***Official 2024/2025 KC Royals Offseason Thread***

[GabyKeepsMeWarm]

Royals went from 56-106 to 86-76.

Made the playoffs. Took out the Orioles on the road.

Lost in four games to the Yankees by 4 runs.

Finally got a bullpen.

Had two pitchers who will finish in the top five for the Cy Young.

Bobby Witt jr turned into a superstar likely being an MVP #2 to that phag in NY.

Salvy just kept doing Salvy stuff.

Vinnie came back from shoulder surgery and had a helluva year.

Cole Ragans had a full season. His arm didn’t fall off. He’s probably top five for Cy Young.

Seth Lugo is gonna finish top five for Cy Young. He’s like Rick Reed. And he’s ours for at least another season.

Brady Singer will get his next time with arbitration. And I’m ambivalent, but I know it’s damn hard to find healthy arms who could be be better as a 3/4 starter.

Michael Wacha was more than everything we could’ve ever wanted, but I say let that man fly unless he wants to take a dumb contract, which he won’t do.

That gives us Alec Marsh who was pretty great for his role.

And we have Wright coming in, plus Bubic who could start.

But this team needs another bat and wingman for Bobby. It’s perfect that Juan Soto would fill many roles, but it ain’t happening.

Adames is someone I like. And we can dangle Massey/Garcia. Just a thought.

This team…. I hope they go into the offseason working hard, and I hope they got the glitter out of their eyes.

Good team with obvious weakness, and a perennial superstar ready to erupt….

Sherman and JJ should be on the phone soon

[GabyKeepsMeWarm]

And Bobby Witt Jr has finished 2nd in the AL MVP Award. Judge wins unanimously with 30 1st place votes, and Bobby also finished unanimously with 30 2nd place votes., Congrats Bobby on an amazing season, with hopefully more to come!

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by TomBarndtsTwin

The Cubs want to trade Cody Bellinger, per @Ken_Rosenthal pic.twitter.com/b7m5QGctjS

— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) November 21, 2024

That’s interesting.

I don’t understand what the Cubs are doing, at all.

[tk13]

Jon Heyman is usually plugged in on this FA stuff because he's so close to the agents. Said the Royals checked in on Soto. Also said the Tigers tried to extend Skubal but didn't come close.

https://nypost.com/2024/11/21/sports...ger-a-j-hinch/

The Royals were a second small-market team to check in on Juan Soto. But, ultimately, it’s not a financial fit. Can’t blame the Rays for checking in, either. But here’s their reality: They traded CF Jose Siri partly to save a couple million.

[Why Not?]

2nd in the Cy. 2nd in the MVP. Should’ve had MOTY. Not too shabby.

[nychief]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

That’s interesting.

I don’t understand what the Cubs are doing, at all.

They were hoping he'd opt out of his expensive player option for next season - he did not - plus he has another the year after, I think? Also at a high number... high 20's or some such.

[Ocotillo]

Non-tender deadline at 7 p.m. CDT today. Teams have a chance to let go of arbitration-eligible players.

MLB Trade Rumors states these Royals players have a 10-20% chance of being non tendered:

MJ Melendez ($2.5 million)
Hunter Harvey ($3.9 million)
Carlos Hernandez ($1.2 million)

[TomBarndtsTwin]

They'll offer Harvey due to the trade, if nothing else. Even if they don't like his medicals and his prognosis going forward.

And those amounts are so small for Carlos and M.J., can't imagine them being non-tendered either.

I would be legitimately shocked if ANY of them got non-tendered.

[TomBarndtsTwin]

Originally Posted by nychief

They were hoping he'd opt out of his expensive player option for next season - he did not - plus he has another the year after, I think? Also at a high number... high 20's or some such.

Likely, this. Cause the rumor was earlier they didn't really want him back and they thought he'd opt out and Boras would go looking for another, slightly longer contract.

But he decided to stay. And I don't think the Cubs expected that.

I get the concerns with him (as Duncan has detailed in this thread), but I still think he'd be an ideal fit here for one of the two things we need.

India, if they make a trade there, would come as close to filling the other as you realistically can.

Without signing Juan Soto of course.

Which is not happening, of course.

[duncan_idaho]

Depending on the trade price and how much the Cubs pick up, I think Bellinger is an intriguing option for the Royals, still. Even with the concerns, he’d be a nice fit in RF/CF for KC.

If he’s the major move/only big external add, that could even be someone they have hit 1, in front of Witt. He runs well enough and gets on base, and would probably get decent stuff to hit with Witt-Pasquantino-Perez following.

[nychief]

Austin Hays was DFA’d by Philly… he’d be a perfect Dayton Moore signing, strikes out and doesn’t get on base.

[TomBarndtsTwin]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Depending on the trade price and how much the Cubs pick up, I think Bellinger is an intriguing option for the Royals, still. Even with the concerns, he’d be a nice fit in RF/CF for KC.

If he’s the major move/only big external add, that could even be someone they have hit 1, in front of Witt. He runs well enough and gets on base, and would probably get decent stuff to hit with Witt-Pasquantino-Perez following.

What kind of package do you think it would take to pick up Bellinger?

If the Royals are gonna make a deal on Singer, I'd like for them to have him in a potential Reds trade for India, but I know there's been speculation about Marsh/Bubic also being potential trade candidates. I can't imagine the Royals would want to deal more than 2 of those. As they say, you can never have enough starting pitching. They got lucky with injuries this year, may not be so fortunate next year. I guess what I'm asking is could Royals get Bellinger from Cubs w/o including Singer in a deal? The Cubs would likely need to eat some money on Bellinger if they want a solid package.

But, man, if they could get Bellinger with a reasonable package and also make a deal with the Reds for India, you could have a lineup like this starting out 2025:

1. India - 2B/3B
2. Witt - SS
3. Bellinger - CF/LF
4. Vinnie - 1B/DH
5. Salvy - C/1B/DH
6. Massey - 2B
7. Renfroe - RF
8. Fermin - C/DH
9. Isbel - CF

That's a DRAMATICALLY improved lineup that provides some additional power and a lot more OBP near the top. I wouldn't even be against flip flopping Witt and Bellinger if it worked better for matchups, but Witt seems fairly comfortable hitting in the 2 spot so I hate to mess with that too much.