Weekend Rumblings - News for December 30, 2017

It has been a slow off-season.

Weekend Rumblings - News for December 30, 2017

Rustin Dodd writes about the slow off-season and the impact on the Royals.

Hosmer still appears to have interest from the San Diego Padres, though recent reports that the club was prepared to offer a six-year, $120 million contract were based on incorrect interpretations of earlier reports from ESPN’s Buster Olney. For now, the market has been so slow that even idle chatter from the winter meetings can be dissected and ground to a nub.

In some ways, of course, the slow nature of the offseason could buoy the Royals’ hopes to re-sign Hosmer. Two years ago, the club waited out free agent Alex Gordon and came to terms with him in early January. Yet the current offseason offers some uncertainty.

The latest on Eric Hosmer.

For those worried the Padres are taking shortcuts again: They could head to spring training without signing a starting pitcher to a major league deal. They would very much like to sign Eric Hosmer, but the question continues to be the price.
— Dennis Lin (@sdutdennislin) December 30, 2017

Reports of such an offer were based on a speculative tweet. Boras wants much more than that. I’m sure the Padres would be thrilled with 6/120.
— Dennis Lin (@sdutdennislin) December 30, 2017

David Lesky at Baseball Prospectus Kansas City dispels the notion that Mike Moustakas could return on a one-year deal.

There’s been a lot of talk in the last week or so about Mike Moustakas having to take a one-year deal given the way his market has completely cratered, which has led people to think the Royals might be in play for him. And I get it, but I think there’s one thing that a lot of people aren’t considering. If a player is taking a one year deal, they’re doing it to establish some value to get back on the market and make more money the next season. It’ll always be very difficult for the Royals to sign a hitter in that position if that hitter is looking to hit home runs to build his value. It’s just not easy to hit home runs in Kauffman Stadium, and furthermore, there are a couple other pitcher’s parks in the division which means that if you play for the Royals, you’re likely spending about 110-115 of your games in pitcher’s parks. A guy like Moustakas might consider it due to comfort level, but he’d be far better off going to Yankee Stadium for a year and pulling 315 foot fly balls for home runs all season long.

Alex Duvall at Royals Farm Report proposes a blockbuster deal between the Royals and Brewers that would sent Danny Duffy and Whit Merrifield to Milwaukee.

The Brewers would be getting the front-of-the-line starter that they’ve been looking for with a very affordable contract and four years of control. They’d be getting a starting second basemen who can play LF when Ryan Braun makes his annual trip to the DL as well. They’d also be getting a premier set up man to help build the bridge to closer Corey Knebel. This trade would be fantastic for the Brewers because two of the three pieces fit into their long-term plans as well as the short-term.

The Royals would receive three players who would instantly become the top three prospects in the organization and a RHP in Yamamoto who pitched to the tune of a 2.51 ERA in 111 IP with 113 K in 2017. Corbin Burnes and Isan Diaz have both been featured in MLB’s Top 100 prospect list and Monte Harrison has a shot to make the 2018 list.

The Padres sign former Royals pitcher Chris Young.

The tragic death of Yordano Ventura was ranked as one of the top stories in baseball in 2017.

Baseball America includes Joakim Soria in its “All Rule 5 Team.”

What Royals scouts thought of Patrick Mahomes, baseball prospect.

Snoop Dogg reps the Negro League.

The Red Sox are interested in trading for Manny Machado.

Dave Cameron at Fangraphs writes that Wade Davis is not enough to make the Rockies true contenders.

Where does the Davis signing leave Greg Holland?

Willie McCovey thinks Joe Morgan was targeting Barry Bonds in his letter to the Hall of Fame.

Miguel Sano’s alleged assault of a woman was part of a troubling trend, reports Jeff Passan.

Breitbart deletes a podcast episode where Curt Schilling lavishes praise on an anti-Semitic candidate.

A Chiefs flag is buried under the new Raiders stadium in Las Vegas.