Time to stretch!
Jaylon Thompson reports on the pitchers and catchers in their first few days of camp.
After helping the Royals return to the playoffs last season for the first time since 2015 — only to fall short in the American League Divisional Series against the New York Yankees — Perez wants to bring another championship to Kansas City.
“Win everything,” the 2015 World Series MVP said when asked his goals for the coming MLB season. “The same answer that I always have: being a big-league team, you want to win a World Series championship. I think that is the goal and I think each team should think that way.”
Ned Yost talks about how he can help the organization as a special advisor.
“I knew there were things I could do to help,” Yost said. “You know, being a former manager, I know what Matt needs. I know what, you know, Matt thinks. I know what to help him look for in situations. And it has nothing to do with game management. It all has to do with, you know, suggesting players that can come to the big leagues and guys I know that could help him.”
Anne Rogers writes about Kyle Wright as he prepares to return to the mound for the first time in over a year.
As Wright gets back on the mound this Spring Training, his progression is slightly behind other Royals pitchers as they ramp up for the regular season. Some are already facing hitters in live BP, while Wright wants to throw at least two more bullpen sessions before he takes the mound against a hitter for the first time. He’s scheduled to throw a bullpen on Thursday, so he could begin throwing live BP by next week. If all goes well with that, Wright will continue to build up his innings….
“I’ve been in the habit of protecting for so long,” Wright said. “‘Let’s not let anything like this happen again.’ Now that I am full-go, it’s being able to feel comfortable in my mechanics and delivery and trusting that my shoulder is fine. It can take the load. The only way to get past that is to just do it. You got to let it rip and continue to trust that, ‘Hey, I feel OK today.’
David Schoenfield at ESPN Insider has predictions on who makes the All-Star team with three Royals. [$]
Backup: Vinnie Pasquantino, Kansas City Royals
Assuming there are no residual effects from the broken thumb, I think Pasquantino has a big year in him. He combines elite contact ability with power (80th percentile hard-hit rate) and he’s in his age-27 season — the most common age for a player to have a career season. You could go with Yandy Diaz, the 2023 batting champ, or new Astros first baseman Christian Walker, but we’ll go with the younger player.
Who are candidates for long-term contract extensions?
The Royals acquired Ragans from the Rangers for Aroldis Chapman in the summer of 2023, and the young lefty rewarded Kansas City with a 5-2 record and 2.64 ERA in 12 starts during the second half. Ragans backed that up in 2024 with his first All-Star selection and a fourth-place finish in the AL Cy Young Award vote, proving his K.C. debut was no fluke. Ragans will be arbitration-eligible for the first time next offseason, so there’s no urgency to get an extension done. But after giving their best player (Bobby Witt Jr.) an extension last year, could the Royals do the same with their best pitcher?
Preston Farr at Farm to Fountains tries to project the Opening Day roster.
The Negro League Baseball Museum in Kansas City is planning to expand.
The White Sox sign slugger Joey Gallo to a minor league deal.
Yankees pitcher Marcus Stroman is a no-show for the first workout of camp.
The Diamondbacks are still looking for free agent relievers.
The Cardinals seem likely to keep third baseman Nolan Arenado.
The Alex Bregman signing raises more questions in Boston than it answers.
Where do the Astros go from here?
Where will Vladimir Guerrero Jr. play in 2026?
What if ESPN opts out of its deal with MLB?
Why doesn’t pitcher pull rate seem to matter?
MLB Network moves into new headquarters.
Astros broadcaster Robert Ford pays tribute to his hip-hop trailblazing father.
After a heated altercation in New Orleans, former MLB pitchers John Rocker and Pat Mahomes may be stepping into a boxing ring.
Where could Aaron Rodgers land in free agency?
Sixteen-year-old Michael Noonan becomes the youngest scorer ever in European soccer club competition.
TikTok is back in U.S. app stores.
Can anyone stop the french fry cartel?
The best SNL sketches according to the people that made them.
Your song of the day is The Beths with I’m Not Getting Excited.