Royals Rumblings - News for January 8, 2025
We are 2% through 2025 already.
Kansas City Royals top prospect Jac Caglianone joined Baseball America’s Hot Sheet Show to start off the week.
Eno Sarris of The Athletic ($) labels Kansas City’s outfield as the team’s clear problem ahead of spring training.
The outfield is generally a sore spot in Kansas City, as the Royals show up twice on our list. Last year, their entire contingent ranked 27th on the grass by WAR, and it’s hard to find any stat that liked them much better. Kyle Isbel is a plus defender, and that’ll keep him playing in center, but the corners are on notice after that work last year. MJ Melendez is 26 and was better in the second half, but even that “better” was below league average with the stick, and at some point, you are your results more than a sum of your exciting process numbers. Though Jonathan India hasn’t played in the outfield in the major leagues, he or Michael Massey may push Melendez from his spot if he starts slow again.
Kacen Bayless of the Kansas City Star talks about lacking public movement on keeping the Royals and Kansas City Chiefs in Missouri.
When Kansas lawmakers passed an aggressive bonding plan last year to lure the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals across the state line, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson made clear that there needed to be a response. By the end of the year, Parson told reporters in June, he thought Missouri would “have something in place to be able to say where we’re going and to hopefully be able to say what I believe the state should do.” That self-imposed deadline passed last week. Now, as Parson prepares to leave office next week, he has not released any publicly available funding plans related to keeping the Chiefs and Royals in Missouri.
Rowan Kavner of Fox Sports predicts shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. will have the first 200-40-40-40 season in MLB history.
It might not have the same ring as 50/50, but Bobby Witt Jr. will follow one of the all-time great non-MVP seasons by becoming the first player ever to record 200 hits, 40 homers, 40 doubles and 40 steals in a season in 2025.
Craig Brown writes about Michael Lorenzen returning to Kansas City at Into the Fountains.
Lorenzen gives the Royals some of the pitching depth they lost with the trade of Brady Singer. No, I wouldn’t count on Lorenzen to replace all of Singer’s innings, and he’s not going to put up a 1.57 ERA, but the back of the rotation now features Lorenzen, Kris Bubic, Daniel Lynch IV, Alec Marsh and presumably Kyle Wright all vying for one of the two open spots. There won’t be enough rotation spots for all of them, but there can be an opportunity in the bullpen to pick up some key innings. This staff feels like it has some quality depth. That depth will be necessary (and useful) as they try to return to October for the second consecutive season.
R.J. Anderson of CBS Sports gives Kansas City a “C” grade on the offseason.
David Lesky talks about the Michael Lorenzen signing ($) at Inside the Crown.
Ryan Finkelstein of Just Baseball predicts the Royals will sign relief pitcher David Robertson.
Prospects Live debuted their 2025 Royals Top 20 prospects list ($).
Former Royals DFA’d outfielder Brent Rooker reportedly agreed to a five-year contract worth $60 million with the Athletics.
Pitcher Justin Verlander finds new home with the San Francisco Giants.
The Tampa Bay Rays are reportedly gambling on Drew Rasmussen ($) jumping back in the rotation.
Singer-songwriter Peter Yarrow of music trio Peter, Paul, and Mary passed away Tuesday at age 86.
30,000 Southern Californians evacuate amid a quick-moving blaze in the Pacific Palisades.
An Illinois man found a Christmas gift intended for him hidden inside the walls of his childhood home, 46 years later. I don't know what Matchbox Thunder Jets are, but they sound very fun.
Today’s song comes from Alex Warren and Joe Jonas with Burning Down.