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.
The 13-year, $330M deal for Harper will include an average annual value of $25.4M - the 14th-highest in major-league history. With no opt-outs, per @JeffPassan and others, massive commitment by #Phillies.
The 13-year, $330M deal for Harper will include an average annual value of $25.4M - the 14th-highest in major-league history. With no opt-outs, per @JeffPassan and others, massive commitment by #Phillies.
Originally Posted by KChiefs1:
I’m hoping Patrick gives the Chiefs a hometown discount.
I don't understand the term "hometown discount" when it comes to Mahomes. It's impossible for him to give us a hometown discount. He's not originally from KC. Or Missouri. Or Kansas. He's a Texan who appears to really love this city and is delighted to be adopted its fanbase. Maybe when he retires a Chief he'll permanently live here... or at the very least keep a house here for his frequent visits. But he's not from here. The only way he could give a team a hometown discount would be if he played for whatever football team Whitehouse, TX typically roots for.
Yeah, he could accept a contract that's not as expensive as he could make it in order to help the team build pieces around him, but that's not him saying, "Hey, this is my hometown, and for that reason, I don't need to be paid the exorbitant amount of money that I'm actually worth." [Reply]
Originally Posted by RealSNR:
I don't understand the term "hometown discount" when it comes to Mahomes. It's impossible for him to give us a hometown discount. He's not originally from KC. Or Missouri. Or Kansas. He's a Texan who appears to really love this city and is delighted to be adopted its fanbase. Maybe when he retires a Chief he'll permanently live here... or at the very least keep a house here for his frequent visits. But he's not from here. The only way he could give a team a hometown discount would be if he played for whatever football team Whitehouse, TX typically roots for.
Yeah, he could accept a contract that's not as expensive as he could make it in order to help the team build pieces around him, but that's not him saying, "Hey, this is my hometown, and for that reason, I don't need to be paid the exorbitant amount of money that I'm actually worth."
You might be taking the word "hometown" a little to literally.
In the context at hand, it generally means the team that you already play for, particularly when it's your first/only team. You're welcome. [Reply]
Originally Posted by KChiefs1:
Would be more advantageous for him to take less so the Chiefs can pay the others more. If winning is more important to him than money.
There is a $200MM contract looming - question is going to be number of years. [Reply]