Daily Clips
January 18, 2018
LOCAL
The Royals’ crystal ball for 2018: Eric Hosmer will return, plus 17 other predictions
January 17, 2018By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
Royals minor-league players visited Yordano Ventura’s grave last week
January 17, 2018By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
Big Slick stars have a special fondness for new Royals executive Gene Lamont
January 17, 2018By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
NATIONAL
Morneau retires, starts new chapter with Twins
Former AL MVP to provide hitting advice, work in player development
January 18, 2018By Rhett Bollinger/MLB.com
Royals Agree To Minor League Deal With Tyler Collins
January 17, 2018By Steve Adams/MLB Trade Rumors
MLB TRANSACTIONS
January 18, 2018 •.CBSSports.com
LOCAL
The Royals’ crystal ball for 2018: Eric Hosmer will return, plus 17 other predictions
January 17, 2018By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
When the offseason began, the conventional wisdom in baseball circles had settled. Eric Hosmer, a free agent for the first time, was a strong fit in Boston. Mike Moustakas was likely headed to the Los Angeles Angels. And finally, there was Lorenzo Cain, a dynamic center fielder and former All-Star. The market was likely to be bullish.
The Royals, the wisdom suggested, would lack the financial means to compete for Hosmer, Moustakas and Cain. So they would transition to a rebuilding phase, paring down payroll and replenishing their farm system. In a best-case scenario, they would lose for three seasons, restocking the cupboard and focusing on development, arriving at the start of a new win cycle in 2021 or 2022.
So here is the disclaimer about the wisdom of predictions.
Two and a half months into the offseason, Hosmer, Moustakas and Cain are still free agents, their futures uncertain in a depressed and sluggish market. Boston appeared to pass on Hosmer. Same with the Angels and Moustakas. Cain, meanwhile, is one of dozens and dozens of free agents who remain without an employer.
With all that in mind, and understanding that a majority of these prognostications will turn out to be quite wrong, here are 18 Royals predictions for 2018.
1. They will sign Eric Hosmer. Yep, starting big. The market for Hosmer hasn’t quite developed as expected. The Red Sox signed first baseman Mitch Moreland. The Yankees traded for outfielder Giancarlo Stanton and are comfortable with Greg Bird at first base. And, of course, many of the richest teams in baseball already have franchise first basemen in place, which has depressed the first base market all across baseball.
There’s also the rather public debate about the value of Hosmer.
For weeks, the Royals and San Diego Padres have emerged as the only public suitors, while other clubs, such as the Cardinals, have floated slightly below the surface, bandied about as possibilities. The Royals, for now, remain in strong position.
One month before spring training, the biggest threat to Hosmer’s return is likely a mystery team emerging late in the process. But if the Royals are willing to dole out around $140 million for Hosmer — and indications have been strong — it’s hard to envision a better scenario coming to fruition.
Yes, Hosmer would likely prefer to be in a situation in which he could compete and win. Neither San Diego or Kansas City can provide that now. But the Royals can offer two things that other teams cannot. Hosmer is comfortable here. He can also burnish his legacy.
This is no sure thing. Put another way: If we were assessing the chances for Hosmer’s return, we might still rank the possibility at close to 30 or 40 percent. But for now, that might make the Royals the favorite.
2. The Royals will re-sign a homegrown star, and it will not significantly change the club’s long-term plans. Perhaps this sounds counter-intuitive. What’s the point of spending $125 to $140 million on Hosmer when you are unlikely to be competitive for three seasons? This is a good question. And whether the Royals should sign Hosmer is a matter worth debating. But if the Royals finagle a way to re-sign their homegrown star, their focus will remain on the farm system and a rebuilding plan.
3. The trades have just begun, so buckle in. On Jan. 4, the Royals parted ways with relievers Scott Alexander and Joakim Soria, acquiring starting pitcher Trevor Oaks and infield prospect Erick Mejia. There will be more.
The club will seek more financial flexibility, which will mean dumping Jason Hammel’s salary and dealing reliever Kelvin Herrera. It will also mean some moves that will shock the fan base.
The Royals fielded interest on starting pitcher Danny Duffy at the winter meetings. They will continue to do so, and multiple teams are reportedly interested. Whit Merrifield could also be available at the right price.
The Royals have no reason to rush into a deal, of course, and Duffy remains under contract for another four seasons. But sooner or later, the rebuilding plan will necessitate some bold strokes. Expect some moves that will hurt.
4. Lorenzo Cain will not re-sign with the Royals. But he will make an All-Star Game in 2018 and be viewed as one of the steals of the offseason.
5. The 2018 Royals will lose more than 90 games for the first time in six years. In fact, they will likely lose more games than any team since Hosmer and Moustakas debuted in Kansas City in 2011. In Dan Szymborski’s ZiPS projections, released last week at FanGraphs.com, the Royals projected to have just three starting position players worth more than one win above replacement. Those players were Salvador Perez, Whit Merrifield and Alex Gordon. Five projected every-day players, meanwhile, will be worth close to zero wins above replacement. Most projections have the Royals among the bottom three in baseball.
But don’t the Royals often out-perform the projections? For years, they have. But two factors will translate into more losses. The first is the loss of talent. That is obvious. The second: Now firmly in rebuild mode, the club will be inclined to move more talented assets at the trade deadline if they perform. One player that could fit this category: Starting pitcher Ian Kennedy.
So, yes, the Royals haven’t lost more than 91 games since losing 95 in 2010. They will hover closer to 95 in 2018.
6. Mike Moustakas will receive a standing ovation the next time he returns to Kauffman Stadium. He won’t be wearing a Royals uniform. Moustakas, 29, is still on the market and his price could be dropping. In one scenario, he may be compelled to sign a one-year deal and return to the free-agent market next winter. But he wouldn’t want another free-agent walk year in the spacious confines of Kauffman Stadium. The Royals will not want to add money for a one-year deal. And even if Moustakas is still willing to sign a long-term deal, his future is unlikely to match up with the Royals’ next window to contend.
7. Alex Gordon will have his best season since signing his big contract. Ready for the Gordonaissance? Well, you may not see that. But after posting a .692 OPS in 2016 and a career-worst .608 OPS last season, Gordon, 33, will bounce back, pairing something close to a .725 OPS with strong defense. It won’t merit the $20 million he will make in 2019 and 2020. But it will not resemble the offensive train wreck of 2017.
8. Salvador Perez will turn 28 years old in May and appear in his sixth straight All-Star Game in July.
9. Kauffman Stadium will be sold out on opening day against the Chicago White Sox on March 29, but attendance will decline overall for a third straight year, coming up short of last year’s mark of 2,220,370. The franchise record mark of 2,708,549 was set in 2015.
10. Whit Merrifield will bat .286 with a .324 on-base percentage and an OPS of .760. Does that sound oddly specific? Well, those are Merrifield’s career averages after 226 games across two seasons. Add the production to his solid defense and spectacular base running and Merrifield will turn in another season that hovers around three wins above replacement.
11. The Royals will continue to target ground-ball pitchers. When the Royals acquired Trevor Oaks in early January, they did more than land a starting pitcher who could be in the rotation for years to come. They also targeted a right-hander with a strong sinker.
For years, the Kansas City front office went after fly-ball pitchers — Jason Vargas, Chris Young, Ian Kennedy, etc. — to take the mound in a home park that suppresses home runs. This offseason, Royals general manager Dayton Moore has acknowledged that this era of power may alter their philosophy.
12. Alcides Escobar will not start all 162 games at shortstop. Lost in the shuffle this offseason, Escobar remains a free agent, too. The Royals have not closed the book on a reunion. But we’re sure of one thing: For the first time since 2015, somebody other than Escobar will start a game at shortstop for the Royals.
13. Bubba Starling will make his major-league debut. We’re not sure how many games he will play. But this is the year that the Gardner native and first-round pick in 2011 makes it to the big leagues. Speaking of debuts, reliever Richard Lovelady and starting pitcher Josh Staumont will also appear in the major leagues for the first time.
14. Denny Matthews will call Royals games for his 50th straight season, further cementing his place in franchise lore.
15. Royals manager Ned Yost will win his 1,100th game as a major-league manager in May. Entering his 15th total season — and ninth in Kansas City — Yost has 629 victories with the Royals and needs 14 to hit another round number for his career.
16. Players will love the new schedule. Under the latest collective-bargaining agreement, this year’s schedule will feature more off days. This is why opening day is on March 29. And it’s why fans might notice more random nights without Royals baseball in the summer months.
17. Jakob Junis will build on his rookie season, posting an ERA in the low to mid 4s. He will start more than 25 games and reach 100 strikeouts for the first time.
18. Hosmer will hit 25 homers for a third straight year. But with less protection in the lineup, his overall numbers will come down a notch. He will get on base at a healthy clip, though. He’ll play a strong first base and lead in the clubhouse. And he’ll do all that in a Royals uniform.
Royals minor-league players visited Yordano Ventura’s grave last week
January 17, 2018By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
Each year, the Royals have their minor-league players visit the team’s academy in the Dominican Republic.
General manager Dayton Moore told The Star’s Vahe Gregorian last year that he hopes the trip allows American-born players to appreciate where many of their teammates come from.
“It’s important to get out of your comfort zone in anything you do, and it’s important to understand where many of your teammates come from, some of the challenges that they have,” Moore said. “And let me say this: Everybody has challenges in this game, whether you grow up in the (United States) or not. But I think it just helps you become a better teammate, and ultimately that’s what you need to be.”
The Royals minor-league players made that visit again last week, and this time they paid visit to Yordano Ventura’s hometown. Ventura, who died a year ago Monday, was buried Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic.
Alec Zumwalt, the Royals’ Director of Baseball Operations, tweeted a photo of the visit to his grave. He wrote: “No words to describe this moment.”
The visit also included a trip to the baseball field where Ventura played as a kid. Zumwalt wrote: “Some days are more humbling than others but the key is to be humble.”
Minor-league catcher M.J. Melendez, who is from Florida, wrote: “So grateful to be a part of a @Royals group that got to shed light and continue Yordano Ventura’s dream of giving back to his hometown! God is so good! #BeTheLight”
Nick Pratto, who was the Royals’ first-round pick in last year’s draft, wrote: “Blown away by the hospitality of the people in Yordano Ventura’s hometown as we helped the kids play, saw the beach and visited his grave”
Sam LeBeau, whose Twitter account says he customizes baseball trips to the Caribbean for college and travel teams, shared photos of the Royals visit.
Big Slick stars have a special fondness for new Royals executive Gene Lamont
January 17, 2018By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
Many Royals fans may have paid little interest to the news Tuesday that the team hired former Pirates and White Sox manager Gene Lamont as Special Assistant to the General Manager.
However, the celebrities who host the annual Big Slick event in Kansas City are probably happy, because they have a special affinity for Lamont.
It all goes back to the first Big Slick event in 2010 when Lamont was a coach for Detroit. Rob Riggle explained that after the celebrity wiffle ball game, the stars gathered to watch the Royals play the Tigers.
“We had Will Ferrell at the game and we were in the third-base dugout suite and Gene Lamont was right in front of us,” Riggle said on the podcast “Not Just Sports With Suzy Shuster and Rich Eisen.”
“So we just went to work on him. You know? That’s what you do. So every inning, we just (yelled) ‘Hey, Lamont, that’s Bush League. It’s Bush League, Lamont. ... He was just coaching third base, but he was so close to us that we just couldn’t resist. I mean, we were in his hip pocket the whole night, just riding him. Then it just become funny to us to see what we could come up next to keep riding him.”
Eisen, who works on the NFL Network, said he had taken part in the second “Big Slick” event and was surprised when it came time for the seventh-inning stretch.
“We go out there and finish singing ‘Take Me Out To The Ballgame’ and half you guys punctuated the song with signing ‘Gene Lamont’ into the microphone,” Eisen said.
“And we still do to this day,” Riggle said. “He had the sorry duty of being the third-base coach the night we were there.”
Here is the group singing the song:
Since Big Slick began in 2010, it has raised more than $6 million for Children’s Mercy Hospital.
NATIONAL
Morneau retires, starts new chapter with Twins
Former AL MVP to provide hitting advice, work in player development
January 18, 2018By Rhett Bollinger/MLB.com
For former Twins star Justin Morneau, Wednesday marked both the end of his playing career and the beginning of a new chapter as a special assistant to baseball operations for Minnesota.
Morneau, the 2006 American League MVP and a four-time All-Star, officially retired at a news conference at Target Field, but also announced details on his new role with the Twins. Morneau will help in several aspects, including dispensing hitting advice to both Minor League and Major League players, as well as working in player development, player acquisition and the MLB Draft.
"You could look at it as a sad day because I'm done playing baseball and it's something I loved, but coming back to the Twins family and being able to sit in on hitters' meetings and Draft meetings and pass on the things I've learned is something I'm really excited to do," the 36-year-old said. "Something is ending, but something new is about to begin."
Morneau, who was joined at the podium by Twins president Dave St. Peter and chief baseball officer Derek Falvey, also had his family in attendance as well as former teammates Joe Mauer and Corey Koskie. Morneau prepared notes for his retirement speech, but never looked at them during his uninterrupted 15-minute opener, thanking those who helped him along the way and expressing genuine excitement about his new role.
"For so many years, baseball was the center of my universe," Morneau said. "From the time I was 10 years old, all I remember doing in the summer was playing baseball, and I really didn't want to do anything else. When I was 5 or 6, I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. Sometimes you're fortunate to know your career path and achieve that dream. So I really want to say thank you."
Morneau, a New Westminster, British Columbia native, finished his career hitting .281/.348/.481 with 247 homers, 349 doubles and 985 RBIs in 1,545 games over 14 seasons with the Twins, Rockies, Pirates and White Sox. He won two Silver Sluggers, was the 2014 National League batting champ with the Rockies and memorably won the 2008 Home Run Derby over Josh Hamilton at Yankee Stadium.