Kansas City Royals

One of the best pitchers in the 2020 MLB draft is off the board after the Kansas City Royals selected Texas A&M pitcher Asa Lacy with the No. 4 overall pick.

Lacy has a strong case as the best player in the 2020 class, regardless of position. The left-handed starter racked up 178 strikeouts in 128 innings over his first two seasons with the Aggies.

The coronavirus pandemic ended Lacy's junior season after just three starts, but he made it count with a 1.06 ERA, 33 strikeouts and nine hits allowed in 17 innings. The 21-year-old boasts electric stuff that backs up those numbers.

Per The Athletic's Keith Law, Lacy "might have ended up at No. 1 overall" if he had been able to pitch all spring, and he made New Mexico State shortstop Nick Gonzales, a fellow first-round prospect, "look like a little kid" in a March 6 game.

Lacy is listed at 6'4" and 215 pounds alongside his MLB.com scouting report, which read as follows:

"Lacy has boosted his fastball from 87-91 mph in high school to 92-97 these days, using his 6-foot-4 frame to create downhill plane, and hitters just don't seem to get good swings against it. He employs two distinct breaking balls, a downer curveball and a harder slider in the low 80s, with the slider surpassing his curve this spring and becoming a plus pitch. His changeup fades and sinks and grades as a well above-average pitch at its best, and it should become more consistently plus as he uses it more often."

That is the package every team dreams of from a potential No. 1 starter. Lacy does need to refine his control to reach that ceiling. He issued 27 walks in 70.1 innings over the past two seasons.

If Lacy is able to put it all together, he could pitch at the front of the Royals' rotation for many years.

The Royals added to their strong stable of pitching prospects by selecting Lacy. Brady Singer, Daniel Lynch, Jackson Kowar and Kris Bubic all have the ability to be, at worst, mid-rotation starters in the big leagues.

Lacy gives Kansas City another power arm from the left side as the team continues to stockpile assets for its next window of contention.

Even though the Royals are still in the early stages of their rebuilding effort, having so many top-level starting pitchers coming up through the minors could make them competitive sooner than expected in an American League Central in a state of flux.

Kansas City Royals second baseman Whit Merrifield believes the Houston Astros cheating scandal cost him multiple accolades during the 2018 season.  

Speaking to Dave O of Clubhouse Conversation (h/t USA Today's Chris Bumbaca), Merrifield said he should have been an All-Star and won the Silver Slugger award if not for the Astros' wrongdoing.

"I'm going to consider myself an All-Star [for that year] with all this stuff that's come out," he told Dave O. "Because MLB player: Astros cheating kept me from being All Star that game. We'll put an asterisk by 2018. And on top of it, we'll go ahead and throw in a silver slugger for good measure." 

When Major League Baseball announced its findings into the Astros' cheating, the investigation determined the scheme was used throughout the entire 2017 season and a portion of the 2018 season until players "no longer believed it was effective."

Astros second baseman Jose Alutve started the 2018 All-Star Game. He led all players with a total of 4.8 million votes; the No. 2 overall vote-getter was Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts (4.29 million). 

Gleyber Torres of the New York Yankees was initially the reserve second baseman but was replaced by Jed Lowrie of the Oakland Athletics due to injury.

Merrifield had the best season of his career in 2018. The 30-year-old finished 17th in AL MVP voting with a .304/.367/.438 slash line and an MLB-leading 192 hits and 45 stolen bases. 

Even though the 2018 All-Star Game won't officially go on Merrifield's record, he did receive an invite to last year's Midsummer Classic as Kansas City's representative. He took over for Mike Trout in center field, going 0-for-2 with one strikeout.

Former Kansas City Royals owner David Glass died last week at the age of 84.

The team announced the news on Friday, along with statements from new owner John Sherman and general manager Dayton Moore:

Glass earned his fortune as a Wal-Mart executive in the 1970s and 1980s. He stepped down from his post as CEO in 2000. 

The Royals hired Glass in 1993 as their interim CEO and chairman after the death of previous owner Ewing Kauffman. The Missouri native and his family bought the organization in April 2000 from Kauffman's estate for $96 million. 

Last November, Glass agreed to sell the Royals to John Sherman, who had been a minority owner with the Cleveland Indians since 2016, for $1 billion. 

Under Glass' ownership, Kansas City only made two playoff appearances in 2014 and 2015. The Royals made the most out of those postseason runs, however, advancing to the World Series both times and winning the franchise's second championship in 2015 with a 4-1 series victory over the New York Mets. 

John Sherman was officially approved to purchase the Kansas City Royals from David Glass on Thursday, according to Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star. 

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported in August that Glass had agreed to sell the team to Sherman for $1 billion. Sherman is a Kansas City businessman who had been a minority owner of the Cleveland Indians since 2016.

Glass originally purchased the Royals in 2000 for just $96 million, per Nightengale.

When Glass accepted Sherman's offer, he released the following statement regarding his decision to sell the team:

"The decision to sell the Royals was difficult for our family. Our goal, which I firmly believe we've achieved, was to have someone local, who truly loved the game of baseball and who would be a great steward for this franchise going forward. In John Sherman we have found everything we were looking for in taking ownership of this franchise."

According to Nightengale, health issues played a role in the 83-year-old Glass' decision.

The Royals largely struggled during Glass' nearly two decades as the owner with just two playoff appearances, but they made them count.

Kansas City reached the World Series in 2014, but it fell to the San Francisco Giants in seven games. The Royals returned to the World Series the following year, however, and beat the New York Mets in five games, signaling the franchise's first championship since 1985.

However, Sherman is taking over a Royals team that has missed the playoffs in four consecutive seasons and went just 59-103 last season, marking its second straight 100-loss campaign.

Even so, there are some bright spots in place, as Jorge Soler, Whit Merrifield, Adalberto Mondesi and Hunter Dozier all had big seasons offensively in 2019. Kansas City's biggest issue is pitching, as it ranked 27th in Major League Baseball last season with a 5.20 team ERA.

If the Royals are going to be more competitive and vie for an American League Central title in 2020, they will be tasked with chasing down the Minnesota Twins and an Indians team that Sherman formerly had an ownership stake in.

The Kansas City Royals announced the hiring of Mike Matheny on Thursday as their new manager.

"I truly see something very, very special about to happen here, and I want to be a part of it," Matheny told reporters after being introduced as manager. "And now I'm ready to get to work."

Matheny served as a special adviser for player development for the Royals last season after managing the St. Louis Cardinals from 2012 to 2018, posting a 591-474 record and making four postseason appearances. The 49-year-old played for the Cardinals from 2000 to 2004.

Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reported "there isn't expected to be any major coaching staff shakeup" after Matheny's hiring. Flanagan did note the team will have to replace bench coach Dale Sveum, "who asked to be reassigned to another role."

Kansas City's managerial position opened up when Ned Yost retired following the 2019 season. Yost's 10-season run in charge of the Royals was headlined by back-to-back World Series appearances, highlighted in 2015 by the franchise's first championship since 1985.

However, the team Matheny is taking over is far from championship-caliber.

Last year, the Royals finished 59-103 after going 58-104 in 2018. In the midst of the losing, individual Royals showed promise. Outfielder Jorge Soler led the American League with 48 home runs. Whit Merrifield led the majors in hits (206) and tied with teammate Adalberto Mondesi for an MLB-high 10 triples.

If the Royals believed in Matheny's ability enough to bring him on in a player development role, the expectation will be for him to improve the likes of Mondesi and third baseman Hunter Dozier.

Former owner David Glass sold the team in August to Kansas City businessman John Sherman for $1 billion, and the possibility exists the club could spend more to bring in the necessary players to return to competitive form.

Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost will retire after the conclusion of the 2019 season, the team announced Monday.

Yost, 65, has spent 16 years as an MLB manager, leading the Milwaukee Brewers for six seasons (2003-08) and the Royals for 10 (2010-19). He currently holds a record of 1,201-1,338 and led the Royals to the World Series twice, including a title in the 2015 season.

Yost's legacy in Kansas City is secure as he finishes as the organization's all-time most winningest manager. And after leading the team to its second World Series title, he's forever etched as a Royals legend.

The baseball world reacted to the news of the announcement:

He spoke about his decision to step down as manager in the team's press release:

"With the development of our young players and our returning veterans, I feel and hope the worst is behind us in this rebuilding phase of our organization.

"My plan all along was to get us through the rough times then turn it over to a new manager to bring us the rest of the way. I've thoroughly enjoyed my time here as your manager and will never forget the good and the hard times we had together as an organization and a fan base. I will never forget the fact that you fans supported us through it all. Kansas City will always have a special place in my heart, and I look forward to rooting the Royals on to their next World Championship very soon."

As for his replacement, multiple reports have tipped Mike Matheny as the top contender to replace him as the team's manager. 

Matheny, 49, spent seven seasons as the St. Louis Cardinals manager (2012-18), leading them to a 591-474 record in that time with four postseason berths and a trip to the World Series in 2013. He was fired in July of the 2018 season after a 47-46 start and after the Cardinals had missed the playoffs the previous two years.

Kansas City Royals owner David Glass has finalized an agreement Friday to sell the MLB franchise to a group led by Cleveland Indians minority stakeholder John Sherman, a K.C. businessman.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported earlier Friday the $1 billion deal will become official with a vote at the owners' meetings in November.

Joel Goldberg of Fox Sports Kansas City provided a team statement confirming the sale:

Cliff Illig, the principal owner of MLS' Sporting Kansas City, told Sam McDowell and Lynn Worthy of the Kansas City Star he thought Sherman would be a great fit for the Royals.

"I think the transition for someone like him would be a lot easier," Illig said. "He knows the organizational structures. He has a good handle on player transactions. He's well-informed. And he's one of those guys who rolls up his sleeves and figures it out."

Sherman accumulated his wealth through entrepreneurial ventures, including energy company LPG Services, which later merged with Dynegy.

He's a former Royals season-ticket holder and said in 2016 being a fan is an integral part of eventually owning and operating a successful MLB organization, per Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star.

"You really have to be a fan," Sherman said. "It starts with baseball. It's a business, and it's an interesting business. But if you're not a fan, I don't think you'll enjoy the business. It starts with being a fan."

Once the deal is approved—there's no sense Sherman will face an opposition—he'll inherit a Royals franchise in the middle of a large-scale rebuilding project.

Kansas City won the 2015 World Series by defeating the New York Mets. It hasn't qualified for the playoffs since that championship, however, and is on pace for its second straight 100-loss campaign.

Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter ranked the Royals' farm system at No. 11 in MLB following the July 31 trade deadline. His rankings noted most of the team's top prospects were still in the lower levels of the minor leagues, which suggests the rebuild still has a year or two left.

Sherman and the K.C. fanbase will need to exercise some patience early in his ownership tenure.

David Glass' tenure as owner of the Kansas City Royals could be coming to an end in the near future. 

Per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Jayson Stark, Glass has discussed selling the franchise to a group that includes Cleveland Indians minority investor and vice chairman John Sherman. 

Rosenthal and Stark noted it's unclear if Glass and the Sherman-led group are close to an agreement at this point. 

Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, the two sides are negotiating a deal worth more than $1 billion.

Glass has been the sole owner of the Royals since 2000 when he purchased them for $96 million from the estate of Ewing Kauffman, who founded the franchise in 1969.

Per Mike Ozanian and Kurt Badenhausen of Forbes, the Royals are estimated to be worth $1.025 billion. Only the Tampa Bay Rays ($1.01 billion) and Miami Marlins ($1 billion) have a lower value out of 30 MLB teams.

Sherman, who is from Kansas City, joined the Indians as a minority investor and vice chairman in Aug. 2016. 

Under Glass' ownership, the Royals have had winning records four times in 20 seasons. They reached the World Series in consecutive years in 2014-15 and captured the franchise's second title in 2015 by defeating the Mets in five games. 

Billy Hamilton's disappointing stint with the Kansas City Royals came to an end Friday when the veteran outfielder was designated for assignment.

The team announced Brett Phillips has been recalled from Triple-A to take Hamilton's spot on the 25-man roster.

Hamilton's spot with Kansas City has been uncertain in recent weeks as his playing time decreased. The 28-year-old has started only four games this month, with his most recent appearance coming on Aug. 11 against the Detroit Tigers.

Even before the team benched him, the Royals reportedly shopped Hamilton leading up to the July 31 trade deadline but ultimately held on to the speedster.

Kansas City signed Hamilton to a one-year deal with a team option for 2020 last December. His defense has been excellent this season. His 9.8 FanGraphs defensive value is tied with Byron Buxton for best among all MLB center fielders, and his 10 defensive runs saved is tied with Buxton for fourth.

Unfortunately, Hamilton's offense has continued to be a problem. Out of 220 players with at least 300 plate appearances this season, his .269 slugging percentage and .544 OPS rank last in MLB.

Phillips was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in the July 2018 trade for Mike Moustakas. The 25-year-old has a .240/.378/.505 slash line and 18 home runs in 105 games at Triple-A Omaha this season.

The Kansas City Royals reportedly have walked away from trade offers for Whit Merrifield and plan to keep the do-everything star through the July 31 deadline. 

Jon Morosi of MLB.com reported the Royals have rebuffed interest from several teams, including the Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies. However, the team reportedly is gearing up to trade reliever Jake Diekman, who has drawn interest for teams in need of a left-handed arm.

Merrifield, 30, is under team control through the 2023 season. The late bloomer has continued his ascent this season, posting a .306/.357/.495 slash with 12 home runs and 51 runs batted in. While his steal numbers are down, Merrifield is bordering on a pace that would give him his first 20-20 season.

"I didn't see a light at the end of the tunnel," Merrifield said of his struggles to get called up, per Lynn Worthy of the Kansas City Star. "I didn't feel like my opportunity was ever going to come. I didn't feel like the team valued me. I felt like there were plenty of chances for me to get called up, and I didn't. I know the business of baseball. I know how it works. I know there's certain reasons why certain guys got called up, but there was also times when guys got called up in the same situation as myself that I felt like I was better than. I didn't know why it wasn't me."

Merrifield's bargain contract will pay him only $21 million over the next four seasons, giving the Royals little incentive to move on. They reportedly set an "extraordinarily high" price tag in negotiations.

Diekman will not bring back nearly the same haul. The flame-throwing lefty is 0-6 on the season, posting a 4.75 ERA and 1.34 WHIP but has been performing better of late. He's given up only one run over his last six appearances, and teams will be attracted to his 63 strikeouts in 41.2 innings.

Diekman and the Royals have a mutual option for the 2020 season. The Phillies, Cubs, Cardinals, Dodgers, Nationals and Braves have each expressed interest in making a deal.