Leawood Mayor Marc Elkins is the latest in a long line of stakeholders opposing a possible Kansas City Royals move to the Aspira campus.
“Based on media reports and direct feedback from our residents, we share serious concerns about the potential impacts on Leawood and its citizens should a stadium be built on this property,” Leawood’s mayor said. “These concerns include traffic congestion, noise and lighting, public safety and emergency access, parking in residential neighborhoods, infrastructure
capacity, and impacts on nearby schools, medical facilities, senior living communities and established single-family residential areas.”
Earlier this month, T-Mobile, which hosts a significant number of workers at the Aspiria campus — the campus itself is the former headquarters for telecommunications giant Sprint, which merged with T-Mobile — said it would not support a stadium plan at the site and threatened to relocate its offices elsewhere in the city. Elkins also cited opposition to the plan from the Jewish Community Center.
The Connor Dawson-Issac Collins tie is strong after Kansas City reunited the hitting coach with the outfielder in their latest trade.
When Picollo checked in with Dawson about Collins before the trade, Dawson said the player was “as consistent as you could possibly want a hitter to be.”
Having Dawson in Kansas City is a bonus, Collins said.
“He does a really good job with scouting reports,” Collins said. “Knowing what to look for with pitchers and knowing what’s worked well in the past. He does a really good job of preparing us as hitters for what’s to come. I’m excited to continue to work with him.”
Milwaukee Brewers executive Matt Arnold said newly acquired pitcher Angel Zerpa is a player they have “tried to access for a long time.”
“Really big arm,” Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold said Sunday after the teams managed to track down Zerpa at his off-grid farm in Venezuela, allowing them to formally announce the swap. “A really good, power sinker/slider combination, and I think putting that in front of our defense is something we’re really excited about. This guy has been able to put the ball on the ground at an elite level.”
Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller has Kansas City paying a hefty price in possible trade for CJ Abrams.
Hypothetical Trade Package: Washington Nationals send SS CJ Abrams to Kansas City Royals for 1B/OF Jac Caglianone and LHP Hunter Owen
Personally, it’s a preposterous proposition that Kansas City would decline in a heartbeat, banking on Cags becoming a star over the course of his next six years of team control. In fact, if there’s any headline this winter involving Caglianone, it’s probably going to be news of a long-term extension, not a trade.
But if they’re desperately trying to win in 2026—which they ought to be, with Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha and Sal Perez not getting any younger—and they’re worried that Caglianone might need another year or two before he starts consistently producing in the big leagues, maybe they’d be willing to give Washington a long-term building block at first base.
MLB Pipeline predicts a red-hot pitching prospect could rise to the top spot next year.
Royals
Now: Carter Jensen, C
Next Year: Kendry Chourio, RHPChourio’s rise from the Dominican Summer League to Single-A at 17 years old was the talk of the system. If he comes close to replicating the stuff and results over a larger sample, he’ll be one of the most promising arms in the sport.
Another trade article, another scenario sending outfielder Harrison Bader to the Royals.
Yardbarker has three potential trade packages from the Royals to net them Jarren Duran, and the second package may be most acceptable for Royals fans.
Trade Package No. 2
Royals Get: OF Jarren Duran
Red Sox Get: RHP Luinder Avila, RHP Ben Kudrna, and C Ramon Ramirez
Avila made 13 appearances in MLB last season and, to put it mildly, dominated.It was a small sample size, but Avila struck out 16 and allowed just seven hits in 14 innings. His fastball clocked in at 95.8 mph on average, with a slider holding opponents to a sub-.100 batting average in MLB.
Command remains an issue for him, but he was effectively wild out of the bullpen in 2025.
Kudrna hasn’t put it together as a prospect yet, but he’s got some impressive secondaries. Unfortunately, his fastball isn’t overpowering enough to make up for inconsistent command. Last season, he had a 5.30 ERA and 4.22 FIP in 24 appearances. His walks per nine was 4.3 and, while he struck out 22.9% of batters, he struggled missing bats in general.
ESPN’s latest contract predictions for free-agent sluggers has a higher tide raising all boats.
A Jarren Duran trade is “heating up” according to a Boston sports personality.
A rare one-for-one prospect trade could open up big-league doors for these two pitchers.
What are the Miami Marlins missing to take them to the next level?
Chris Bzozowski profiles incoming international free agent Munetaka Murakami.
Baseball America’s Carlos Collazo rounds up the site’s best pieces from the past year.
Former Royals pitcher Foster Griffin returns to MLB on a $5.5 million deal with the Washington Nationals.
Chicago Cubs re-sign southpaw reliever Caleb Thielbar to one-year deal.
FIFA backs off exorbitant World Cup ticket prices, introduces limited $60 ticket rate.
The New York Jets release wide receiver Allen Lazard.
The all-electric Ford F-150 will be no more.
The U.S. Mint made a pretty penny on the final sets of pennies pressed, totaling in the millions.
Popular radio host Howard Stern re-ups with SiriusXM for three more years.
Today’s song of the day is Nose on the Grindstone by Tyler Childers.
