Anne Rogers writes about which free agent beginning pitchers the Royals could possibly be focusing on, like Seth Lugo.
Lugo, who was on this checklist final yr after I put collectively candidates for the Royals, proved he can nonetheless begin throughout his one yr in San Diego following a number of years within the Mets’ bullpen. Lugo made $7.5 million in 2023 and opted out of a deal that might have paid him the identical in ‘24, however he seemingly earned himself a multiyear cope with his robust season. He’s received a combination that may usually hold the ball within the ballpark and his trademark curveball generates loads of whiffs. Lugo throws strikes, and the Royals want that.
David Lesky at Contained in the Crown writes in regards to the progress in pitching growth within the group.
The outcomes have been blended in 2023, however there was loads of good. We noticed strikeouts come again to the system after there have been only a few of them in earlier years. Guys like David Sandlin, Mason Barnett, Noah Cameron, Alec Marsh, Anthony Veneziano and others noticed their technique to climbing the ladder. John McMillon grew to become a aid monster who we noticed briefly within the massive leagues. Whereas the system isn’t lauded simply but, folks I communicate with have stated it’s head and shoulders totally different than it was only a yr in the past presently. There’s precise hope from individuals who don’t have a canine within the struggle.
Sportsnaut lists one transaction every crew ought to make this low season.
Lengthen Bobby Witt Jr. by means of this decade
Reasoning: It is a dangerous crew. It’s going to in all probability be a nasty crew for some time. It has an amazing brilliant spot, nonetheless, in Witt, who hit 30 homers and stole 49 bases in 2023. Solely 23, Witt could be a free agent after the 2027 season at age 27. If he continues his ascent, he’ll be in ridiculously excessive demand by then, which means he’ll worth himself out of the Royals’ future. So, they need to be sure that doesn’t occur by breaking a small financial institution now and locking him up into his 30s.
The White Sox commerce for Nicky Lopez in a six-player cope with the Braves.
The Brewers purchase Jake Bauers from the Yankees.
The Mariners purchase Luis Urias from the Crimson Sox for Kansas Metropolis native Isaiah Campbell.
Cleveland trades pitcher Cal Quantrill to Colorado.
MLB cancels video games scheduled for Paris in 2025 as a result of lack of a promoter.
The historical past of MVPs who modified groups, like Shohei Ohtani could do.
The Blue Jays are reportedly trying to do one thing massive, like land Ohtani.
White Sox outfielder Eloy Jimenez is drawing commerce curiosity.
The window to barter with Japanese free agent Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start Tuesday.
The lengthy, unhappy story of the stealing of the Oakland Athletics.
Michael Baumann at Fangraphs writes a couple of proposal to shorten the pitch clock with runners on base.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is out for the yr.
LSU ladies’s basketball is struggling of their championship protection.
Apple is adopting Google’s texting commonplace, so will the inexperienced textual content bubble disappear?
Man Fieri will host a two-day Flavortown Competition in Columbus, Ohio.
Sam Altman is fired because the CEO of OpenAI.
Your tune of the day is Daryl Corridor & John Oates with I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do).
