We have a full squad working out!
Jaylon Thompson covers why the Royals extended GM J.J. Picollo.
“This game is about a lot of things, but leadership is incredibly important,” Royals owner John Sherman said Monday. “I’ve got great confidence in these two guys. I love the way they work together. You’ve got to have the right people, but stability and leadership is really important in this business.”
Anne Rogers has more.
“J.J. is a modern baseball executive,” Sherman said. “He’s a good listener. He’ll make decisions, he’ll get the input of his people, he’s got the courage of his convictions, and he has built a lot of trust and confidence. And so has [Quatraro]. The way that those two interact and challenge each other — they ask hard questions that make us better.”
Jaylon also covers the first full squad workout.
That has been the Royals’ mentality in camp. The Royals are focused on becoming a perennial AL contender, which starts with winning their division.
“The goal is to make the playoffs,” Pasquantino said. “However that happens, we want all those teams looking at us and not us looking up at them. It’s nothing personal against those teams, but it’s just how everybody feels.”
Jonathan India gives his impression of the clubhouse.
“You can tell they all have one goal,” India said. “They want to win. Everyone’s very professional here. There’s a lot of structure. They’re very mature for a young team. And I fit right in. That’s my goal every time I step on the field. I’m glad I’m in a winning organization.”
Craig Brown reacts to the Cole Ragans contract.
The contract is unique because extensions like this usually cover all three arbitration years. Or maybe the final two seasons ahead of the player being eligible for free agency. Or maybe one or two years of free agency are bought out. In the case of Ragans, he will be eligible for arbitration ahead of the 2028 season. The Royals hold Ragans’ rights for the next four years, no matter the length of the contract extension. The two sides just locked in the dollars for the next three years. Ragans gets some security. The Royals get some certainty.
Eric Longenhagen at Fangraphs has his top 100 prospect list with Jac Caglianone and Carter Jensen listed for the Royals.
Already a virtual lock to be put on Kansas City’s 40-man after the 2025 season, Jensen’s big league ETA will be dictated by how quickly he can improve his issues on defense. He seems pretty likely to spend at least most of the next two seasons in the minors and then compete for primary catching duties once Salvador Perez’s contract expires.
Buster Olney ranks Salvador Perez #6 among top catchers. [$]
Cleveland signs pitcher John Means to a one-year deal.
The Rangers sign reliever Luke Jackson to a one-year deal.
The Athletics extend manager Mark Kotsay through 2028.
Mets pitcher Frankie Montas is out 6-8 weeks with a lat strain.
Joc Pederson is learning to play first base for Texas.
Rafael Devers is not ready to move off third base, which could cause problems for Boston.
Mike Trout is moving to right field to stay healthier.
The contenders that blew their off-season.
The most unmoveable contracts in baseball.
Sporting KC has their match against Inter-Miami postponed until tomorrow due to extreme weather.
Cleveland, not Kansas City, is the leading candidate to land a WNBA expansion team.
Meta wants to build the longest undersea cable project to connect the United States to India, South Africa, and Brazil.
Quantum computing researchers have a breakthrough in “teleportation.”
50 terrible songs on great albums.
Your song of the day is Wu-Tang Clan with Protect Ya Neck.