Do you like expanded playoffs?
Bill Mitchell at Baseball America had a chat about Royals prospects. [$]
Who are your picks for under-the-radar prospects (outside the top 20), who could stand out in 2025?
Bill Mitchell
For players who will likely rank in the latter part of the Top 30, 2024 4th round pick LP Langevin is very intriguing with a projected double-plus fastball. Or for someone who could pitch for the Royals in 2025, there’s Eric Cerantola whose plus fastball and double-plus curveball could find him a big league bullpen spot before long. As for players outside the Top 30, Beck Way has premium velocity and plus stuff, but needs to show more consistent command and control.
ESPN talks to managers about recent rule changes and they asked Matt Quatraro about expanded playoffs.
Matt Quatraro, Kansas City Royals: I don’t give a lot of thought to the big, grand scheme of how it’s laid out. I like to be in it. I’ve been on the other side of that too when I was with Tampa and we lost the two games in Cleveland in that wild card. It’s tough. In baseball, it’s win or go home right out of the gate unless you win the division. So that puts a premium on winning the division. I think that’s great. But I like the fact that it’s expanded.
Mayor Quinton Lucas denied knowing who paid for a poll on a potential downtown stadium, but it turned out it was his campaign.
Pete Grathoff has more photos from Bobby Witt Jr.’s wedding.
Rachael Millanta at Kings of Kauffman writes about the worst trades in Royals history.
The Dodgers sign former Royals pitcher Matt Sauer to a minor league deal.
The Rays sign former Royals pitcher Jake Brentz to a minor league deal.
Baltimore signs Japanese pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano to a one-year, $13 million deal.
The Giants may be the favorite to land Corbin Burnes.
Talks are heating up between the Cubs and Marlins about Jesus Luzardo.
Why Roki Sasaki may want to join the Padres.
Who are the teams looking for first basemen?
Eno Sarris at The Athletic writes there may not be a competitive advantage in data analytics anymore. [$]
Jay Jaffe at Fangraphs looks at the Hall of Fame case for Félix Hernández.
The ball Aaron Judge dropped in the World Series goes for $43k at auction.
Patrick Mahomes is diagnosed with a mild high-ankle sprain.
The University of Vermont wins the men’s soccer title, the first NCAA team sport championship in school history.
Extreme heat is forcing farmers to work at night.
Hackers can jailbreak digital license plates to make others pay for their tolls and tickets.
Local theaters are doing well with spoofs of Hallmark Christmas movies.
Your song of the day is Warren G with Regulate.
