Royal Rebuild [OOTP 19]

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MLB STATS & STANDINGS UPDATE

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PITCHING MATCHUPS (07/02 - 07/04)

07/02: RHP Josh Tomlin (7-2, 5.59) vs LHP Danny Duffy (6-7, 4.50)
07/03: RHP Trevor Bauer (4-6, 3.73) vs RHP Burch Smith (2-1, 4.00)
07/04: RHP Corey Kluber (9-5, 3.87) vs RHP Ian Kennedy (4-7, 3.98)

GAME RECAPS

July 2nd, 2018
Indians (49-34) 6, Royals (35-49) 3
Winner: Josh Tomlin (8-2) Loser: Danny Duffy (6-8) Save: Andrew Miller (20)

Indians Double Up Kansas City

Josh Tomlin fanned four over seven innings; and catcher Roberto Perez's 2-for-2 day, including a second-inning homerun, propelled the visiting Indians to a 6-3 victory over the Royals to begin a three-game series with the AL Central-leading Tribe. Danny Duffy got the ball to begin the series, and overcame a rough second inning to post six innings, allowing four earned runs while fanning four and walking three. After Cleveland's big three-spot in the second, the Royals battled back to tie the score after three innings, capped off with a two-run homerun from Whit Merrifield in the third. But single tallies in the fourth, seventh, and ninth tipped the scales back to the Indians. Jason Hammel, making his first relief appearance in over five years, allowed two runs (one earned) in three innings in place of Duffy, allowing four hits with no walks or strikeouts.

MLB SCOREBOARD
Cleveland (49-34) 6, Kansas City (35-49) 3
Atlanta (49-35) 3, NY Yankees (53-31) 2
Detroit (39-47) 5, Toronto (37-47) 9
Boston (49-37) 0, Washington (43-40) 4
Tampa Bay (38-46) 1, Miami (31-55) 4
Chi. Sox (39-47) 8, Cincinnati (34-51) 6
Minnesota (39-44) 1, Milwaukee (47-38) 4
San Francisco (43-43) 3, Colorado (43-42) 5
Pittsburgh (42-43) 7, LA Dodgers (49-35) 5 (Final/15)
St. Louis (44-40) 9, Arizona (47-38) 3

July 3rd, 2018
Indians (49-35) 3, Royals (36-49) 6
Winner: Burch Smith (3-1) Loser: Trevor Bauer (4-7) Save: Wily Peralta (1)

Royals Turn The Tables in 6-3 Victory

Fresh off being named the American League's Hitter of the Week, first baseman Lucas Duda began making his case for being named to the same honor for next week. The red-hot Duda has scorched since returning from a rehab assignment, adding a pair of doubles and another homerun to his stat line for the year in the Royals' 6-3 victory. After going 0-for-9 with three walks against Houston in his first series back, Duda has crafted a seven-game hit streak where he's hit at a blistering .636 (14-of-22) with five homeruns, three doubles, and fifteen RBI. Another hot hitter, Mike Moustakas, went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI, and Whit Merrifield was 2-for-5 with a stolen base. Moustakas has a modest five-game hitting streak, but Merrifield is currently in the midst of a 13-game streak with his pair of hits. Lost in the shuffle was Burch Smith's first start of the season, going five innings while fanning six with three earned runs allowed. He earned the victory, his third of the season. Wily Peralta also notched his first save since being re-called late last month.

MLB SCOREBOARD
NY Mets (39-45) 0, Toronto (38-47) 11
Cleveland (49-35) 3, Kansas City (36-49) 6
Atlanta (50-35) 10, NY Yankees (53-32) 4
Houston (51-36) 7, Texas (39-47) 5
San Diego (43-44) 4, Oakland (43-43) 3
LA Angels (38-48) 3, Seattle (44-42) 13
Baltimore (34-53) 3, Philadelphia (46-40) 12
Detroit (39-48) 0, Chi. Cubs (49-36) 4
Boston (50-37) 7, Washington (43-41) 4
Tampa Bay (39-46) 8, Miami (31-56) 5
Chi. Sox (40-47) 3, Cincinnati (34-52) 1
Minnesota (40-44) 2, Milwaukee (47-39) 1 (Final/10)
San Francisco (44-43) 7, Colorado (43-43) 2
Pittsburgh (43-43) 9, LA Dodgers (49-36) 2
St. Louis (44-41) 3, Arizona (48-38) 4

July 4th, 2018
Indians (50-35) 6, Royals (36-50) 3
Winner: Corey Kluber (10-5) Loser: Ian Kennedy (4-8) Save: Andrew Miller (21)

KC's Fourth of July Falls Flat

For the third straight game, the Royals played to a 6-3 score, only this time they were on the losing side of the ledger. Jason Kipnis provided the big blow for the Indians; a three-run homerun in the fifth inning that chased starter Ian Kennedy from the game after just sixty-nine pitches. Later on, it was confirmed that Kennedy had suffered a strained oblique, and was removed for precautionary reasons. Salvador Perez homered and doubled for the Royals, driving in all three Kansas City runs. Mike Moustakas, Whit Merrifield, and Lucas Duda all had two hits for the Royals, who drop to 36-50 with the loss.

MLB SCOREBOARD
NY Mets (40-45) 8, Toronto (38-48) 1
Cleveland (50-35) 6, Kansas City (36-50) 3
Atlanta (50-36) 7, NY Yankees (54-32) 11
Houston (51-37) 71, Texas (40-47) 5
San Diego (43-45) 1, Oakland (44-43) 6
LA Angels (39-48) 4, Seattle (44-43) 3
Baltimore (34-54) 1, Philadelphia (47-40) 8
Detroit (39-49) 2, Chi. Cubs (50-36) 3 (Final/12)
Boston (51-37) 4, Washington (43-42) 3
Tampa Bay (39-47) 2, Miami (32-56) 3
Chi. Sox (41-47) 5, Cincinnati (34-53) 4
Minnesota (41-44) 5, Milwaukee (47-40) 1
Pittsburgh (44-43) 7, LA Dodgers (49-37) 5 (Final/10)
St. Louis (44-42) 3, Arizona (49-38) 5
San Francisco (44-43) @ Colorado (43-43) -- PPD

MAJOR NEWS/INJURIES/TRANSACTIONS
07/02: Royals' Duda, Brewers' Yelich named Players of the Week
07/02: Braves reliever Peter Moylan announces retirement at season's end
07/03: White Sox starter Carson Fulmer, Reds' outfielder Scott Schebler handed six and four-game suspensions, respectively
07/03: Pirates' Harrison, Dodgers' Maeda suspended four and eight games, respectively, after fracas
07/03: Dodgers IF Logan Forsythe expected out another week (elbow strain)
07/03: Red Sox place LHP David Price on 10-day disabled list (oblique strain)
07/04: Dodgers OF Yasiel Puig out for season, placed on 60-day disabled list (broken bone in elbow)

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ROYALS MINOR LEAGUE STANDINGS UPDATE (PT. 1)

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ROYALS MINOR LEAGUE STANDINGS UPDATE (PT. 2)

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PITCHING MATCHUPS (07/06 - 07/08)

07/06: LHP Chris Sale (7-1, 2.67) vs RHP Jake Junis (8-5, 3.29)
07/07: LHP Drew Pomeranz (4-8, 4.03) vs RHP Brad Keller (1-2, 4.50)
07/08: RHP Rick Porcello (8-3, 4.47) vs LHP Danny Duffy (6-8, 4.58)

GAME RECAPS

July 6th, 2018
Red Sox (51-38) 1, Royals (37-50) 3
Winner: Jason Adam (1-1) Loser: Chris Sale (7-2) Save: Wily Peralta (2)

Bonifacio, Merrifield Homeruns Power Kansas City Victory

Lucas Duda's seventh-inning RBI single broke a 1-1 tie, and Jorge Bonifacio and Whit Merrifield each belted solo homeruns off Chris Sale to spring the Royals to a series-opening 3-1 victory over Boston. The Red Sox kicked off the scoring with a homerun of their own from J.D. Martinez, his 20th of the season, coming off starter Jake Junis. Junis left after four and two-third innings with lower back tightness, and was replaced by Brian Flynn, who went one and one-third scoreless in his stead. Junis only allowed one run on six hits, fanning three with one walk, his first walk since June 6th. Bonifacio doubled and scored on Duda's single in the seventh, and his solo homerun came in the fifth. Duda also doubled in the second inning, giving him his fourth straight multi-hit game, and his sixth multi-hit game in his current nine-game streak. Wily Peralta worked around a two-out double by Eduardo Nunez to secure his second save as the Royals' new full-time closer.

MLB SCOREBOARD
Texas (41-48) 7, Detroit (40-50) 8
Boston (51-38) 5, Kansas City (37-50) 2
NY Yankees (54-33) 2, Toronto (39-48) 6
Oakland (45-43) 4, Cleveland (50-36) 1
Chi. Sox (41-49) 5, Houston (53-37) 9
LA Dodgers (49-38) 4, LA Angels (41-48) 5
Baltimore (36-54) 4, Minnesota (41-46) 2
Colorado (44-43) 7, Seattle (44-45) 4 (Final/11)
Cincinnati (35-53) 4, Chi. Cubs (50-37) 3
Philadelphia (47-41) 4, Pittsburgh (45-43) 6
Miami (32-58) 3, Washington (45-42) 5
Tampa Bay (40-47) 4, NY Mets (40-46) 2
Atlanta (51-37) 4, Milwaukee (48-41) 2
St. Louis (44-44) 4, San Francisco (46-43) 8
San Diego (44-46) 4, Arizona (50-39) 1

July 7th, 2018
Red Sox (52-38) 3, Royals (37-51) 2
Winner: Drew Pomeranz (5-8) Loser: Brad Keller (1-3) Save: Craig Kimbrel (20)

One Mistake Pitch Leads to Defeat

Brad Keller cruised through the first five innings, but back-to-back singles by Mookie Betts and Andrew Benintendi to begin the sixth put two men on for J.D. Martinez; who stroked a 2-1 breaking pitch into the left field waterfalls, some 420 feet from home plate. Keller would go on to finish the inning, going six innings in total with three runs allowed and five strikeouts. But the Royals were only able to get two runs in the bottom of the sixth courtesy of a two-run double from Mike Moustakas, and couldn't dent the scoreboard the remainder of the game. Kansas City would eventually fall 3-2, with Craig Kimbrel locking down the save in the ninth. Whit Merrifield left the game in the eighth after a diving play at second, and was pinch-hit for by Lucas Duda in the following half-inning, who struck out to end his nine-game hit streak. However, his injury is not considered to be serious; and in the post-game press conference, manager Ned Yost listed him day-to-day with a shoulder injury.

MLB SCOREBOARD
Texas (41-49) 5, Detroit (41-50) 8
Boston (52-38) 3, Kansas City (37-51) 2
NY Yankees (55-33) 2, Toronto (39-49) 1
Oakland (46-43) 4, Cleveland (50-37) 2
Chi. Sox (41-50) 6, Houston (54-37) 8
LA Dodgers (49-39) 5, LA Angels (42-48) 6
Baltimore (37-54) 4, Minnesota (41-47) 7
Colorado (44-44) 0, Seattle (45-45) 1
Cincinnati (35-54) 0, Chi. Cubs (51-37) 3
Philadelphia (47-42) 1, Pittsburgh (46-43) 2
Miami (32-59) 4, Washington (46-42) 11
Tampa Bay (41-47) 2, NY Mets (40-47) 1
Atlanta (51-38) 1, Milwaukee (49-41) 7
St. Louis (44-45) 6, San Francisco (47-43) 9
San Diego (44-47) 3, Arizona (51-39) 9

July 8th, 2018
Red Sox (53-38) 5, Royals (37-52) 2
Winner: Rick Porcello (8-3) Loser: Danny Duffy (6-9) Save: Carson Smith (3)

Bogaerts Goes 5-for-5 As Royals Suffer 5-2 Defeat

Second baseman Whit Merrifield extended his hitting streak to seventeen games with a 2-for-4 day, including a homerun; but the Royals couldn't muster up enough offense elsewhere in a 5-2 defeat. Danny Duffy labored through four and two-third innings, throwing eighty-eight pitches while allowing three earned runs and striking out four. He also walked four, a season-worst for him in any one start. After starting 5-0, he's lost nine of his last ten decisions. Xander Bogaerts was the Red Sox' main star, collecting five hits, including a pair of doubles. Alex Gordon was the only other Royal to reach base more than once, as he singled and doubled as part of a 2-for-4 day.

MLB SCOREBOARD
Texas (41-50) 0, Detroit (42-50) 5
Boston (53-38) 5, Kansas City (37-52) 2
NY Yankees (56-33) 6, Toronto (39-50) 3
Oakland (47-43) 4, Cleveland (50-38) 3
Chi. Sox (42-50) 4, Houston (54-38) 3
LA Dodgers (50-39) 6, LA Angels (42-49) 5 (Final/10)
Baltimore (38-54) 3, Minnesota (41-48) 0
Colorado (45-44) 9, Seattle (45-46) 2
Cincinnati (35-55) 4, Chi. Cubs (52-37) 7
Philadelphia (48-42) 5, Pittsburgh (46-44) 3
Tampa Bay (42-47) 7, NY Mets (40-48) 6
Atlanta (51-39) 1, Milwaukee (50-41) 4
St. Louis (44-46) 4, San Francisco (48-43) 7
San Diego (45-47) 4, Arizona (51-40) 1
Miami (32-59) @ Washington (46-42) -- PPD

MAJOR NEWS/INJURIES/TRANSACTIONS
07/05: Phillies RHP Vince Velasquez out for season with torn labrum, placed on 60-day disabled list
07/05: Royals place RHP Ian Kennedy on 10-day disabled list; retroactive to 07/04/2018 (oblique strain)
07/06: Mariners activate OF Dee Gordon from disabled list; send to Triple-A for rehab assignment
07/07: Yankees' Montgomery, Jays' Donaldson suspended for eight and four games respectively for brawl
07/07: Orioles OF Anthony Santander out for season with torn PCL, placed on 60-day disabled list
07/08: Mets reportedly shopping OF Yoenis Cespedes and RHP Jeurys Familia; team denies rumors
07/08: Royals place RHP Jake Junis on 10-day disabled list, retroactive to 07/07/2018 (lower back tightness)

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PITCHING MATCHUPS (07/09 - 07/11)

07/09: RHP Burch Smith (3-1, 4.22) vs RHP Lance Lynn (6-5, 4.45)
07/10: RHP Heath Fillmyer (0-0, 3.86) vs RHP Jose Berrios (7-5, 3.34)
07/11: RHP Trevor Oaks (2-0, 3.93) vs RHP Tyler Duffey (2-1, 3.19)

GAME RECAPS

July 9th, 2018
Royals (38-52) 8, Twins (41-49) 5
Winner: Enny Romero (1-1) Loser: Lance Lynn (6-6) Save: Tim Hill (2)

A First For Herrera As Royals Claim Win

Mired in a 4-for-32 slump over his last eleven games, Rosell Herrera, who is an expecting father-to-be in a matter of days, broke out of it in a big way with his first MLB homerun, a fourth-inning grand slam off Lance Lynn. He added an RBI triple in the seventh as the Royals claimed an 8-5 victory over the Twins. He went 2-for-4 in the contest, and also had a nice diving catch in center field to rob Joe Mauer of a hit in the first inning. Burch Smith got the ball for Kansas City, and couldn't quite get to five innings, going four and two-third innings. He scattered five hits and walked three, while allowing four earned runs with three strikeouts. Southpaw Enny Romero, who they just claimed off waivers from the Nationals less than a week ago, gave the Royals two and two-thirds innings of solid relief work, allowing just one run with four strikeouts. He picked up the victory, and Tim Hill got the five-out save, his second save of the season. Jorge Bonifacio doubled twice, and Whit Merrifield's hit streak stayed alive at eighteen games with a 2-for-5 day at the dish.

MLB SCOREBOARD
Cincinnati (36-55) 11, Cleveland (50-39) 8
Kansas City (38-52) 8, Minnesota (41-49) 5
NY Yankees (57-33) 12, Baltimore (38-55) 0
Detroit (43-50) 1, Tampa Bay (42-48) 0
Texas (41-51) 3, Boston (54-38) 6
Oakland (47-44) 0, Houston (55-38) 4
Washington (47-42) 3, Pittsburgh (46-45)
Milwaukee (51-41) 3, Miami (32-60) 1
Philadelphia (49-42) 7, NY Mets (40-49) 2
Chi. Cubs (53-37) 7, San Francisco (48-44) 4
LA Dodgers (51-39) 11, San Diego (45-48) 9

July 10th, 2018
Royals (38-53) 1, Twins (42-49) 3
Winner: Jose Berrios (8-5) Loser: Heath Fillmyer (0-1) Save: Trevor Hildenberger (16)

Fillmyer Impresses; Royals Still Lose 3-1

It wasn't an overly dominant line -- six innings, five hits, two walks, three runs, and a strikeout -- but righty Heath Fillmyer's first MLB start was good enough to win most games. This wasn't most games, as the Royals managed just one run in a 3-1 defeat. Mike Moustakas, who has been the subject of trade rumors since mid-June, hit his 22nd homerun in the seventh inning off newly-minted All-Star Jose Berrios, who bumped his record to 8-5 with the win. It also snapped a five-game losing streak for the Twins, who were swept embarrassingly by the Orioles in their series over the weekend prior to this one. Miguel Sano, who was seen as one of the bigger All-Star snubs, hit his 27th homerun off Fillmyer in the fourth, and the Twins added their third run in the fifth on a base hit from Byron Buxton.

MLB SCOREBOARD
St. Louis (45-46) 6, Chi. Sox (42-51) 2
Oakland (48-44) 7, Houston (55-39) 6
Seattle (45-47) 3, LA Angels (43-49) 4
Cincinnati (36-56) 6, Cleveland (51-39) 8
Kansas City (38-53) 1, Minnesota (42-49) 3
NY Yankees (58-33) 13, Baltimore (38-56) 2
Detroit (43-51) 0, Tampa Bay (43-48) 6
Texas (41-52) 1, Boston (55-38) 8
Toronto (40-50) 4, Atlanta (51-40) 3
Arizona (52-40) 7, Colorado (45-45) 4
Washington (47-43) 2, Pittsburgh (47-45) 3
Milwaukee (52-41) 7, Miami (32-61) 5
Philadelphia (49-43) 0, NY Mets (41-49) 2
Chi. Cubs (54-37) 6, San Francisco (48-45) 3
LA Dodgers (52-39) 3, San Diego (45-49) 1

July 11th, 2018
Royals (38-54) 1, Twins (43-49) 3
Winner: Trevor Hildenberger (5-5) Loser: Wily Peralta (0-2) Save: None

Kepler Walks Royals Off

Just one day after seeing his hit streak snapped at eighteen, Whit Merrifield provided the sole offensive output for the Royals, a two-run double in the third inning off Tyler Duffey as the Royals fell 3-2 in the series finale. Mitch Garver hit his second homerun of the season to cut the lead in half in the bottom of that inning off Royals starter Trevor Oaks, just up from Omaha; and Max Kepler tied it with an RBI single in the sixth, also off Oaks. The young righty was outstanding, going eight innings, scattering just six hits with no walks and two strikeouts, but left with the game tied at two. Wily Peralta was up against Kepler in the bottom of the ninth with one out, and the big left-handed hitter sent the Royals packing with a solo moonshot to right, handing Peralta his second loss of the season, and the Royals' 54th of the 2018 campaign. No other Royal had more than one hit, and Merrifield's double was the only extra-base hit of the night for Kansas City.

MLB SCOREBOARD
St. Louis (46-46) 7, Chi. Sox (42-52) 3
Oakland (48-45) 0, Houston (56-39) 6
Seattle (45-48) 4, LA Angels (44-49) 6
Cincinnati (36-57) 4, Cleveland (52-39) 7
Kansas City (38-54) 2, Minnesota (43-49) 3
NY Yankees (59-33) 8, Baltimore (38-57) 0
Detroit (43-52) 2, Tampa Bay (44-48) 3
Texas (41-53) 6, Boston (56-38) 21
Toronto (40-51) 1, Atlanta (52-40) 2
Arizona (53-40) 4, Colorado (45-46) 2 (Final/12)
Washington (47-44) 7, Pittsburgh (48-45) 10
Milwaukee (52-42) 0, Miami (33-61) 3
Philadelphia (50-43) 9, NY Mets (41-50) 3
Chi. Cubs (55-37) 5, San Francisco (48-46) 0
LA Dodgers (53-39) 10, San Diego (45-50) 7

MAJOR NEWS/INJURIES/TRANSACTIONS
07/09: Indians' Kipnis, Bucs' Marte named MLB Players of the Week
07/09: Orioles RHP Brad Brach placed on 10-day disabled list, retroactive to 07/06/2018 (bicep tendinitis)
07/09: Rockies 2B D.J. LeMahieu out five to six weeks; placed on 10-day disabled list (torn labrum)
07/10: 2018 All-Star Game rosters announced; Yanks, Red Sox, Braves, Dodgers lead the way
07/10: Cardinals place RHP Luke Weaver on 10-day disabled list, retroactive to 07/08/2018 (oblique strain)
07/11: Houston OF Josh Reddick to miss remainder of season; placed on 60-day disabled list (ruptured achilles)
07/11: Pittsburgh RHP Jameson Taillon to miss rest of season, placed on 60-day disabled list (shoulder inflammation)
07/11: Astros RHP Justin Verlander tosses third career no-hitter in 6-0 victory over Oakland

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OFFSEASON OUTLOOK: FIRST BASE
By artoodeetoo

Even though we're just coming up on the All-Star break; it's not too early to begin thinking about the offseason and what the Royals might do to improve the team heading into 2019. We'll begin this series of outlooks with first base, a sore spot on the roster for much of the season. Even though Lucas Duda has turned around his season in a hurry, he's packed nearly half his season production into about 20% of his plate appearances on the season the last few weeks. Even worse, rookie Hunter Dozier has an OPS of .471 in 141 plate appearances, including a whopping fifty-three strikeouts. In the minors, prospects like Nick Pratto and Chris Devito are still two to three years away, and there are glaring holes in the games of Omaha first basemen Frank Schwindel and Ryan O'Hearn. So, do the Royals take their chances with one of the latter two (or re-sign Duda), or do they test the free agent market? The options are few, but they are not insignificant.

Joe Mauer, Minnesota: It would be odd to see him leave the town that he has called home for many years; but he would go against the grain of the current youth movement in Minnesota, and the Twins are signaling that they may be ready to hand the first base job to Kennys Vargas or move Miguel Sano to first for 2019 and beyond. Kansas City would also be an odd place for him to land as well for those same reasons, but that being said, he would play nicely as a stopgap option both offensively and defensively for a year or two while the aforementioned Pratto and/or Devito, or even Samir Duenez in Double-A, season a little more in the minors, and is a genuinely good guy and leader. On the field, he can still stroke it pretty well (.292/.356/.437 so far in 2018); and his platoon splits slightly favor him against RHP, but is still hitting a respectable .269 against LHP. He's steady, if not reliable, as a defender at first base, although he's regressed slightly to just an above-average player there, but still would be better than any of the aforementioned players currently in the organization.

The obvious downsides are -- his age; he'll be thirty-five on Opening Day 2019, which doesn't seem to jive with the roster getting considerably younger. Secondly, while he's on the downside of his career, it's still likely going to take a pretty sizable financial commitment to pull him away from Minnesota. There are even rumors that he might call it a career, rather than play out his final years with a different team if the money and situation isn't right. The Twins are on the hook for $23M to Mauer this season, but most salary estimates have him in the $7M to $10M range provided he maintains his current production.

Daniel Murphy, Washington: Murphy is slightly younger than Mauer, as he'll be thirty-four on Opening Day 2019. Murphy has played less than fifty games at first base the last handful of years, and has played just one inning at the position in 2018. But, he's one of the worst defensive second basemen in the league as he's cost his team nearly six runs (-5.8 ZR), and has the lowest defensive efficency at his position despite just three errors in 273 total chances, so it's not out of the question that teams will look at him for first base in the offseason. Plus, Ryan Zimmermann is still under contract through 2020, and the Nationals would probably like to get younger at the position, by moving Trea Turner or Anthony Rendon (who just signed a huge extension recently) to second base as they don't have a player in the upper minors that appears to be MLB-ready.

However, he's having another fine offensive season, slashing .330/.381/.531 even with a slight drop in run production against last year's pace. Reports are that he's clearly very interested in staying in DC, but he's looking for a deal along the lines that Eric Hosmer received in San Diego, which won't happen, so he'll be an infinitely tougher sign for Kansas City than Mauer and the other guy on this list, who is....

Marwin Gonzalez, Houston: It's highly unlikely that Houston retains Gonzalez past this season, as he's the only guy of this threesome who has a clear protege behind him, with prospect A.J. Reed absolutely rampaging in Triple-A Fresno, hitting .331 with twenty-six homeruns and 73 RBI, after hitting .261 with thirty-four homeruns in 2017 for Fresno. The switch-hitting Gonzalez had his best season last year in his age-28 season, posting a 3.9 WAR while slashing .303/.377/.530 with career-highs for the 2017 World Champions in nearly every major counting stat except for triples. He also cut his strikeouts from 118 to 99 in virtually the same number of PA's (518 in 2016, 515 in 2017), and more than doubled his walk rate. On the downside though, his platoon splits have been disappointing so far in 2018, with an OPS against RHP nearly 200 points higher than his OPS against LHP (.888 to .668). And while still above average, his OPS+ has dropped from 140 in 2017, to 116 so far in 2018. Same for his wRC+ from 136 to 119. Decent numbers for sure, but still a pretty precipitous drop in both.

Defensively, he's at the level that Joe Mauer was at the same age, so he'll be a solid defender at the position, and can play third, second, and left field in a pinch. With a $5.125M deal in his pocket to avoid arbitration last offseason, he'll likely command double that as a starting point in negotiations, especially if his current production continues or accelerates. He's the youngest player of this threesome, as he'll only be thirty when the 2019 season opens. Houston has been open to negotiating with him; and has even offered to take less money to stay, but they appear to be ready to promote Reed to the majors on a full-time basis. Kansas City could be an attractive option for him, as he'd have job security for at least two seasons, and possibly three, and the Royals have a serious (and fast-growing) need at the position.

Additionally, it would not be surprising to see the Royals make a deal outside the organization and bring in a first baseman via trade. They've been linked to Seattle's Ryon Healy and Washington's Ryan Zimmerman, but it would likely take a pretty significant return to pry Healy from the Mariners, and the latter has a no-trade clause as a 10/5 player.

[artoodeetoo]

MLB STANDINGS & STATS UPDATE