We dominate junk time.

Sounds like MLB and the MLBPA are already working to try and avoid a work stoppage. Long way to go though... but it looks like they've agreed on a bunch of game related changes. The July trade deadline is going to be the final deadline now. For next year, it looks like there will be a roster expansion to 26 and they will put in the three batter minimum. That's probably going to be the most controversial move.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The long-awaited MLB/MLBPA deal is done, sources tell ESPN, and includes a single trade deadline, an All-Star Game Election Day, expanded rosters in 2020 and, most important, a pledge to start bargaining over fundamental economic issues. News <a href="https://twitter.com/espn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPN</a>: <a href="https://t.co/b7yvvVdxMd">https://t.co/b7yvvVdxMd</a><br><br>News: <a href="https://t.co/ndDKCU9ncn">pic.twitter.com/ndDKCU9ncn</a></p>&mdash; Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1106026176164839424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Goodbye, LOOGYs.
Three batters or end the inning, I assume.

I predict we'll see a few guys feeling "tightness" after pitching to one or two batters and having to leave the game. If they put that rule in, they need to require a DL stint or make the pitcher ineligible for the next few games if he doesn't complete his 3 batters.

Not just that but September rosters will only expand to 28. Right now it can be up to 40.

Also the HR Derby winner will get $1 million and the total prize pool will be $2.5 million. They don't want C-level stars and below anymore.

I won't claw my eyes out watching us play Cleveland anymore. What will Francona do now that he can't wear out the path to the mound in the later innings?

So this might have already been discussed but has anyone noticed that Matt Strahm is probably pretty good?

I happened to see him throw against the Reds a couple days ago and he looked damn good. Typical 'pitchability' lefty who just throws everything at guys. Solid fastball with nice run and good command.

I mean he sure looked the part of a 3rd starter...well, against grocery baggers at least.

That guy might be one you regret losing. Not a difference maker, but a damn solid mid-rotation starter.

Both him and Esteury Ruiz look like they could be pretty good, although Ruiz is still only in A ball, and the Royals got 3 piles of crap for them.

He was going to be a lefty reliever for us. Got hurt as well. But you got to give something up in a trade to get something. On paper it looked like a good trade at the time for Royals, sucks they all turned out to be duds. But occasionally that happens.

I didn't have the heart to mention Ruiz.

I really thought he'd be the guy in that trade that you regretted because, small sample size or no, batting .400 with plus speed over 20 games is pretty damn good.

And he stepped back a bit in BA last year but the speed came through in a big way and his ISO played well for an under-aged kid in his first shot at full-season ball.

I mean there's still a loooooong way to go with him and frankly Luis Urias seems likely to block him for the foreseeable future, but it wouldn't take much at all for him to turn those tools into a top 100 prospect. You can already see 'em if you squint. Just a little more plate discipline and a little more raw strength.

Yeah I was surprised to see him humming through a long-relief stint. Seems like they're trying to stretch him out a bit after he seemed shoehorned as a reliever.

But that said - why the hell was he shoehorned as a reliever? Low 90s with 4 viable pitches on a 6'3'' frame will project to the rotation.

Zimmer with another solid outing yesterday. I really hope he makes the opening day roster, even if it’s short lived. It would be nice to get something out of that pick.

Strahm and Ruiz were tough pieces to part with. The Royals did it in an attempt to complete the team that all expected to work out pretty well at the time, based on Cahill and Buchner. It just didn’t.

Turning around and using Buchner to dump salary before the next season exacerbated things.

Strahm’s floor is as a dynamic bullpen stopper. Ceiling is a very good #3 starter since he added a better put away/strikeout slider after moving to San Diego.

Ruiz was a tough give as well. He’d be a top 5 prospect for the Royals and also slot in nicely with the Melendez/Prato/etc. crew.

Probably the worst trade moore has ever made. The Royals gave up a lot more than they did for Cueto, and got a lot less in return.

I don't think there's any question Zimmer is making the opening day roster at this point. Only a week to go and barring injury, there is very little he could do to get himself cut, IMO. His curve has looked fantastic his last 3 outings.

It appears the driveline guys fixed Zimmer, at least as a short-stint reliever.

Some MLB team should throw $100 million+ at those guys and buy them out now. They do some pretty amazing things.

Nah.

MLB teams are just stealing their methods instead. They've all got Rapsodo cameras, etc... now that driveline showed everyone how to use them...

Suppose Zimmer really is fixed -- what's his contract situation going forward? He won't be cheap will he?

I think it's a one year MLB deal that he signed. We retain his rights until he reaches free agency, including the arbitration-eligible years. Other teams wanted him this off-season, but the Royals offered him the MLB deal to under-cut the other offers, which were all MILB, from what I've heard.

Middling signings like this only have value if you are going to trade him for garbage draft picks, or if you plan on competing. Otherwise you block your ability to see what you have in Viloria and Gallagher.

I hate it.

Viloria was in A ball last year. He should be getting ABs in the minors every day. Not sitting on the bench 5 days a week. I'll admit I was surprised at the number of people who just want to bring him up. It's not like you can play two catchers, let the guy move up to AA and keep developing. Plus having a gold glove catcher back there is a huge benefit for all our young pitchers.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Martín Maldonado caught some innings on the backfields today. He threw out Terrance Gore at second. He was drilled in the leg by a fastball in one plate appearance. Pretty good catcher&#39;s workout.</p>&mdash; Rustin Dodd (@rustindodd) <a href="https://twitter.com/rustindodd/status/1106981470629826560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2019</a></blockquote>
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@pgrathoff: The Royals traded righty Jason Adam to Toronto for cash considerations.

Forever Royal

Ian Kennedy goes one inning in the game yesterday. That doesn't sound like a guy that's going to be in the rotation. No announcements that I can find, but this seems pretty obvious what is going to happen. Meanwhile Bailey goes 4 innings this past Friday. From their stretching guys out, looks like Keller, Lopez, Junis and either Fillmyer or Bailey to start the season (and maybe the other when they add a 5th). Sounds like Duffy will be a ???? again this year.

I hope Lopez continues to improve. That near-perfect game last year was about the only Royals highlight of the entire season

Holy smokes!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: Star center fielder Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels are finalizing a record-breaking 12-year contract worth more than $430 million, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN. Details: <a href="https://t.co/bROnnC11Uh">https://t.co/bROnnC11Uh</a></p>&mdash; Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1108008799288332289?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Worth every penny. You could actually argue he's being underpaid.

I agree with you. He's the best player in baseball by far and it always seems like he's a really good dude.

Trout deserves everything he’s getting. Just like Mahomes and his soon to be contract. Trout is one of those guys that you want your daughter to date.

Cuz he's white?

Let's hope that is your last post in this thread.

Uh what?? You can’t be serious can you?? He’s an overall good guy. Takes time before every game to sign autographs. Loves to talk to the media. No incidents. No cockiness. He’s just an overall good guy. Cuz he’s white?? GTFO

It's been awfully quiet on the TV contract front considering we're entering the final season of our current contract.

Amen

According to Google, Mitt Romney’s net worth is at 250 million. Crazy that baseball players are blowing that away with the swipe of one pen.

Oh the faux outrage over a joke.

Kennedy will start in the bullpen

Pretty sure you're a LWNJ wirh a history of race baiting. Keep that shit out of this thread.

I mean he is worth it, contract that big make me worried tho. Wish Royals could dish that kind of money out.

Those long contracts are such big gambles that rarely seem to work out for the teams.

Let's be fair, Dexter Fowler is all of those things and if my daugher brought him home, I'd throw them both out of the house.


But I guess that's mostly because that mother****er won't run after a ball in the gap and blames the fact that he's a shitty hitter on his height. So I guess that's a different story.

Carry on, lads...

ROFLROFLROFL

ROFL

I like this lineup.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...e4460f5fb3.jpg

Sh-windel
Sh-wing!

@Royals: We have optioned RHP Glenn Sparkman and outfielders Jorge Bonifacio and Brett Phillips to Omaha. #Royals

Duffy also quit Twitter

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">For now, at least: The Royals&#39; starting rotation will be Brad Keller, Jakob Junis, Jorge Lopez and Homer Bailey. With three early off days, they&#39;ll need a fifth starter during the second week of April. It could be Duffy or TBD.</p>&mdash; Rustin Dodd (@rustindodd) <a href="https://twitter.com/rustindodd/status/1108128426693545984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Goodwin likely makes the final 25, unless they pull a surprise and go with another utility player or outfielder that they elevate to the 40.

It's pretty much a lock now that Goodwin/Soler are going to share RF/DH duties. The OF will be Gordon, Hamilton, Goodwin, Soler, Gore... plus Whit and Owings can play all the OF positions so Ned has a ton of flexibility. Basically have 6 guys who can play any OF spot.

The question is if they carry 13 position players that still leaves one more spot open.

C Maldonado
1B O'Hearn
2B Whit
SS Mondesi
3B Dozier
LF Gordon
CF Hamilton
RF Goodwin
DH Soler

Gallagher C
Owings 2B/SS/3B/OF
Gore OF
BENCH PLAYER

kinda surprised boni got sent down.

He hasn’t been good since getting busted for PEDs. This let’s them play Soler in the OF a little while letting Bonifacio get everyday ABs.

and im very happy with this. i should have said, im surprised, but happy.....

can't wait to read some reports on the young kids, duncan!!!

Yeesh.

That lineup projects to 102 or 103 loses for me. Woof.

Interesting things from spring...


I fully expect KC to be bad this year, but the offense could be sneaky effective.

Merrifield and Mondesi are a dangerous 1-2 combo. And then the middle... Gordon-Soler-OHearn doesn’t look great on paper, but consider...

Gordon changed his training regimen and looks to have regained some bad speed. He looks quicker and more flexible.

Soler looks locked in. His raw power is no joke and he has good plate discipline. If he’s healthy, he could finally deliver on his promise.

And ohearn has good power and patience from the left side.

That should be a trio that makes starters work.

So, 1-5 could be decent, then 6-9 terrible?

I agree the question about Soler is 100% about health. I thought he looked good last year, let alone this spring. I don't know if he's going to be an all-star, but it sure looks like he can be a productive offensive player if he can just stay healthy for once.

The real wild card will probably be O'Hearn. If he hits at all like last season, watch out. But it's also possible he regresses.

I wouldn’t say that. I like Hamilton in KC and in the 9 spot.

Maldonado will be a black hole. Dozier and Goodwin isn’t excited 6-7 though.

Trout is going to get paid too little, Harper way to much.

Words can never express just how much I hate Ian kenndy

I just read this and think of how much fun Denny Matthews is going to have with the name SCHwindel.

72-90

OMG. That is a LOL shitty rotation.

So, Keller and Junis and pray for 3 days of rain?

It's far from a playoff competing rotation...but I think you're under-selling Lopez. He has a great chance of being the breakout pitcher for us in 2019. After Lopez, it drops off the edge if it's Bailey...and I don't think Duffy will ever be anything more than average, at best. Not sure what to make of Fillmyer, yet.

I am just asking this out of curiosity, what are you basing this thought off of?

Poof... Im at Salt River Fields tonight. Lopez gave up 6 runs after 2 innings. Good Luck with that. Good thing April in KC is typically cold & wet.

Esky released by Orioles today.
So, he's available.

Yost::hmmm:

He has a real live arm...ball moves quite a bit. Basically, when he's on, his stuff is at least as good as Keller's and probably better. His flirting with the no-hitter last year showed what he can do. The key is whether he can make strides in consistency this season. If he doesn't, he'll just be another pitcher with great stuff that couldn't put it together. We will see.

Wait. He throws well for 4 games in Arizona...but he loses his command in the game you happen to attend and he's all of a sudden no good? Great analysis. It was clear he couldn't put the ball where he wanted it last night. He paid the price for it against a team with a good offense. It happens. If he only has a poor-command game every 5th game during the regular season, sign me up.

Any thoughts on the Royals pulling a surprise for the opening 25/40 this year? I have to admit, I might have fallen victim of Schwindle's Arizona success. But his swing is too long for the majors, right? I'm trying to talk myself out of liking him as an option. Still feels like a AAAA player, but his power is super tempting to have as a right handed option at DH when Soler is in RF. Ynoa is the other guy I'm thinking about. I'd like to push all the chips in on having a bullpen with several live arms that at least have the potential to move several steps towards respectability.

Schwindle would have to be put on the 40...but has options.
Ynoa would also have to be put on the 40...but no options.

40 man release candidates that will likely make it through waivers? Barlow? Greene? (edit - forgot about Flynn...he looks done). I doubt we're keeping Ellis...so that's one spot that will open.

60-102

I think Lopez is intriguing, but honestly, I don't see him being consistent enough to stick in the rotation. JMHO

That is definitely the question. While not all roses, his body of work with the Royals last year showed enough that I'm encouraged he's a "turn the corner" candidate this year. We'll see how mentally tough he is when he has to bounce back after he hits his first few rough patches this year...or when his offense doesn't score many runs for him. Gonna' happen.

Honestly, that might be as big as anything else he has to deal with.

White Sux extend Eloy Jimenez to 6/43 deal. It has two club options at 17/per, so total deal could be 8/77.



Oh. He’s never played a single MLB game.

Man, I hope we sign him for sole reason that it will make Prison Bitch's head explode.

76-86

I just wish they'd quit ****ing around and stick Soler in RF every ****ing day. He's not going to get better there until they do. Put Schwindel in the DH spot until he proves he's not worthy. Play O'Hearn every day until he figures out how to hit lefties. Play Dozier every goddamned day until he sinks or swims.

I mean; these guys need to play through their weaknesses to improve. I hate all the platooning and moving guys around. Just stick 'em in there to sink or swim. We're not taking the division anyway, let's see what we have.

We never would've found out what Merrifield was if we hadn't been forced to by every other second base option flaming out.

Somebody doesn’t like my posts.

ROFL

55-107

I think the issue with putting Soler in the field is more or less his incredible risk for injury. That's been what's hamstrung his development more than anything else.

Be prepared to be down-voted by the oversensitive Royals fans. That don’t like it when your opinion shits on their Pom Poms :D