Daily Clips
February 18, 2017
LOCAL
Strahm seizing opportunity to pitch
from 'pen
February 17, 2017
By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/216313118/mattstrahm-embracing-bullpen-role-for-royals/
February 17, 2017
By Matt Snyder/CBSSports.com
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/dominican-republicwont-be-releasing-yordano-ventura-toxicology-report-topublic/
MLB TRANSACTIONS
February 18, 2017 •.CBSSports.com
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions
Gordon prepared to do Royals'
outfield shuffle
LOCAL
Move will help give Soler time to acclimate to
right field
Strahm seizing opportunity to pitch
from 'pen
February 17, 2017
By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/216303120/royals-alexgordon-to-play-all-outfield-spots/
Moylan back with Royals on Minor
League deal
February 17, 2017
By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/216315920/petermoylan-royals-agree-to-minors-contract/
The education of Jorge Soler: Royals
newcomer learning under outfield
guru Rusty Kuntz
February 17, 2017
By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-cityroyals/article133524769.html
The Royals plan to experiment with
Alex Gordon in center field during
spring training
February 17, 2017
By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-cityroyals/article133463459.html
Reliever Peter Moylan returns to
Royals on a minor-league contract
February 17, 2017
By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-cityroyals/article133437554.html
NATIONAL
February 17, 2017
By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/216313118/mattstrahm-embracing-bullpen-role-for-royals/
For most of the offseason, the Royals stated publicly that lefthander Matt Strahm would be in the mix for a spot in the
rotation.
But that officially changed after the Royals acquired starters
Jason Hammel and Travis Wood. Hammel already has a spot
secured in the rotation. Wood will compete with righthanders Nathan Karns and Chris Young for the fifth spot.
And Strahm will head straight to the bullpen, where he was
lights-out as a rookie in 2016.
Strahm, who posted a 1.23 ERA in 21 outings last August
and September, likely will team with Joakim Soria as the
primary setup men for closer Kelvin Herrera.
And Strahm is just fine with that.
"It didn't really change anything for me," said Strahm, the
Royals' No. 3 prospect. "I knew coming into Spring Training
it was going to be one or the other. But now coming into
camp, I know for sure and I know what I need to work on."
Instead of being stretched out to 70 or 80 pitches in camp,
Strahm likely will be maxed out at 40-50 pitches.
"I don't care when I pitch, I just want to pitch," Strahm said,
smiling. "I'll do whatever they want."
Down the road, manager Ned Yost maintains that Strahm
will be a starter. Just not now.
"Absolutely we view him as a starter in the future," Yost
said. "But for now, we're better off with him in the bullpen."
Kansas City Royals have 4 candidates
for second base job
Strahm simply will be happy holding on to a spot on the 25man roster.
February 17, 2017
USA Today (via AP)
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2017/02/17/kansa
s-city-royals-have-4-candidates-for-second-basejob/98061822/
"Nothing is for sure yet," Strahm said. "I still have to earn it.
Hopefully I can do exactly what I did the last two months last
year."
Dominican Republic won't be
releasing Yordano Ventura toxicology
report to public
The results have implications as to have how
much the Royals owe Ventura's estate
Everyone in camp
The Royals' first official workout was Friday and everyone
was in attendance. The last to arrive was shortstop Alcides
Escobar.
"There was no special messages for this group," Yost said.
"They all know what they have to do."
Gordon prepared to do Royals'
outfield shuffle
Move will help give Soler time to acclimate to
right field
February 17, 2017
By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/216303120/royals-alexgordon-to-play-all-outfield-spots/
Royals manager Ned Yost revealed Friday that he may have
some unusual outfield combinations this spring, and perhaps
during the regular season.
Yost indicated he plans to utilize Gold Glove left fielder Alex
Gordon in all three outfield spots.
"Every scenario is open," Yost said. "I'm going to move
Gordy around. I'm going to play Gordy in right, Gordy in
center. Just to see what we got."
Yost said he will search for his best defensive combination,
especially as new right fielder Jorge Soler, who scouts say is
average defensively at best, continues to improve with the
help of outfielders coach Rusty Kuntz.
"I'm not going to predict how many homers I'm going to hit,"
he said. "But I want to be a complete player. I'll work to be
my best offensively and defensively."
Moylan back with Royals on Minor
League deal
February 17, 2017
By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/216315920/petermoylan-royals-agree-to-minors-contract/
The Royals agreed to a Minor League deal with right-hander
Peter Moylan, the club confirmed Friday. A source told
MLB.com that Moylan will earn $1 million if he makes the
Royals' 25-man roster. The club has not confirmed the value
of the deal.
Moylan, 38, was 2-0 with a 3.43 ERA in 50 appearances for
the Royals last season.
Moylan joins a crowded list of veteran relievers -- Jonathan
Sanchez, Brandon League, Al Alburquerque, Chris Withrow
and Bobby Parnell -- along with several young arms,
including Josh Staumont and Kyle Zimmer, vying for one or
two final spots in the bullpen.
Yost also will try to work in Brandon Moss in one of the
corner spots. Moss, like Soler, is probably average
defensively at best.
The education of Jorge Soler: Royals
newcomer learning under outfield
guru Rusty Kuntz
"Is left field easier to play than right field? Yes," Yost said.
"But with Rusty, [Moss' and Soler's] ability to cover ground
is going to get better."
February 17, 2017
By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-cityroyals/article133524769.html
Soler, though, is the right fielder for now.
Jorge Soler’s lips curled into a smile as he listened to the
question. The words needed no translation. The inquiry was
about power, and Soler nodded his head, even as catching
coach Pedro Grifol stood at his side, ready to interpret the
question into his first language.
"Soler is more comfortable in right," Yost said. "But maybe
Moss could play some left when Gordy needs a break.
"I've got a Gold Glover who can move anywhere in the field.
It's just finding a spot where everybody can be at their best. If
Moss is more comfortable in left than right, Gordy is more
than capable of moving to right and creating a better
defense."
Kuntz joked during the offseason that his new best friend this
spring would be Soler as they worked to make Soler better
defensively.
"Yes. Oh, yes," Soler said with a laugh through interpreter
Pedro Grifol. "He's a good friend of mine now. I got here a
while ago and started working at 10 o'clock every day with
him.
"We're doing a lot of work in the outfield, especially on
charging the ball. And we're working on my turns once the
ball is hit."
There's little doubt that Soler was acquired to boost the
Royals' offense. Yost and the Royals simply hope Soler's
defense eventually catches up.
"He'll get his 600 ABs somehow," Yost said. "But maybe
some of those are at DH. My mind is completely open right
now about our defensive alignment."
And Soler, who has 27 homers in 211 Major League games,
wants to be known for more than just his power.
It was just after 8:30 a.m. on Friday morning. Soler, a 24year-old outfielder, was standing inside a media room
adjacent to the Royals clubhouse. A bank of cameras and
reporters lined up just feet away.
The Royals media relations team had set up a make-shift
press conference to accommodate Soler, the club’s most
intriguing acquisition of the offseason. It took just a few
questions before the topic turned to Soler’s power, the tool
that birthed his professional career and compelled the Royals
to trade one season of closer Wade Davis for four years of
potential and possibility.
“He’s not going to predict how many homers he’s going to
hit,” Grifol said, translating for Soler. “But he’s going to
work extremely hard both defensively and offensively to be
able to help this team win.”
The answer offered a fairly apt summation of Soler’s first
days in camp. The first thing you notice is the power, of
course, the tree-trunk legs, the bulging biceps, the body that
looks like it once belonged to Bo Jackson. Take one look at
Soler, and you see a baseball player born to punish baseballs.
But inspect a little closer, and you realize this: That might be
the easy part.
The Royals believe that Soler has the potential to be a force
in the middle of the lineup, a 6-foot-4, 225-pound slugger
capable of threatening Steve Balboni’s franchise record of 36
homers in a season. They are less confident in Soler’s ability
to cover adequate ground in right field. So in the week before
position players were set to report to camp, Soler began daily
sessions with Rusty Kuntz, the club’s first-base coach and
resident outfield instructor.
Kansas City. If he can stay healthy, he will get the chance to
play every day. That never came in Chicago, but it could
come now. Which leads to another goal: If he can prove
himself in the outfield, he can finally show that he’s a
complete player.
For a week, they would meet together at 10 a.m., working
through footwork drills and ironing out other details. On
most days, they were joined by infielder Christian Colon,
who served as an extra interpreter. The goal: Set a foundation
of footwork. Get a little better each day.
“It’s very important for him to prove he can play every day,”
Grifol said, interpreting for Soler. “That’s why he’s working
hard in the field. That’s why he’s working hard in the
training room to make sure he doesn’t have any injury, any
setbacks. That’s what he’s working hard for.”
Kuntz called Soler a “coach’s dream” because of his
attentiveness and ability to pick up on concepts. But as the
Royals prepared for their first full-squad workout on Friday
morning, Royals manager Ned Yost offered a slightly more
tepid endorsement of Solder’s defense.
The Royals plan to experiment with
Alex Gordon in center field during
spring training
“What everybody talks about is that they think he can be an
average defender under Rusty,” Yost said. “He’s already
made some strides on his drops and his routes to the ball with
Rusty. He’s a very quick learner.”
That the generally optimistic Yost set “average” as the goal
for Soler perhaps illustrates the challenge ahead. Club
officials remain confident in the teaching ability of Kuntz,
who once helped Alex Gordon transform into a Gold Glove
left fielder. But for now, the Royals are setting modest goals
for Soler.
“His biggest thing is the footwork and getting that quick turn
down, and getting the read and the route, which increases the
range,” Kuntz said. “And those are the three things that we’re
trying to put together right now.”
In three seasons in Chicago with the Cubs, Soler offered
tantalizing glimpses of his prodigious power — even as he
struggled through injuries and sporadic playing time. He
clubbed 27 homers and posted a .434 slugging percentage in
682 at-bats across three years. He shredded opposing pitchers
in the 2015 postseason. He helped the 2016 Cubs win the
franchise’s first World Series championship in 108 years.
And yet, his defense still rated as somewhere below average.
Soler gained a reputation for taking bad routes and making
poor decisions. The latter often stopped him from making use
of an arm that Kuntz refers to as “huge.” When Soler begins
to understand situations, Kuntz said, his arm could become a
potent weapon. But that aspect of his game will come with
time.
“He’s going to learn that stuff as we go along,” Kuntz said.
“But my big thing right now is it’s all about the feet and
footwork.”
In his first days in Royals camp, Soler seemed to take to his
new surroundings. He is lockering in a corner with Salvador
Perez and Kelvin Herrera. Soler spends most mornings
towering over teammates in a blue hooded sweatshirt with
the sleeves cut off. A native of Cuba, he is still mastering the
English language. But teammates say he’s already added
something intangible to the clubhouse.
“His energy, his smile, his enthusiasm, all that kind of stuff,”
Kuntz said. “He’s trying to get better every day, and in my
opinion, he’s doing a great job.”
As his makeshift press conference wrapped up on Friday,
Soler offered another smile. In just 4 minutes and 32 seconds,
he had tried to convey his appreciation for the opportunity in
February 17, 2017
By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-cityroyals/article133463459.html
In the laid back confines of spring training, there exists space
for creativity, experimentation and a little fun.
With this ethos in mind, the Royals have hatched a plan that
might seem a little out there. As major-league camp kicks
into gear over the next two weeks, left fielder Alex Gordon is
slated to log time in center.
Royals manager Ned Yost revealed the idea on Friday
morning as the team took the field for its first full-squad
workout. It is part of a larger gambit to juggle the outfield
alignments and look at possible options, Yost said.
“We’re going to be pretty open-minded and experimental
here in spring training with our outfield,” Yost said. “We’re
going to move Gordy around, play him some in center and in
right, too. We know he’s a Gold Glove left fielder. But we’re
going to move him around.”
The idea of Gordon playing center field during the regular
season remains improbable. The club will open with Lorenzo
Cain in center field, while Paulo Orlando is a suitable fill-in
at the position. But the club remains committed to flexibility.
The news of the experiment also delighted Gordon, who has
hounded Yost and first-base coach Rusty Kuntz for years
about playing center field.
“Happiest thing I’ve heard all camp,” Gordon said. “I’ve
been begging. It kind of started as being serious, and then it
was more of a joke because he never did it. So I kind of just
gave Rusty a hard time.”
By shifting alignments and combinations in the outfield, the
Royals may be able to find the most suitable position for
newcomer Jorge Soler, who projects as a slightly belowaverage defender. Soler is expected to start every day in right
field, but for now, Yost will not commit to anything.
The Royals also have designated hitter Brandon Moss and
utilityman Whit Merrifield as options in the outfield. Yost
said infielders Christian Colon and Cheslor Cuthbert could
play some outfield, too. But for the moment, the most
intriguing proposition is Gordon moving away from his home
in left.
“I want to see Gordy in center field,” Yost said. “He’s always
wanted to play center field. He’s always been bugging me for
five years to play center field. And spring training is a time
when you can experiment. You can allow him to live out his
fantasy.”
"He's on another level," Colon said Friday before the team's
first full-squad workout. "It was intense."
The fantasy may be temporary. But Gordon is excited for the
opportunity. For years, he has spent time in center field while
shagging during batting practice. Now he will likely get a
chance in a game situation.
So is the Royals' competition for the second base job, the
only position up for grabs in spring training. Manager Ned
Yost listed four candidates for the job: Whit Merrifield,
Cheslor Cuthbert, Raul Mondesi and Colon.
“Cain and [Jarrod] Dyson always made fun of me because
they didn’t think I could handle it,” Gordon said. “We’ll see
this spring, though. It’ll be fun.”
"It's about time," Yost said with a laugh after he was asked
about Colon joining Gordon for the workouts.
Reliever Peter Moylan returns to
Royals on a minor-league contract
It could be Colon's time, at age 27, to claim a starting job.
Colon was the fourth player picked in the 2010 draft and has
some memorable postseason hits, but in parts of three major
league seasons he has played in 118 games and started in just
78. He hit .231 last season in 54 games.
February 17, 2017
By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-cityroyals/article133437554.html
The Royals have agreed to a minor-league contract with
reliever Peter Moylan, reuniting with a veteran right-hander
who spent most of 2016 in the club’s bullpen.
He wants the everyday job.
"Correct," Colon said. "I definitely want to compete for that
job and give it all I've got."
So does Merrifield.
Moylan, 38-year-old submarine-style pitcher, posted a 3.43
ERA in 44 2/3 innings across 50 appearances last season,
sliding into a role as an effective righty specialist. A native of
Australia, Moylan is expected to arrive in camp by Monday.
Moylan will join a crowded competition for one or two
remaining bullpen slots. Three slots are expected to be filled
by Kelvin Herrera, Joakim Soria and Matt Strahm, while two
others could be filled by the two pitchers that lose out in the
competition for the final rotation slot. That starting spot,
barring injury, will come down to Nathan Karns, Chris
Young or Travis Wood.
Left-hander Mike Minor could have the inside track to
another bullpen spot if he remains healthy. That would leave
one vacancy if the Royals elect to keep seven relievers on
their opening day roster.
Moylan faced similar odds last season after signing with the
Royals on a minor-league deal. After a slow start in camp, he
began the year at Class AAA Omaha. But a strong opening
month in Omaha earned him a promotion to the big-league
club in May. During the next five months, he became a
reliable and durable member of the bullpen. The performance
included an impressive 15 appearances during the month of
August.
NATIONAL
Kansas City Royals have 4 candidates
for second base job
"It's one I would like to win," Merrifield said. "I put myself
in a good position physically and mentally this offseason to
compete and hopefully win the job. We have some good
players. Whoever wins the job is going to earn it."
Merrifield started 55 games at second base last year, but he
also played first, third, right field and left field. He hit .283 as
a rookie.
Merrifield is no slouch in winter workouts, dead lifting a
personal-best 540 pounds.
"I'm stronger than people give me credit," he said. "In the
offseason, I like to lift heavy weights."
Cuthbert is the most intriguing of the four. He hit .274 with
12 home runs and 48 RBIs in 128 games. After Mike
Moustakas needed season-ending knee surgery, Cuthbert
became the everyday third baseman. Moustakas is healthy in
spring training and the Royals are experimenting with
moving Cuthbert to second base.
The Royals dispatched Cuthbert to the fall instructional
league after the season for a crash course at second under the
tutelage of infield coordinator Rafael Belliard, who played 17
seasons in the majors. Cuthbert has played only two innings
at second base in the majors.
"It is different," Cuthbert said. "The angles are different. The
throws are different. There is a lot of movement. At third
base, it's just reaction. But I can do it. It just takes more
work."
February 17, 2017
USA Today (via AP)
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2017/02/17/kansa
s-city-royals-have-4-candidates-for-second-basejob/98061822/
Mondesi, 21, is the best athlete of the four and with the more
upside. In 47 games in the majors last year, he was
overmatched at the plate, hitting .185 and striking out 48
times in 135 at-bats.
Christian Colon spent the offseason training with Kansas
City Royal teammate Alex Gordon, who is known for his
maniacal workouts.
Cuthbert and Colon are out of minor league options, which
means the Royals cannot send them to Triple-A Omaha
without clearing waivers.
Colon said he lost 8 percent of his body fat, turning that into
muscle.
"We're looking for someone who can field ground balls and
turn double plays, and get hits," Yost said. "That's it, that is
what we want. We'll go through six weeks of spring training
and figure it out."
Dominican Republic won't be
releasing Yordano Ventura toxicology
report to public
The results have implications as to have how
much the Royals owe Ventura's estate
February 17, 2017
By Matt Snyder/CBSSports.com
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/dominican-republicwont-be-releasing-yordano-ventura-toxicology-report-topublic/
On Jan. 22, the baseball world lost Royals pitcher Yordano
Ventura to a car accident in the Dominican Republic. He was
only 25 years old.
It’s been nearly a month since the accident, but there’s still
news here regarding how much money the Royals will end
up paying the estate of Ventura. It has been reported that if
Venura were driving while intoxicated, the Royals could void
the remainder of his contract, which is worth $20.25 million.
To this point there’s been no concrete evidence that he was
intoxicated at all, but the toxicology report will reveal the
evidence.
Chicago White Tyler
Signed to a Minor League
Sox
Matzek
Contract
Cincinnati
Ryan
Signed to a Minor League
Reds
Raburn
Contract
Kansas City
Peter
Signed to a Minor League
Royals
Moylan
Contract
Darin Ruf
Released
Los Angeles
Dodgers
Los Angeles
Darin Ruf
Signed to Play in Korea,
On that front, the Kansas City Star reports that the toxicology
report will only be released to Ventura’s family and
attorneys. Remember, this happened the Dominican
Republic, not America.
Dodgers
More from the Star:
New York
Nick
Yankees
Swisher
San Francisco
Slade
Signed to a Minor League
Giants
Heathcott
Contract
(Samsung Lions)
Retired
On Thursday, Tessie Sanchez, a spokeswoman for the
Dominican attorney general’s office, said the toxicology
report is not a public document.
“Autopsies are performed by law to any person who has died
violently,” Sanchez wrote in Spanish in a text message to a
reporter with the Star. “But it (the report) is only given to the
public ministry and to relatives.”
It’s unclear if the Royals have any recourse here to figure out
if Ventura’s contract can be voided or not. Expect the issue to
linger here for a bit, unfortunately.
This isn’t to say that the salary is the only thing the Ventura
estate might be due. The Star reports that MLB’s benefit’s
package is likely to pay $450K in life insurance, over a
million dollars in accidental-death insurance and more
pension-related funds.
Still, these benefits pale in comparison to $20.25 million.
MLB TRANSACTIONS
February 18, 2017 •.CBSSports.com
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions
TEAM
Baltimore
Orioles
PLAYER
Brad Brach
TRANSACTION
Signed, ( 2017)(wins
arbitration)
San Francisco
Giants
Aaron Hill
Signed to a Minor League
Contract