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2023-24 Offseason Outlook Chat: Kansas City Royals
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Alec
9:58
What has to happen for the Royals to finish 3rd or higher next year?
Steve Adams
10:03
1) They need at least one of the previously hyped up group of pitching prospects to step up. Singer or Lynch are likeliest (I liked Bubic's new slider before TJS, but he's probably out half the season)

2)  They need to make an upside play in the rotation and hit. Let's say that takes a 3-4 year deal for Jack Flaherty or 2-3 years for Frankie Montas. Something like that. They'll need to overpay to get the guy, probably in terms of years if you're talking a young free agent, and they'll need to get it right.

3) Figure out second or third base. I don't think Michael Massey/Nate Eaton/Samad Taylor is the solution at second. You could put Maikel Garcia at either 3B or 2B though, so that gives them some flexibility to explore options at both positions. The 3B market is a bit better than 2B. Gio Urshela is kind of an overlooked guy.

4) Add to the bullpen ... McArthur might be a nice find, but it's a small sample so far. I like Carlos Hernandez more than his ERA. But they still need arms back there.
Joe
10:03
Writing Samad Taylor off after 100 abs is hilarity. Thnx for that
Steve Adams
10:04
Not even 100! If he hits and looks great next year, I'll happily eat the words. I've been doing this job for like 10 years full time... it would not be the first time I've been wrong about a player, nor will it be the last. I don't see a need to run away from guys I've been wrong about
connor
10:04
is there a chance the royals trade any of the lower role young guys like massey, pratto, isabel, waters, etc.?
Steve Adams
10:06
Sure, but I don't think there's a ton of value in them at this point either. Isbel is a great defender who can run -- a team might have interest in picking him up as a fourth OF, and I don't see why the Royals should shy away from such a deal. If they can get a decent prospect or an immediate bullpen arm, that might have more value to them than a currently useful but somewhat redundant outfielder.
Fred Bond
10:07
When Dayton was fired, Sherman said something in passing at the press conference that clearly signaled a different era, away from the “sentimentality” of former decision making. It will be interesting to see if they really can make hard decisions on guys who are not performing -which Dayton would have held on to in prior years- and act more like a large-market team in their resolve and determination. Some guys that took 2-3 years longer in those days maybe eventually came around, but under JJ it seemed like they were not going to freeze the clock any more.
Steve Adams
10:09
I'll be more curious as to whether they'll trade current quality players at peak value. Moore was obviously hell-bent on not trading Merrifield during his best years and when his contract was at peak value. In retrospect, that decision alone could have potentially set the organization back substantially.

Maybe the Barlow offers over the winter were just all weak, but I considered that at least a loose litmus test for how they'd treat similar situations under Picollo, and as I already mentioned, I wrote back in March that they should've traded him in the offseason. I think they probably took a lesser return at the deadline.

Singer makes for an interesting case this offseason, but he's coming off a down year and still has three seasons of club control, so it's not quite analogous.
10:11
I've got to wrap this up! Sorry for all the questions I couldn't get to! I'm on Twitter / X @Adams_Steve

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Thanks everyone, and have a good week!
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