Jesse Rogers talks to J.J. Picollo about team needs.
The Royals want to balance their lineup after finishing in the bottom third of the league against left-handed pitching last year. A right-handed-hitting outfielder would be a nice acquisition.
“Right-handed stands out,” GM J.J. Picollo said. “We have a lot of left-handed hitters, particularly in the outfield, so a right-handed-hitting outfielder would be really helpful, especially if they can play center field a little bit.”
Lane Thomas didn’t finish
the year for Kansas City, yet he led the Royals in home runs from right-handed-hitting outfielders. Pairing another dangerous hitter from the right side with Bobby Witt Jr. can only help balance things for the Royals.
Seiya Suzuki and Randy Arozarena are the top hitters in free agency, but might price themselves out of Kansas City.
Sam McDowell writes the Royals need to produce a team worthy of their MVP candidate, Bobby Witt Jr.
“I think when I’m at my best is whenever we’re winning,” Witt said in a Zoom call this week, answering a question about the team after being asked about himself. “… And so I think the next step is just getting back to doing that.
“I think we need to do that sooner rather than later.”
This is the flip side of the trade deadline conversation, or even difference of opinion, that we had over the summer. The Royals held tight to their starting pitching staff at the trade deadline, all but telling teams not to call. They instead determined their window absolutely is now, because that player is here now.
Well, then the time better be now.
It would be a shame to waste, right? That has been a driving force, maybe even the driving force, behind big-picture strategy for an organization that declined an opportunity for a reset and instead marched ahead. Look, it’s not as though that belief defies logic — in Witt, the Royals have the general to follow.
But the team needs to follow.
David Lesky writes about the left-handed free agent reliever market.
Looking at all these stats in one, I come back to the same conclusion I had when I was writing the free agent version of JJ for a Day. I think the best options that fit cost and need are Minter, Soto, and Okert. I suppose you can add in Vesia, but I just sort of assume he’s going back to the Dodgers. Alvarado is a pretty decent upside play, but I would pay him a lot closer to the 5.86 ERA he had than the peripherals. That’s both because he doesn’t have the best past as a teammate with his PED suspension, but also because a near-6.00 ERA isn’t worth paying for, even if the data shows it probably shouldn’t have been so bad.
I totally get if Okert gives too many Matt Strahm vibes, getting whiffs and chases with less than elite velocity. He also really only has the one plus pitch in terms of stuff, and that’s his slider. But if they signed Minter, Okert, or Soto, I’d be a happy camper, and I think the Royals would be too.
Pete Grathoff reports on Royals game times for 2027.
The Missouri Supreme Court rejects a challenge of the Royals stadium deal by some lawmakers.
The Red Sox sign free agent first baseman Jake Bauers to a four-year, $58 million deal.
Atlanta signs reliever Evan Phillips to a three-year, $35 million contract.
Ranking the top ten free agent hitters available.
MLB Pipeline writes about prospects on each team that could be protected from the Rule 5 draft.
The White Sox are moving Grant Taylor to the starting rotation.
The Nationals are receiving trade interest in Dylan Crews.
The Rangers are in the mix for Japanese free agent Teruaki Sato.
The Padres signed former Royals farmhand Ryan Weiss to a one-year deal.
The Cardinals aren’t interested in trading Masyn Winn or Alec Burleson.
MLB Advanced Media employees vote to unionize.
The Blue Jays will meet with free agent Tarik Skubal.
The Cubs, White Sox, and Padres are interested in Japanese free agent Kaima Taira.
Where do the Yankees go from here?
MLB players could dissolve their union and file an antitrust lawsuit under a “nuclear option.” [$]
North Carolina State football hires Phillip Rivers as their head coach.
The Eagles grant Hollywood Brown his request and release him.
James Gunn’s DC Universe will be dismantled after his firing.
Mike Myers is writing a fourth Austin Powers movie.
The FAA grounds all planes in the U.S. over nationwide communications issues.
Your song of the day is Rush with New World Man.
