Let’s begin the Winter Meetings!
Jaylon Thompson previews the Winter Meetings, which begin today.
The Royals don’t have a pressing need for a starting pitcher. The club has solid depth in returnees Kris Bubic, Alec Marsh, Daniel Lynch IV, Kyle Wright and Noah Cameron.
The competition for a couple of vacant spots in the rotation figures to be fierce.
“The comfort that we have right now is that Bubic and Lynch have thrown very well out of the bullpen,” Picollo said. “So that’s an option for us, but it’s something we will let play out over time here.”
Perhaps the Royals will find a veteran pitcher who is capable of filling a hybrid starter/relief role.
MLB.com previews each team’s biggest needs going into the meetings.
The Royals found their leadoff hitter in Jonathan India and believe his on-base ability will fit nicely atop the lineup ahead of Bobby Witt Jr. Now their focus turns to lower in the lineup. Kansas City had a .403 slugging percentage last year, which ranked 12th in MLB, and that number was impacted the most by Witt, Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez in the No. 2-No. 4 spots of the lineup. Those three, and especially Witt, carried the offense the entire season, and the Royals would like to see more help behind them. On-base remains a priority because the Royals want to be speedy and put the ball in play, but adding more impact in the heart of the order is seen as their next biggest need. This hitter could come in the form of an outfielder or third baseman, and the Royals are exploring the free-agent and trade market in their search.
Matt Chabot at Farm to Fountains looks at the Royals’ rotation heading into 2025.
The fourth spot is Bubic’s job to lose entering the spring. J.J. Picollo said that the organization still views him as a starter. Bubic was once a first-round pick for the Royals in 2018 and rose as high as the number six prospect in the farm system. The last full season Bubic pitched was 2022 where he went 129 total innings and had a 5.58 ERA. Bubic only threw three pitches (four-seamer, changeup, and curveball) which I think played a part in his lack of success as a full-time starter. He added a slider in 2023 which looked good but only pitched 16 innings before he needed Tommy John and missed the rest of the year.
Shortstop Willy Adames signs a seven-year, $182 million deal with the Giants.
Baltimore signs outfielder Tyler O’Neill to a three-year, $49.5 million deal with an opt out.
The Orioles also sign catcher Gary Sanchez to a one-year, $8.5 million deal.
The Dodgers agree to a deal with outfielder Michael Conforto on a one-year, $17 million deal and reliever Blake Treinen on a two-year, $22 million deal.
The Rockies sign former Royals catcher Austin Nola to a minor league deal.
The Mets sign former Royals outfielder Edward Olivares to a minor league deal.
Japanese free agent pitcher Roki Sasaki is expected to be posted his week.
The Dodgers make no apologies for their deferred compensation deals with players.
The Cubs have had preliminary trade talks with the White Sox about Garrett Crochet.
They have also discussed a Cody Bellinger/Jordan Montgomery swap with Arizona.
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The Athletics are interested in a contract extension with Brent Rooker.
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Former White Sox third baseman and analyst Bill Melton died last week.
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