MLB.com’s Anne Rogers details how new addition Jonathan India shakes up the fielding look for Kansas City in 2025.
“We have more what we would call everyday players right now with the addition of India than we did last year,” Picollo said. “So it’s going to take time to figure out all the positions. Which is different for us, because we’ve always valued the defense. This is one time where we said, ‘You know what, our team really needs a shot in the arm at the top of the lineup, and we’ll figure out the defense.’”
India said his conversations with the Royals about where he’ll play have mainly been about second and third base, but he’s going to try left field in the spring and see how he handles it. Second baseman Michael Massey is also going to get reps in left field this spring. Infielder Maikel Garcia will see some time in center field this spring and could be a potential option to play out there as a right-handed-hitting platoon partner for Kyle Isbel, opening up third base for India.
FanGraphs’ Dan Szymborski evaluates which MLB teams would benefit the most from adding free agent Alex Bregman at this point in the offseason.
But the best place for Bregman, at least in the ZiPS projections, is another AL Central team: the Kansas City Royals. While the corner outfield scenario is absolutely brutal, especially if MJ Melendez and Hunter Renfroe get the vast majority of the playing time in left and right field, respectively, ZiPS sees merit in shifting Maikel Garcia or Michael Massey into one of the corner spots on the grass, with Bregman taking over at third.
MLB.com’s Jesse Borek has two Royals international signings as “unique” stories from the 2025 class.
Luis Ramón King, OF, Royals; Luis Stiven King, INF, Royals
Yes, they’re twins! The duo was trained by former MLB outfielder Alex Sánchez in the Dominican Republic. While both are right-handed hitters, Luis Ramón has a bit more pop in his bat at this stage and a strong arm to boot in the outfield. Luis Stiven has quick feet and a frame that evaluators can dream on, needing to add polish as he begins his pro journey.
The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal muses on Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.’s omission from the MLB The Show 25 cover. [$]
“There’s a huge pool of talented players in MLB which always makes choosing a cover athlete difficult for us at Sony Interactive Entertainment and San Diego Studio,” an SIE public relations representative said.
“Even though we chose three players for the first time in the history of the franchise, there are always deserving guys that don’t make the cover. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have Paul, Gunnar and Elly grace the cover.”
Maybe next year, Bobby. Another nine or 10 WAR season would be difficult to ignore.
Speaking of MLB The Show, the video game’s first trailer released Tuesday. The game drops days before Opening Day on Mar. 18, 2025.
PECOTA projections have the Royals missing the postseason and the Minnesota Twins winning the AL Central.
The New York Mets are one of baseball’s most improved teams this offseason, but the Royals inclusion has the franchise lagging behind.
ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel releases the top-10 prospects in the Royals system and the overall farm system ranking. [$]
BBWAA released the optional public ballots for the Hall of Fame Class of 2025, but the 321 public ballots of 394 submitted did not include who omitted Ichiro Suzuki.
St. Petersburg mayor Ken Welch says the city “will not pursue the deal at any cost” with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Former Royals pitcher Tim Hill is returning to the New York Yankees on a one-year, $2.85 million contract. The deal includes a club option for 2026.
The outfielding free agent pool shrunk further Tuesday. The Arizona Diamondbacks and Randal Grichuk agreed to a deal, while the Baltimore Orioles added Ramon Laureano on a one-year pact.
Baseball America’s recent scouting survey shows where some teams stand on the 2025 MLB Draft class. [$]
Shohei Ohtani makes an appearance at the Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan… sort of.
Ruth Slenczynska is a 100-year-old pianist and is the last living pupil of Sergei Rachmaninov.
Your time and attention is worth money, and Super Bowl advertising is another example of that.
Today’s song is Max McNown’s sophomore album’s title song, Night Diving.