Royals Rumblings - News for January 2, 2018
What role will Hunter Dozier have in 2018?
Leigh Oleszczak at KC Kingdom talks about how the Royals need to find a role for Hunter Dozier in 2018.
The 2018 season is the perfect time to get Hunter Dozier involved and find a role for him. Dozier looked to be the third baseman of the future in case Mike Moustakas wasn’t in town long-term, but Cheslor Cuthbert proved himself nicely in 2016 while filling in for an injured Moose.
David Hill at Call to the Pen thinks Eric Hosmer could fall into the Royals lap.
As the offseason has continued, Hosmer’s market has failed to materialize. The Red Sox brought back Mitch Moreland, ending their pursuit of Hosmer. The Yankees, meanwhile, are determined to get below the luxury tax threshold, and seem content to stick with Greg Bird for the coming season. Hosmer’s market, meanwhile, has been limited to a rumored offer from the Padres, although it is uncertain as to whether or not the six year, $120 Million contract was actually put forth.
Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas are possible fits for the St. Louis Cardinals.
In order to make room for Hosmer, the Cardinals would have to shift Matt Carpenter from first base to second base. Most of Carpenter’s career starts have come at third base, and he has 12 more second-base starts than first-base starts.
With St. Louis’ ability to shift their infielders to other positions, making Moustakas their third baseman could also make sense. He totaled a career-high 38 home runs in the 2017 season, hitting .272/.314/.521. Moustakas missed most of the 2016 season, and he had 22 homers with a .284/.348/.470 slash line in 2015.
Circling back to KC Kingdom, as they look back at the Wade Davis/Jorge Soler trade.
The truth is, we won’t know how this trade really worked out until the end of Soler’s four years are up in Kansas City. 2018 is the perfect year to prove that Soler was worth trading an All-Star closer for, as it’s a rebuilding year and the Kansas City Royals literally have nothing to lose.
Bill Pivetz at Just Fantasy Baseball asks if Kelvin Herrera can rebound in 2018.
Royals Farm Report profiles current Royals prospect Michael Gigliotti and draft prospect Tim Cate.
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