As the season comes to a close after an awful season, there is a possibility of some hope since the team played better in late August to the end of the season.
Here are all the important dates you need to know for the 2018-19 MLB offseason. Some of them do involve the Royals, such as:
Oct. 29: As of 9 a.m. ET on Monday, all eligible players are free agents (Escobar - good riddance).
Oct. 31: Most contract option decisions are due on this date (Hammel should be declined, resulting $2 million buyout and Peralta should be accepted, resulting $3 million increase to the payroll, and could be future flip for additional minor leaguers if he performs well).
Nov. 6-8: General manager meetings in Carlsbad, California.
Nov. 12: Deadline for free agents to accept or reject the qualifying offer.
Nov. 14-15: Owners meetings in Atlanta (possible future CBA discussions).
Nov. 20: Deadline for teams to add eligible minor leaguers to the 40-man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft.
Spoiler!
The Royals announced they've added RHPs Arnaldo Hernandez, Josh Staumont and Scott Blewett to the 40-man roster, protecting them from next month's Rule 5 draft. Blewett appeared to take a big step in the Arizona Fall League. The 40-man roster is full right now.
Nov. 26-29: MLB Players Association executive board meeting in Dallas (possible future CBA discussions).
Nov. 30: Non-tender deadline.
Dec. 9-13: Winter Meetings in Las Vegas. This is typically when all offseason hell breaks loose.
Dec. 13: Rule 5 Draft (could see the Royals taking a stab here).
Jan. 11: Deadline for teams and arbitration-eligible players to submit 2019 salary figures (I believe KC has some arb-eligible players).
Feb. 1-20: Arbitration hearings. You win some, you lose some.
Mid-Feb. : SPRING TRAINING!
As usual, let's have a good off-season discussion on ways that the Royals can/should/would do to improve. I will try to update the OP as the off-season goes along. And Duncan, you're more than welcome to provide us some information that I can add onto the OP. Just let me know.
Originally Posted by tk13:
Also I totally missed we signed Lucas Duda today. I'd say there's a pretty good chance he takes that final position player spot that was up in the air.
Minor league deal. i hope he doesn't take the final spot. I hope he's just insurance at the minor league level. [Reply]
Zimmer has the best pure stuff of anyone still on the roster. It will be a complete surprise to me if he is not on the Opening Day roster. Looks to me like he is sticking with a Fastball + Curveball arsenal for now. Tapp also said he hit 97 today on his last pitch, not sure if that's accurate (FSKC said 95 for the same pitch), but he's getting ~20 mph differential from his fastball and curveball. It is happening, folks. Kyle fucking Zimmer. [Reply]
Zimmer has the best pure stuff of anyone still on the roster. It will be a complete surprise to me if he is not on the Opening Day roster. Looks to me like he is sticking with a Fastball + Curveball arsenal for now. Tapp also said he hit 97 today on his last pitch, not sure if that's accurate (FSKC said 95 for the same pitch), but he's getting ~20 mph differential from his fastball and curveball. It is happening, folks. Kyle ****ing Zimmer.
Man, with his injury history, I'd put him in the closer spot. Limit the innings, see if he can make it through a season without his arm falling off and use the talent in high leverage situations. Especially if he's sticking to FB, CB, and change.
I mean, I know starting pitching is more valuable, but he hasn't shown an ability to last a season in that role. [Reply]
Zimmer has the best pure stuff of anyone still on the roster. It will be a complete surprise to me if he is not on the Opening Day roster. Looks to me like he is sticking with a Fastball + Curveball arsenal for now. Tapp also said he hit 97 today on his last pitch, not sure if that's accurate (FSKC said 95 for the same pitch), but he's getting ~20 mph differential from his fastball and curveball. It is happening, folks. Kyle ****ing Zimmer.
On the roster????? Of course he will be on the roster. What are you talking about? [Reply]
Originally Posted by MAHOMO 4 LIFE!:
Why is Goodwin released. I know he’s struggled during spring but Duda really...
I attended the Friday and Saturday games against the Giants and Brewers. I hadn't known until I saw him at the Friday night game that we had signed Duda. He belted a homer on Saturday and ended the game with a 0.803 OPS for the Spring. In person, Goodwin looks good in motion. He hit a double on Friday and looked smooth and powerful on the basepaths. I can see why the Royals wanted him. He has the kind of easy athleticism that looks good in Royals Stadium. But his Spring OPS ended up at 0.443 and his career OPS+ is just a 99, while Duda's is 118. [Reply]
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho:
I don’t really get the Duda addition but can live with it as long as it doesn’t eat into playing time for O’Hearn.
I'm hoping they keep Schwindel on the 25 man roster. The only way I see that happening is if they put Soler in RF and Schwindel and Duda platoon at DH. [Reply]