Royals Rumblings - News for February 4, 2025

How would you grade the Royals’ off-season?

David Lesky tries to project Royals hitters.

In right field, Melendez and Renfroe is a bit less exciting, but Melendez has a career 105 OPS+ against righties while Renfroe is at 121 vs. lefites. Neither was that good against their desired platoon matchups last year, which is concerning and a big reason why they need someone else. There have been some rumors of Adam Duvall, who had a terrible 2024, and Randall Grichuk, who had a great 2024. If they were to sign a short-side platoon bat, I’d guess Wiemer ends up in AAA with Blanco still on the roster as a stolen base specialist. The issue, though, is that they don’t trust him in center, so they’d need someone else in center field, which might be where Garcia comes in. You can see how many moving parts there are here.

Yahoo Sports grades the Royals’ off-season a B-.

And so, with India as the only notable alteration to last year’s roster, does this winter feel like a meaningful step forward for the Royals? It was clear by the end of last season that even with a spectacular headliner in Bobby Witt Jr., the offense badly needed another established bat. India definitely brings that, though his defensive fit remains curious at best. The lineup still looks concerningly thin beyond the top four, and unless last year’s first-round pick, Jac Caglianone, rockets through the minors, there doesn’t appear to be much help coming from the Royals’ shallow farm system.

Owner John Sherman hopes to make a stadium decision by mid-year.

“I would just say that we’re talking to Missouri,” Sherman said. “They’re very engaged, and I think that remains to be seen how it’s done. But they’re very engaged and are working very hard to keep both of these teams on this side of the state (line). ... I would say that there’s a concerted effort, but these conversations now are going on on both sides of the state line.”

Kevin O’Brien at Royals Reporter gives his review of Royals Rally.

Want to get autographs? You will miss out on the player, coaches, and management speaker panels (which are the best part). Do you want to stay for all the panels? You won’t have enough time to shop in the Royals store. For $25 bucks, it seems like you should be able to get more, though I don’t fault any of the workers there who did a great job producing a friendly experience.

If the Royals want to continue to do it at Kauffman, they need to do something where it becomes easier to do multiple things without sacrificing too much. Maybe hold it in the outfield experience area, allowing people to move onto the team store afterward (they closed the team store to non-Rally ticket goers).

Vahe Gregorian confirms that Dayton Moore is indeed considering a run for governor of Kansas.

After all, Moore — who lives in Leawood and is originally from Wichita — said he has only recently begun to contemplate the possibility in the weeks since multiple Kansas political figures persuaded him to at least think about it.

His hope was, and remains, to travel the state listening to as many people as he can from under the radar. The better to keep the process what he would characterize as innocent as he explores both the viability of entering the political realm and how it might appeal to his ongoing aspirations to lead and inspire.

Tyler Kepner at The Athletic writes that despite being in Kansas City, J.J. Picollo is a huge Philadelphia Eagles fan.

Bobby Witt Jr. is among the players chasing records in 2025.

Longtime Orioles infielder and former Royals coach Rich Dauer dies at age 72.

The Pirates sign reliever Tim Mayza to a one-year, $1.1 million deal.

The Yankees sign Carlos Carrasco to a minor league contract.

The Rays acquire pitcher Alex Faedo from the Tigers.

How will the Brewers replace Willy Adames?

Detroit is still pursuing Alex Bregman.

What was worse - the Luka Doncic trade or the Mookie Betts trade?

Umpire Pat Hoberg is fired for sharing a betting account with a friend.

Spring training ballcaps are revealed.

What to know about World Baseball Classic qualifiers.

Browns pass rusher Myles Garrett wants a trade.

Court documents show the NFL’s New Orleans Saints did damage control for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, after child sex abuse allegations.

The surprising origins and alternatives to tomato ketchup.

There’s a 1 percent chance a big asteroid could hit Earth in 2032.

Hulu is rebooting Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Your song of the day is Screaming Trees with All I Know.