished, but the current CBA is awful for players and it's going to cause one heck of a fight when it's time to negotiate the next one.
Renee Wiebe-Hultgren: If you could change one thing about the KC sports scene, what would it be?
Just one? I could say an NBA or NHL team, or the Chiefs being better with access or playoff leads, or the elimination of the civic inferiority complex that seeps into sports and means too many fans spend too much time worried about what national media outlets are saying, but I suppose I should stay at least a little realistic:
A downtown ballpark for the Royals.
I love Kauffman Stadium. It's where I saw my first major league game, and have had some of my favorite professional moments. It's beautiful and comfortable and familiar and terrific but it's also isolated from everything but Taco Bell.