Daily Clips
March 9, 2018
LOCAL
Duffy works on breaking balls, cruises in start
Merrifield, Orlando rack up two more hits each vs. White Sox
March 8, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Royals like options for utility infield spot
Incumbent Torres, veteran Goins waging spirited competition this spring
March 8, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Moose returning to Royals
March 8, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Royals 12, White Sox 0: Whit Merrifield continues torrid hitting
March 8, 2018By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
Thank goodness the Legend of Bo Jackson lives on
March 8, 2018By Sam Mellinger/KC Star
Royals are bringing back Mike Moustakas on short-term contract, reports say
March 8, 2018By Maria Torres/KC Star
A story about Mike Moustakas and baseball and money
March 8, 2018By Sam Mellinger/KC Star
Danny Duffy's funny tweet shows he's excited that Mike Moustakas is coming back
March 8, 2018By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
A timeline of Mike Moustakas' key moments with the Royals
March 8, 2018By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
The Royals are pursuing Mike Moustakas on a one-year deal, a source confirms
March 8, 2018By Rustin Dodd/The Athletic KC
How a cold market sent Mike Moustakas back to Kansas City and altered the Royals' 2018 plans
March 8, 2018By Rustin Dodd/The Athletic KC
NATIONAL
Sources: Mike Moustakas, Royals agree to deal
March 8, 2018By Jeff Passan/Yahoo! Sports
Mike Moustakas still unable to cash in
March 8, 2018By Jon Heyman/FanRagSports.com
Royals back talking to Moustakas about possible return
March 8, 2018By Jon Heyman/FanRagSports.com
How Eric Hosmer became a San Diego Padre
March 8, 2018By Jon Heyman/FanRagSports.com
Mike Moustakas returning to Royals - and taking pay cut after record-setting season
March 8, 2018By Steve Gardner & Bob Nightengale/USA Today Sports
A sampling of MLB players guaranteed more money than Mike Moustakas in 2018
March 8, 2018By Gabe Lacques/USA Today Sports
Source: Rox, CarGo nearing one-year deal
March 8, 2018By Matt Kelly/MLB.com
MLB TRANSACTIONS
March 9, 2018 •.CBSSports.com
LOCAL
Duffy works on breaking balls, cruises in start
Merrifield, Orlando rack up two more hits each vs. White Sox
March 8, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Royals left-hander Danny Duffy, likely the Opening Day starter, didn't exactly reach back with everything he had in his second spring outing Thursday.
Duffy didn't need to.
Duffy breezed through three scoreless innings, giving up two hits and one walk while striking out four. He threw 48 pitches, 30 for strikes. Next time out, he'll be stretched out to 65 pitches.
"Today I didn't really hit the gas 100 percent with my fastball," Duffy said. "When I climbed the ladder, I let it eat a little. But it's a long season. Just trying to hit my spots."
Duffy's plan Thursday was simply to execute his breaking pitches.
"Yeah, I think just my breaking-ball command and slider is what I wanted to work on," he said. "Pretty pleased with my slider. Bounced a couple of curveballs but my fastball got me back in the count the whole way."
The Royals crushed the White Sox, 12-0, behind three home runs -- Jorge Soler (his team-leading fourth), Samir Duenez and Cody Asche.
Two-hit Whit
Second baseman Whit Merrifield continued his amazing spring with two more hits. Merrifield had a double and a two-run triple.
Merrifield now is 11-for-22 with three doubles, three triples and a home run.
"He's torrid right now," manager Ned Yost said. "Him and Paulo [Orlando] have been like that since they got here."
Camp battles
Orlando, likely in a battle for the fifth and final outfield spot with Michael Saunders and Tyler Collins, continued his hot spring with two hits and a hit by pitch. Orlando now is hitting .474.
Saunders, who is 6-for-14 this spring, had a two-run single.
Injury update
Infielder Adalberto Mondesi continues to sit out with a sore arm. He could be back this weekend.
Center fielder Bubba Starling remains out with oblique soreness. He also could be back this weekend.
Up next
The Royals play split-squad games Friday. Right-hander Ian Kennedy will take the mound at Surprise Stadium against the D-backs in a 2:05 p.m. CT start. Right-handers Wily Peralta, Brad Keller and Kevin McCarthy also are expected to throw.
In the other split-squad game, right-hander Scott Barlow will start against the Dodgers in Glendale at 2:05 p.m. CT. That will be an MLB.TV game. Right-hander Kyle Zimmer also is expected to make his Cactus League debut.
Royals like options for utility infield spot
Incumbent Torres, veteran Goins waging spirited competition this spring
March 8, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
It may not be the sexiest battle in Royals camp. But the battle for the utility infielder role this spring may be the most competitive.
In one corner is 25-year-old switch-hitting Ramon Torres, who held the job for the Royals in the second half of 2017, hitting .243 over 33 games while playing a strong defense.
In the other corner is 30-year-old Ryan Goins, a left-handed-hitting veteran who played in 143 games for Toronto last season and brings experience -- even postseason experience.
Who has the edge? Royals manager Ned Yost thinks it's neck and neck.
"I think [Torres] has been doing a good job," Yost said. "Goins is doing a good job. I like what I've seen from both."
Offensively, Torres and Goins are virtually even this spring: Torres is 6-for-14 with two doubles while Goins is 6-for-13 with a triple. Both have been solid in the infield, moving among shortstop, second base and third base.
Yost knows what he has in Torres.
"My opinion hasn't changed much from last year," Yost said. "But I know he had a good winter and he's been good here."
Yost said there is some value to Goins' Major League experience.
"But I don't value it as much as you think," Yost said. "I'm looking for production. I'm looking for versatility.
"But it helps with the success he's had in Toronto, just from the experience level. You know, been there, done that. I've been impressed with his ability to play all three positions.
"And it has been good to see him on a longer look than just two or three games like when he was with Toronto."
Goins, of course, is motivated, having been non-tendered by the Blue Jays after five seasons in Toronto.
"It was shocking to get non-tendered," Goins said. "I went through a couple days of hurt. You have bad intent. But you get over it. It's a first-class organization.
"And now I'm here. This is a great opportunity. I like how these guys play, having played against them in the regular season and in the playoffs. Similar to Toronto."
Yost also is intrigued by two other players on the fringe of the competition -- switch-hitting Erick Mejia, whom the Royals acquired from the Dodgers, and Humberto Arteaga, who has been in the system since 2011.
"Mejia has been very impressive at first look," Yost said. "Young, athletic middle infielder that can switch-hit. Very pleased with what I've seen from him.
"But really, I've been happy with what I've seen with all of them."
Moose returning to Royals
March 8, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Mike Moustakas has agreed to a one-year deal with a mutual second-year option with the Kansas City Royals, according to sources. The deal, which was first reported by Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan, guarantees him $6.5 million and can max out at $22.7 million.
Royals general manager Dayton Moore had made it clear in recent weeks that the club still had interest in Moustakas, but it was not interested in signing any multiyear deals as it goes through a rebuilding process.
The Royals did make Moustakas a qualifying offer last fall for $17.4 million. Because Moustakas received a qualifying offer, any team (other than the Royals) that signed him would have had to forfeit a Draft pick and international bonus pool money, which gave Kansas City an edge in negotiations. However, next year's free-agent market is set to be loaded with third basemen, including Josh Donaldson and Manny Machado, though the latter is set to play shortstop this year.
Kansas City also tried to re-sign first baseman Eric Hosmer, who signed an eight-year deal with the Padres.
The Royals remained in touch with Moustakas this offseason, but they did not hold out much hope of a reunion, primarily because of the belief Moustakas would get multiyear offers elsewhere.
With the eventual addition of Moustakas, who set a Royals franchise record with 38 home runs last season, Kansas City will have to clear space on the 40-man roster.
Moustakas' arrival also presents a challenge for manager Ned Yost to find consistent at-bats for Cheslor Cuthbert. The Royals have been adamant this spring that they want to get 500-600 at-bats for Cuthbert, Jorge Soler and Jorge Bonifacio as part of their development this sesaon.
But with Moustakas at third base and Lucas Duda at first base, Cuthbert may have to see plenty of time at DH. And the DH spot could be a logjam now with the recent signing of outfielder Jon Jay, who figures to play regularly and likely would force Soler to see time at DH.
And the Moustakas signing will have a significant impact on the 25-man roster as well. The Royals now likely will carry six infielders instead of five, which would force them to perhaps go with four outfielders -- Soler, Jay, Alex Gordon and Bonifacio -- instead of five. Paulo Orlando, who opened camp as the primary center fielder and is having a solid spring, has an option remaining.
The Royals also could decide to carry seven relievers instead of eight, which would keep Orlando on the 25-man roster.
Royals 12, White Sox 0: Whit Merrifield continues torrid hitting
March 8, 2018By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
The Royals scored in each of the first five innings, including four multi-run frames, and routed the White Sox 12-0 on Thursday at The Ballpark at Camelback Ranch.
The game
Second baseman Whit Merrifield ended his, ahem, one-game hitless streak as he had a double, a triple, stole home on a botched play and added two RBIs.
Merrifield, who has hit in seven of eight games, is batting .500 with three doubles, three triples and five RBIs in Cactus League play. He has a 1.045 slugging percentage and four mulit-hit games.
"There's not much slowing him down, that's for sure," manager Ned Yost said.
On Thursday, Merrifield hit a leadoff double and moved to third on a ground-out. Jorge Soler drew a walk and stole second when the White Sox neglected to cover the base. That allowed Merrifield to trot home with the game's first run.
An inning later, Merrifield tripled home a pair of runs to make it 3-0. Soler (solo shot) and third baseman Cody Asche (three-run blast) hit home runs in the third inning. Designated hitter Samir Duenez crushed a two-run homer in the fourth inning as the Royals took a 9-0 lead.
In the fifth inning, Erick Meija had an RBI double and Michael Saunders added a two-run single to make it 12-0.
"The offensive side was really good," Yost said.
The starter
Left-hander Danny Duffy tossed three scoreless innings, allowing two hits with one walk and four strikeouts. He scuffled a bit in the second inning, allowing a hit and yelling in frustration after issuing a walk on a 3-2 pitch.
"I wasn't pleased with that," Duffy said. "I wanted to throw a slider for a strike there, just to see if it would work, I guess. Everybody preaches your fastball would be good enough to get anybody out, but I wanted to make sure I was consistent with my slider, and for the most part I was. Didn't get a whole lot of swing-and-misses on it, but I was pleased with the action."
Duffy rebounded with a sharp third inning, needing just 11 pitches to set the White Sox down in order. He threw 48 pitches overall, 30 for strikes, and plans to ramp up to 65 in his next outing.
After two starts this spring, Duffy said he's right where he wants to be.
"Today, I didn't hit the gas 100 percent with my fastball outside of when I tried to climb the ladder a little bit. ... Just trying to stay within myself," Duffy said. "It's a long season, so I was just trying to kind of hit my spots, hit my location with every pitch and when the time comes, and it's down to the nitty-gritty, I'll be ready to go."
Soler power ... and patience
Soler's home run was his fourth of the spring, which leads the Royals. He also has a team-high five walks.
"He's been that guy," Yost said. "It's been a big part of his game is the on-base percentage, and that's an important part of the game."
Orlando's hot, too
Center fielder Paulo Orlando had two hits and was hit by a pitch. Orlando's average this spring is up to .474.
Yost has been just as impressed with Orlando as he is with Merrifield.
"It's been amazing the way that they've swung the bat all through spring training," Yost said. "They got here hot and they're continuing to stay hot."
Sweet relief
Miguel Almonte (two innings, one hit), Blaine Boyer (one inning, one hit), Trevor Oaks (one hitless inning), Richard Lovelady (two strikeouts in a hitless inning) and Sam Gaviglio (one inning, one hit) were all stellar out of the bullpen.
"First chance to see Lovelady, pretty impressive," Yost said. "I liked what he did. Almonte had two clean innings, Oaks with a good inning. Pitching was really good."
Up next
The Royals will play two on Friday. A split-squad team will face the Diamondbacks at 2:05 p.m. in Surprise, and Ian Kennedy will get the start. Scott Barlow will start for the other team of Royals, which will face the Dodgers at the same time at Camelback Ranch.
Thank goodness the Legend of Bo Jackson lives on
March 8, 2018By Sam Mellinger/KC Star
The voice boomed before I could see the man, and even though we've never actually met I knew exactly who it was.
"This is my back porch!" Bo Jackson screamed from a chair. "You young'ns get off my grass!"
Bo was joking, I think, but even if he wasn't everyone laughed because the alternative was clapping back. Nobody claps back at Bo.
He is here at Royals camp this week, and it's hard to know exactly what he's doing. He watches batting practice. Talks with players and coaches. Mostly, he's here being Bo Jackson and that's plenty for anyone who saw him throw out Harold Reynolds for the Royals or run over Brian Bosworth for the Raiders.
That moment in the chair resonated. Bo is 55 years old now, and even if he carries the swagger of the world's greatest athlete it's also true that time waits for no man. He's getting older, moving slower. He was the athlete of my youth, and many youths around the country, so Bo getting older and slower means we're all getting older and slower.
This isn't the first spring training that I'm older than every Royals player, but with Chris Young gone, it's the first time nobody's at least within a year or so. Adalberto Mondesi may be the Royals' future. I was in high school when he was born.
The athlete of my dad's youth was Mickey Mantle. He told me so many stories. Whenever a stud came up in baseball, I'd ask if he was as strong and fast as Mantle. Dad always shook his head. When I asked about Bo, he allowed that it was close.
To me, Dad might as well have said Bo was a god. But I never saw Mantle play. Only stories, and statistics, and, man, so many stories. I could never appreciate Mantle like my dad, no matter how hard I tried.
Bo's presence here got me thinking about all of that. About age, about perspective, about history, about youth. The ballplayers in this clubhouse — these kids — never saw Bo play. Not really. Not like I did, anyway.
When Bo's hip gave out on that carry down the sideline against the Bengals, Danny Duffy was 2. Still in diapers. And he's one of the older guys in here. How could he know?
Did he even know who Bo was? I asked.
"Bro," he said. "We all know."
Really?
"My uncle Josh was like 6 years older than me, and he would just wear me out with Bo Jackson stuff," Duffy said. "We'd play Tecmo Super Bowl, and Josh would always be Bo Jackson. I couldn't tackle him. He'd run back and forth all over the field, just zigzagging, and I couldn't do anything about it."
Uncle Josh sounds like a great man, and this is about when I start to feel like the age gap isn't as much. Or, maybe, YouTube and ESPN's You Don't Know Bo have just closed the gap.