What’s the top off-season priority for the Royals?
David Lesky writes about off-season priorities for the Royals.
JJ Picollo and Matt Quatraro spoke on Monday in their season-ending press conference. A year ago, they did the same thing and told us that they were going after two starting pitchers, some veteran bullpen help and a corner outfield bat with thump. They went out and got two starting pitchers, signed two relievers and traded for two more and signed Hunter Renfroe. They may not have all worked out, but he did do exactly what he told everyone. And one of the first areas he mentioned on Monday was leadoff hitter.
I don’t have to tell you why that’s an area they feel they need to improve. In 2024, Royals leadoff hitters hit .228/.270/.334. The .604 OPS was second-worst in baseball, ahead of only the literal worst team of the last 125 years. Their .270 OBP was last, and it wasn’t last by a little. They were 22 points behind the second-worst leadoff OBP and 57 points behind the league average (and 128 points behind the best, which is just wild). The fact that the Royals finished the season 13th in runs per game with that collection at the top of the lineup is amazing.
MLB Pipeline named Blake Mitchell the Royals Minor League Player of the Year, and gave Noah Cameron top pitcher honors in the organization.
Noah Cameron, LHP (No. 12)The 25-year-old left-hander led the system with 149 strikeouts, a 27.8 percent strikeout rate and 21.1 percent K/BB rate, all while taking on 128 ⅔ innings between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha. He was even better at the higher level, posting a 2.32 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 62 strikeouts in 54 1/3 innings for the Storm Chasers.
Sam Dykstra at MLB Pipeline writes about the Royals in the Arizona Fall League.
Let’s get this out of the way. Jac Caglianone will be playing only one way in the Arizona Fall League.
“We’re just going to focus on hitting,” said the Royals’ top prospect. “Then hopefully next season when Spring Training rolls around, I can get back off the mound.”
Preston Farr at Farm to Fountains writes about why Michael Wacha is key to the offseason.
Kevin O’Brien at Royals Reporter writes about the Royals Gold Glove finalists.
The Royals are looking for a draft analyst.
David Fry hits a walk-off home run to win Game 3 for the Guardians over the Yankees.
The Rangers grant permission to the White Sox to interview coaches Will Venable and Donnie Ecker for their managerial opening.
The Marlins will interview Tigers coach George Lombard for the managerial opening and may consider Giants coach Alyssa Nakken.
The Durham Bulls say they have too many conflicts to co-host the Rays next season.
What will the Pirates do with disappointing closer David Bednar?
With the White Sox up for sale, could they relocate to Nashville?
FanDuel will take over branding from the Bally’s Sports regional networks.
The new Las Vegas A’s ballpark may be flanked by two Bally’s towers.
Royals Assistant GM Scott Sharp is reportedly a candidate for the Giants GM opening.
Does it make sense to intentionally walk Juan Soto to get to Aaron Judge?
The top 40 players that will hit free agency this off-season.
Atlanta is awarded the 2028 Super Bowl.
Virginia men’s basketball coach Tony Bennett abruptly retires just weeks before the season opener.
Teen tobacco use falls to a 25-year low.
Spotify is paying audiobook publishers millions annually.
A world conker champion is accused of cheating when he’s caught with a steel chestnut.
Your song of the day is Eurythmics with Would I Lie to You?