Royals Rumblings - News for November 18, 2024
Jac Caglianone wraps up a successful Arizona Fall League.
Jesse Borek at MLB.com writes about the top performers in the Arizona Fall League championship game.
Jac Caglianone, 1B (KC No. 1/MLB No. 17)
The highest-ranked prospect playing in the 2024 Fall League starred in its final game. Despite having played his first contest of the year exactly nine months ago for the Florida Gators, MLB’s top first-base prospect was still fresh enough to record a trio of hits: an infield single he beat out in the first inning, a sharp base hit to center in the fifth (off college teammate and D-backs prospect Phillip Abner) and a 105.2 mph base knock in the seventh.
Manny Randhawa at MLB.com writes about the best season in each club’s history.
Royals: Bobby Witt Jr. (10.4 in 2024)
Witt’s tremendous 2024 performance made Royals history, with the 24-year-old shortstop topping a 30-homer/49-steal campaign just the year prior by surpassing George Brett’s 1980 record of 9.1 fWAR. Given his youth and trajectory, Witt might even have a shot at eclipsing his own franchise record in the years to come.
Pitcher fWAR leader: Zack Greinke (8.7 in 2009)
Kevin O’Brien at Royals Reporter considers Kyle Wright’s potential next year.
In 60 games (51 starts) and 281.1 IP with Atlanta, Wright has a career of 4.45 ERA, 4.50 FIP, and a 1.9 fWAR. His breakout season came in 2022 when he made 30 starts, pitched 180.1 innings, and posted a 3.19 ERA, 3.50 FIP, and 2.8 fWAR.
As you can infer from the 2022 stat line above, Wright has accumulated a -0.9 fWAR 101 IP at the Major League level beyond 2022. Wright has struggled with the long ball in his career, as he sports a 1.25 HR/9 and had a 1.45 HR/9 in 2023 in nine outings and 31 IPs. He also has a career hard-hit rate allowed of 41.5%, which is five percent higher than MLB average, via Statcast.
Thus, Sweeney and Bove need to be able to not only tap into Wright to help him re-channel what went well in 2022 but also perhaps make the necessary modifications in his repertoire to increase whiffs (career 25.7% whiff rate), lessen walks (career 9.7% walk rate), and lower the hard-hits allowed.
Jacob Milham at Kings of Kauffman writes about the worst contracts in Royals history.
Matt Chabot at Farm to Fountains considers the trade value of Freddy Fermin.
Royals Weekly writes about the Brady Singer/Jonathan India trade rumors.
The Red Sox are interested in free agent Blake Snell.
Free agent pitcher Nick Martinez is expected to accept a Qualifying Offer from the Reds.
Mets pitcher Luis Severino is unlikely to accept his Qualifying Offer.
Free agent shortstop Willy Adames could get a $200 million contract.
Where could Alex Bregman land in free agency?
The Reds plan to maintain their payroll despite having MLB broadcast their games.
What kind of free agents sign before Thanksgiving?
Baseball America has the top Rule-5 eligible players from the Arizona Fall League. [$]
Posting Roki Sasaki leaves the Chiba Lotte Marines in an awkward position.
Radio broadcaster David Sims will leave the Mariners to broadcast Yankees games.
Ted Williams’ 1946 MVP Award goes for over half a million dollars at auction.
The 15-0 Cleveland Cavaliers have tied for the second-longest winning streak to begin an NBA season.
How to break a young quarterback.
A New Hampshire animal shelter is overwhelmed when a man surrenders over a thousand mice.
What happens under water in the winter?
Netflix served the Mike Tyson/Jake Paul fight to 60 million households.
Your song of the day is Talking Heads with And She Was.