Royals Rumblings—News for March 5, 2025

Which will come first, the end of Kansas City’s winter or Opening Day?

David Lesky at Inside the Crown stacks up the Kansas City Royals pitching room ahead of Opening Day.

The change started at the end of June that year when the Royals acquired Cole Ragans, but to their credit, they didn’t stop. We know about them adding Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha, but the bullpen has been largely remade as well over the past 15 months or so. This staff, on paper, is one of the best we’ve seen in Kansas City in awhile. If not the best, it’s at least the most complete. And there’s some depth too with more potentially on the way as the season progresses. If you believe the Royals can win the division, and I absolutely believe they can (not sure yet if I think they will), it’s largely because the pitching staff is so good.

Craig Brown at Into the Fountains looks at the pitching hierarchy in spring training, including if southpaw Daniel Lynch IV is in or out of the rotation.

As good as Lynch was, it would be premature to declare the lefty as a front-runner. It has been something of a battle of attrition as injuries have culled the field. At this point, it feels as though it’s between Lynch and Bubic. Noah Cameron has an outside shot, but looks as though he will be ticketed for Omaha.

Royals Data Dugout looks at some of the Royals batters crushing baseballs in Arizona, including players on the roster bubble such as first baseman Nick Pratto.

I can’t stress enough we’re only talking about 17 plate appearances and nine batted balls. But for a player whose job rests on his performance this spring (he’s out of options), Pratto is doing everything he can to be attractive to another team, which is helpful to the Royals in the sense they may be able to flip him for an asset rather than outright waiving him when spring comes to a close.

ESPN’s David Schoenfield gives a final offseason grade for each MLB team, with a so-so grade for Kansas City. [$]

I’m also not a big fan of the Estevez signing (two years, $22 million), other than that his fly ball tendencies might work out in the pitcher-friendly confines of Kauffman Stadium. Wacha has put together three straight solid years, so maybe it’s time to believe he’ll do it again (but his 166 innings in 2024 was his most since 2015). Still, another bat would have been nice for an offense that had only four players produce an OPS+ above 100.

CBS Sports’ R.J. Anderson predicts the Royals are one of the most likely 2024 playoff teams to miss the postseason in 2025.

Maybe the Royals’ patience with MJ Melendez, Maikel Garcia, and a few other homegrown position players will be rewarded. I just fear that they’ll be left with a lineup that runs four or five batters deep, and that the pitching staff may experience some slippage from a few of the veteran arms. Should both of those concerns manifest, the Royals stand a real chance of missing out on a return trip to October.

Tremayne Person at Kings of Kauffman is buying Jonathan India’s hot spring start.

With a fresh start in Kansas City, India has a golden opportunity to elevate his game and become a key catalyst in the Royals’ resurgence. If his early performance in spring training is any indication, Royals fans should brace themselves for a season filled with energy, versatility, and a lot of Jonathan India.

Baseball America takes a deep dive into the Royals farm system, including looking at the organization’s strengths and weaknesses.

The Kansas City Star’s Jaylon Thompson looks to answer if the Royals outfield is enough to succeed in 2025. [$]

From Bluey and Bingo to Runzas, the Omaha Storm Chasers revealed their promotional schedule for the 2025 season. [Do you like more ridiculous promotions or prefer the norms?]

Watch some of 2015 World Series champion Mike Moustakas’ best moments across his career.

Hear from Moose after he announced his pending retirement as a Royal.

Scott Chu at Pitcher List ranks the top 30 catchers for fantasy baseball, with Royals team captain Salvador Perez coming in fourth overall.

He also ranked the top 30 fantasy first basemen, with Vinnie Pasquantino coming in ninth.

The New York Post’s Joel Sherman reports that “Kansas City has not totally extinguished” trading for New York Mets veteran Starling Marte. [$]

The Athletic’s Stephen J. Nesbitt ranks all MLB franchises across the past 25 years, with the Royals near the bottom. [$]

Baseball America examine’s the prospects popping off the Statcast sheet, including Royals top prospect Jac Caglianone. [$]

In case you didn’t hear, the Royals and Joe’s Kansas City are bringing the famous Z-Man to Kauffman Stadium this season.

The Athletic’s Keith Law releases his top 30 prospects in the 2025 MLB Draft. [$]

Dave Brown at Pitcher List makes the case against reversing the ban against the late Pete Rose.

The Washington Post’s Dave Sheinin ponders if more efficient sports have also become less entertaining. [$]

Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly lists seven teams who will have a worse record in 2025.

CBS Sports’ Matt Snyder declares the ABS experiment in spring training a massive success.

He also picks the league’s top 10 bullpens, including three from the AL Central.

The controversial Rimas Sports agency, co-owned by pop superstar Bad Bunny, signs a “management deal’ with San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr.

Creighton product Alan Roden talks about steering away from astrophysics and towards his MLB dream.

The New York Jets and Davante Adams part ways.

The KC Pet Project reported that nearly 300 animals were adopted from the shelter last week, setting a record for visitors and adoptions.

Dolly Parton’s husband, Carl Dean, passes away at 82. The pair were married for nearly 60 years.

Scientists are making mice look like the long-extinct woolly mammoth.

Prepare yourself for Daylight Saving Time this coming weekend, when most of America will spring forward one hour.

Today’s song is Harper O’Neil with My Love, My Love.