Talkin Royals

Kansas City is still in search of another starting pitcher following the signing of Jordan Lyles on December 20. Although the team is looking for another starting pitcher, Lyles is a perfect fit for a youthful rotation. The team is hoping to get multiple innings out of the right hander. The Lyles signing unfortunately isn't a signing that will make the Royals rotation the best in the MLB or even the American League Central. Lyles does however provide the rotation with veteran leadership. According to masn.com, Lyles sees himself as a leader. "Being the oldest guy in the rotation, every club needs that, especially with how young we are starting and relieving." Lyles added, "Just someone to lean on, not just physically with what we do on the mound. Every team may have someone like that, some teams have multiple guys usually. Not too many of me here, more on the position player side with (Robinson) Chirinos and (Rougned) Odor and Trey (Mancini). But I’m here...

Following the departure of long-time Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar, the team was hoping Mondesi was the long-term answer at the position. Unfortunately many prospects are over hyped by the fans and the media, Mondesi seemed to be one of them. According to an article by Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors from 2012: "He doesn't have flashy tools, but they play up because he has good baseball instincts." While in the Royals minor league system, Mondesi showed plenty of big league potential. Before Mondesi was in the picture with the Royals, I often said the team should have signed Alcides Escobar to a long-term deal, probably because he was my favorite player during the 2010’s Royals baseball era. Now Looking back, it might not have been a bad idea if the team did so. The team back in the day didn't have Bobby Witt Jr. or Nicky Lopez to play the shortstop position. The Escobar deal, if it was the right length of deal and salary would have ended at the right t...

For the past few weeks, the Royals had been rumored to be shopping Michael A. Taylor, and the Twins had been a team rumored to be interested in the center fielder. On Monday, the rumors came true when the Royals sent Taylor to Minnesota for Minor League pitchers Steven Cruz and Evan Sisk. Taylor came to Kansas City by way of free agency in 2020 when he signed a one year deal worth $1.75 million. Following the departure of Lorenzo Cain, the team had tried multiple players in center field including Billy Hamilton, Brett Phillips and Kansas native Bubba Starling. None of the three players could hold down the center field position due to lack of offensive production. In fact, the team signed Hamilton to a one year deal worth $5.25 million. The former Reds outfielder's numbers with Kansas City were embarrassing for him after the team signed him to a "expensive" one year contract. Hamilton would be designated for assignment in August of 2019. Following the outfielde...

The new regime of Royals baseball has been busy this offseason. Kansas City has made multiple signings this offseason from Jordan Lyles to Ryan Yarbrough. These signings aren't too surprising to Royals fans. Chapman to Kansas City however is a bit of a surprise after many years of seeing the power thrower dominate for the New York Yankees. The boys in blue were rumored to be interested in Chapman, and they quickly took action by signing him to a one year deal worth $3.75 million with $4 million in performance bonuses. The former Yankees hurler during his prime threw an electric fastball of 104 to 105 miles an hour; but in 2022, the left hander's velocity hit a career low of 97 miles an hour.  According to a 2021 article from Inside The Pinstripes when talking to Chapman: "The main problem like I said is the control of my fastball, everything balances out from the fastball and you mentioned the walks and the homers and the runs,” said Chapman. “That's the ma...

In 2004, Kansas City had plenty of stars on the same roster, but the team couldn't put a winning season together. The Royals had many stars on the same roster from Carlos Beltran to Johnny Damon, but the team also had a few players that saw their careers take a turn for the worse. On January 6, 2004 the team signed the three time all-star Juan Gonzalez to a one year deal worth $4 million guaranteed with $2 million in performance bonuses. Following the signing of the outfielder, former Royals general manager Allard Baird told reporters: "He's been my No. 1 guy for a long time," Royals GM Allard Baird went on to say. "He is a legitimate run-producer - a healthy Juan Gonzalez improves your lineup significantly, no doubt about that." According to CBC Sports: "Gonzalez ranks 31st in major league history in home runs and 61st in RBIs . The 15-year pro has registered five seasons with at least 40 home runs and clubbed a career-best 47 in 1996. Gonz...

Entering the 2022 offseason, Kansas City was looking to strengthen a shaky pitching staff. The Royals staff last season ranked 25th of 30 according to yardbarker.com. The Orioles rotation didn't do much better either last season. The new reign for Kansas City thought bringing in a starting pitcher that owns a career 5.10 ERA would be a wise decision. In 2022, Jordan Lyles could barely keep his ERA below 4.50 with a 4.42 ERA. He did have 144 strikeouts. Lyles will provide the Royals with a starter who can fill in the fourth or fifth spot with possible in house options competing for the final spot in the rotation. The new Royals right hander unfortunately is known to struggle with finding his command from time to time, but he does keep walks down to a minimum unlike many of the pitchers in the Royals rotation from a year ago. The Royals signed Lyles to a 2-year deal worth $17 million guaranteed. Lyles will not be an arm that Kansas City will get a much needed veteran arm ...