Daily Clips
March 26, 2018
LOCAL
Duffy feels good, ready for Opening Day start
Royals lefty reports no issues after Sunday's throwing session
March 25, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Peralta expecting to see better results in KC
Royals reliever isn't concerned with Spring Training numbers
March 25, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
What we learned at Royals spring training ...
March 25, 2018By Maria Torres/KC Star
NATIONAL
Phils ink Kingery to unprecedented 6-year deal
Club's No. 2 prospect becomes 2nd drafted player in history to sign multiyear contract before MLB debut
March 25, 2018By Todd Zolecki/MLB.com
Why Altuve's deal makes sense; Boras gives his side; stop worrying about Ohtani; more notes
March 25, 2018By Ken Rosenthal/The Athletic
MLB TRANSACTIONS
March 26, 2018 •.CBSSports.com
LOCAL
Duffy feels good, ready for Opening Day start
Royals lefty reports no issues after Sunday's throwing session
March 25, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Royals left-hander Danny Duffy, who gave fans a scare when he left Saturday's game after two-plus innings with shoulder tightness, threw on the side on Sunday afternoon and he pronounced himself ready to go for Thursday's Opening Day start against the White Sox.
Duffy even seemed amused that reporters gathered around his locker after the 5-3 loss to the Cubs on Sunday in the Cactus League finale. The Royals finished 16-13-3.
"Hey, I didn't even play," Duffy said, smiling.
But when asked, Duffy did report he tested his left shoulder with a throwing session.
"I threw at 100 feet," he said, "then played catch, spun some curveballs, threw some changeups.
"It felt fine. It was good."
Duffy will throw a side session in Omaha, Neb., on Monday when the Royals play their final exhibition game. Duffy will take Tuesday off and play catch at the team's workout on Wednesday at Kauffman Stadium.
"Then chuck the rock on Thursday," Duffy said.
Kennedy sharp
In right-hander Ian Kennedy's final tuneup before the regular season, he went five innings against the Cubs and he gave up five hits and one run. He walked two and struck out eight.
Kennedy likely will pitch on Saturday against the White Sox in the second game of the regular season at Kauffman Stadium.
Roster moves
After Sunday's game, the Royal assigned the following players to Minor League camp: pitchers Mike Broadway, Clay Buchholz and Seth Maness; infielders Humberto Arteaga and Frank Schwindel and outfielders Billy Burns and Tyler Collins.
That leaves the Royals with 29 players in Major League camp, which does not include pitcher Jesse Hahn (60-day disabled list) or outfielder Jorge Bonifacio (suspended). Of the 29 players remaining, two (Blaine Boyer, Ryan Goins) are non-roster invitees.
Getting a look at Orlando
Royals manager Ned Yost had all of his regulars in the starting lineup on Sunday except outfielder Jorge Soler, who was replaced by Paulo Orlando.
Soler entered as a defensive replacement after five innings.
"I just wanted to give Paulo a look because he has been dealing with a sore knee," Yost said. "He had that sore hamstring and then he got a little fluid in the knee. He's fine, but we just want to test it."
Camp battles
Right-hander Burch Smith, a Rule 5 Draft acquisition trying to grab a spot in the bullpen, pitched two scoreless and hitless innings while striking out five.
Left-hander Brian Flynn, also competing for a bullpen spot, pitched a scoreless inning.
Injury update
Infielder Adalberto Mondesi, who has been battling a right shoulder impingement, made his first start in the field at second base since early March on Saturday. He will remain in Arizona for extended spring.
Outfielder Bubba Starling is still out with a strained oblique, but he began throwing on Thursday and said he expects to be hitting in 7-10 days. He also will remain in Arizona after camp breaks, but he said he expects to be ready to go to Triple-A Omaha by the third week of April.
Up next
Listen live on Gameday Audio as left-hander Eric Skoglund is expected to start at 6:05 p.m. CT on Monday in an exhibition game against Omaha at Werner Park.
Peralta expecting to see better results in KC
Royals reliever isn't concerned with Spring Training numbers
March 25, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Royals right-hander Wily Peralta promises he'll be better in April than he was in March.
Peralta, signed to a one-year deal in the offseason, has had a rough camp, posting a 13.50 ERA in six outings.
Peralta, trying to make the conversion from a starter to the bullpen, will stay in Arizona after camp breaks on Sunday to pitch two innings in a Minor League game on Monday.
"We just want him to get a little more work in," manager Ned Yost said. "His timing is just a little off."
Peralta isn't too worried about his spring statistics.
"Yeah, it's kind of normal for me," Peralta said. "I always have a rough Spring Training. I only care about the health of my arm, my body. I cannot tell you a Spring Training where I had really good numbers."
Actually, Peralta, 28, has had one good Spring Training -- in 2017 with the Brewers, he posted a 0.71 ERA in 12 2/3 innings. But his overall ERA in Spring Training is 5.49.
"When the lights turn on, it's a different story," Peralta said. "I only have to think about getting people out. Here, you're working on certain things. But I feel really good."
And Peralta said the conversion to the bullpen is going well.
"It's a little bit different," he said. "But I feel like I'm used to it right now.
"The only thing I really care about down here is if my arm is feeling good and my velo is good. The pitches here don't move as much as they will in Kansas City or somewhere else in the league with normal air. Here, with the dry air, the ball doesn't move as much."
Peralta's velocity here has been in the 95-97 mph range.
"When it gets warmer and the air is normal," he said, "I'll be up there to 97-98-99. You'll see."
What we learned at Royals spring training ...
March 25, 2018By Maria Torres/KC Star
The Old Dominion moving trucks left days ago, bound for Kauffman Stadium laden with the Royals’ equipment.
And now the Royals are finally following their lead.
After dropping their last Cactus League game on Sunday — a 5-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Surprise Stadium — the Royals (16-13-3) are off to Nebraska for a final exhibition game against the Class AAA Omaha Storm Chasers at 6 p.m. Monday.
After six weeks spent pruning and readjusting their roster, the Royals will finally return to Kansas City for the season opener against the Chicago White Sox at 3 p.m. Thursday. Left-hander Danny Duffy, who was removed from his start on Sunday, is still on track to make the opening day start.
pring training is nearly over. Here are some things we learned along the way:
Depth at first base
When they entered camp with one true first baseman on their 40-man roster — Samir Duenez, a 21-year-old prospect who hasn’t played above Class AA — the Royals appeared ready to experiment with the position throughout spring training. They asked prospect Hunter Dozier, primarily a third baseman, to take his reps early in spring exclusively at first base. They spent a lot of time evaluating prospects Ryan O’Hearn and Frank Schwindel. Even Whit Merrifield logged time at the corner infield spot.
But four days after Cactus League competition started on Feb. 24, the Royals signed former Mets and Rays first baseman Lucas Duda to a one-year, major-league contract. They didn’t want to rush the development of their prospects. Plus, they were short on left-handed bats in the lineup, with outfielder Alex Gordon the only lefty hitter guaranteed to start.
Of course, the dearth of lefty hitters has since been solved by the addition of outfielder Jon Jay and the return of third baseman Mike Moustakas.
But the Duda signing allowed the Royals to take a more relaxed approach with Dozier, O’Hearn and Schwindel, each of whom made noticeable strides in the field and proved they’re not too far from being major-league ready.
In the last two weeks, O’Hearn and Schwindel also won manager Ned Yost over with their bats.
O’Hearn, who was reassigned to minor-league camp on Wednesday, hit .400 with four doubles, one triple, five homers and 13 RBIs in 19 games.
Schwindel busted out of a 1 for 20 slump to start a 14 for 21 tear. He hit seven home runs and four doubles and drove in 17 runs during the streak, which began March 12.
“Him and O’Hearn were another very nice, pleasant surprise, to see both of those kids developing to the point where they’re within reach of being on the big-league team,” Yost said.
Cheslor Cuthbert proved this spring that he could handle first base, too, which will make it easier for Cuthbert to get the 400-450 major-league at-bats the Royals want him to log this season.
Dearth of major-league-ready starters
The Royals made concerted efforts this spring to deepen their roster where they needed to most, signing veteran starters Ricky Nolasco and Clay Buchholz to minor-league contracts a few weeks apart. Those efforts went for naught when Nolasco, who had an opt-out clause, was released on Saturday. Buchholz signed on Tuesday and is hoping to make a comeback from forearm surgery he underwent last season, so it won’t be until April that the Royals can really begin to evaluate him on the mound.
But Buchholz’s contract also has an opt-out clause. If he’s not on the Royals’ 25-man roster by May 1, he can ask for his release.
His departure would leave the Royals with few major-league-ready starters who could fill in if an injury were to befall the rotation of Danny Duffy, Ian Kennedy, Jason Hammel, Nate Karns and Jakob Junis.
Eric Skoglund, who made five starts for the Royals last year, could be an option. But in the last week of the spring, the Royals have considered carrying Skoglund on the 25-man roster as a middle reliever.
Former Athletics starter Jesse Hahn is not eligible to return from the 60-day disabled list, on which he was placed March 6 because of a right ulnar collateral ligament sprain, until sometime in May at the earliest.
Trevor Oaks, acquired from the Dodgers and optioned to Class AAA Omaha, might be their only option — unless the Royals decide to give prospect Miguel Almonte another shot as a starter. Or if they make another move to acquire a seasoned pitcher.
Tim Hill’s wacky delivery
The Royals’ 32nd-round pick of the 2014 draft appears poised for a breakout season. Although he spent most of last year pitching at Class AA Northwest Arkansas, where he posted a 4.17 ERA in 69 innings, Hill was protected from the Rule-5 draft when the Royals placed him on the 40-man roster.
And Hill has done little else but impress the Royals since. His side-arm delivery and low 90s fastball held hitters to a .182 batting average. In seven outings, Hill allowed two earned runs over seven innings.
The Royals want the left-hander to improve his slider, so he’s a long shot to make the opening day roster. But once he’s got the pitch under his belt, Hill might see a call-up to the major leagues sooner rather than later.
“Hill will do good,” general manager Dayton Moore said. “He can throw strikes. He’ll do really good. Now (hitters) may catch up with him, but tell me one guy who pitches like that in the major leagues.
“I think Hill can be more than a situational left-hander.”
Also, don't sleep on hard-throwing reliever Mike Broadway, a non-roster invitee. Before he coughed up five earned runs in one inning against the San Francisco Giants on Friday, the 30-year-old had only allowed one run on five hits in his previous six outings. He ended the spring with 11 strikeouts and only issued one walk.
Up next
After Sunday’s game, the Royals assigned Schwindel, Buchholz, Tyler Collins, Mike Broadway, Seth Maness, Humberto Arteaga and Billy Burns to minor-league camp. There are now 29 players remaining in major-league camp.
The Royals will take a day off after Monday’s exhibition game. They will hold a preseason workout on Wednesday at 5 p.m., which will give them a chance to test the new LED lighting system installed at Kauffman Stadium this winter.
NATIONAL
Phils ink Kingery to unprecedented 6-year deal
Club's No. 2 prospect becomes 2nd drafted player in history to sign multiyear contract before MLB debut
March 25, 2018By Todd Zolecki/MLB.com
Scott Kingery beamed Sunday afternoon as teammate after teammate shook his hand and congratulated him at Spectrum Field.
He not only made the Opening Day roster but guaranteed he will be in a Phillies uniform for a long time.
The Phillies and Kingery signed a six-year, $24 million contract Sunday that will carry him through the 2023 season and includes club options for '24-'26 that could make the deal worth $65 million, a source told MLB.com. If Kingery becomes a superstar like the Phillies believe he will, it will be a marvelous, club-friendly deal. Kingery, meanwhile, just became set for life. Kingery's teammates? They believe they just got a whole lot closer to their postseason dreams.
"I'm getting chills just thinking about it," teammate Rhys Hoskins said. "I'm so excited for this team. It's an exciting day."
In an unprecedented day for the Phillies, Kingery became just the second drafted player in baseball history to sign a multiyear contract before he ever spent a day in the big leagues. Houston's Jon Singleton is the other.
The Phillies see little risk. They believe Kingery, who is the No. 35 prospect in baseball and the Phillies' No. 2 prospect, is that good.
"He's the kind of guy you make an investment in," Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said. "He's the kind of character you make an investment in. He's the kind of all-around athlete that you make an investment in. Now, we have leaders in our clubhouse. Guys who we will be working with for years and years to come. They are the right kind of leaders. They post every day. They play their hearts out. They care for their teammates. Guys like Scott, but not just Scott. Rhys Hoskins and Jake Arrieta and Aaron Nola. Our core guys lead by example. And how cool is that? I don't think there are a lot of clubs who can say that."
Kingery's contract creates a fascinating storyline for the 2018 Phillies.
Simply, how will it work?
A source said the Phillies have no plans to trade Cesar Hernandez, Maikel Franco or any other player to give Kingery more playing time. The Phillies believe Kapler can manage the roster effectively enough to keep everybody happy. Hernandez could be the most affected, considering second base is both players' natural position.
Hernandez said he is not worried about it. Kapler said he shouldn't be.
"We've been discussing it since the offseason with all of our guys who can play multiple positions," Kapler said. "It's an awesome issue to address. And I think it starts with getting guys blows to keep them healthy and strong. We'll do that with guys all over the diamond. Then Scott gets his reps at positions all over the place. At the end of the day, these guys are all going to look up and be like, 'Holy smokes. I played every day, somehow, some way.'"
Kapler, who declined to say if Kingery will be in the Opening Day lineup, said he sees Kingery being able to start at six different positions: second base, third base, shortstop and the three outfield positions. Kapler added he could see Kingery maybe even starting at first base later this season.
Kingery and Phillies general manager Matt Klentak will address their thoughts on the contract and playing time in a 9 a.m. ET Monday news conference, but it's safe to say they will echo Kapler's thoughts and enthusiasm.
"This isn't new," Kapler said. "The Cubs have done it with their players. The Dodgers have done it with their players. The Astros have done it with their players. Scotty fits that profile beautifully. Part of this is his buy-in from the very beginning. 'I'll play anywhere.' One of the things we told him today was, 'Bring all of your gloves.' Right? Every glove you have, bring it. Be prepared to go in at any time and start a lot. Get a lot of repetitions. We'll demonstrate we are capable of a juggling act."
Kingery had been ticketed to open the season in Triple-A because the Phillies could guarantee an extra season of team control if they waited until April 13 to promote him.
The contract makes that no longer an issue.