MLB GM meetings: Royals seek leadoff help, Orioles have money for top pitcher
November 6, 2024
MLB GM meetings: Royals seek leadoff help, Orioles have money for top pitcher
3 comments
Since it’s behind a paywall, here is the Royals part of the article:
> In addition to leading the majors in batting average and hits, Bobby Witt Jr. finished first in a statistic that should prompt the Kansas City Royals to make a change to the star shortstop’s surrounding cast.
> Among non-leadoff hitters, Witt, who batted second in the Royals’ lineup, had the most plate appearances (433) with the bases empty.
> Witt nonetheless racked up 109 RBIs to go along with his 211 hits, 32 home runs and .332 batting average. How many more runs would he have produced with more runners on base?
> To upgrade their run production, the Royals are looking to prioritize quality contact and on-base percentage, and conversations are underway at the general managers’ meetings this week. Kansas City batters struck out just 19.4 percent of the time (third-lowest in MLB) but had just a .306 on-base percentage (19th). Too often the Royals made contact on pitches out of the zone; they finished with the fifth-highest rate.
> Improvement at the leadoff spot may help the issue. The Royals ideally want a better version of Garrett Hampson, a right-handed batter who plays center field, second base and shortstop. Among the players who might fit are Jonathan India and Spencer Steer (trade) and Jurickson Profar (free agent). They have some flexibility with the position. Michael Massey and Maikel Garcia can play the outfield.
> If the Royals explore the trade market for offensive help, league sources suggested that they would listen to offers for pitchers such as left-hander Kris Bubic and right-hander Alec Marsh.
I wasn’t aware that Massey or Garcia could shift to the outfield. Of the two, only Garcia has played the outfield according to baseball-reference with one appearance in rightfield.
The article also mentions that free agent Willy Adames “wants to stay at shortstop but would be willing to play a different position if he gets a strong offer from a team in position to win”. He is probably not a realistic signing for us since it seems that other big spenders are interested in him, but who knows.
Trading Singer for Mullins should at least get a discussion. With the right deal we could still go after a Profar or a Marsh.
They should try and trade for Lars Nootbar. Perfect leadoff hitter if Cardinals are trying to retool this offseason
3 comments
Since it’s behind a paywall, here is the Royals part of the article:
> In addition to leading the majors in batting average and hits, Bobby Witt Jr. finished first in a statistic that should prompt the Kansas City Royals to make a change to the star shortstop’s surrounding cast.
> Among non-leadoff hitters, Witt, who batted second in the Royals’ lineup, had the most plate appearances (433) with the bases empty.
> Witt nonetheless racked up 109 RBIs to go along with his 211 hits, 32 home runs and .332 batting average. How many more runs would he have produced with more runners on base?
> To upgrade their run production, the Royals are looking to prioritize quality contact and on-base percentage, and conversations are underway at the general managers’ meetings this week. Kansas City batters struck out just 19.4 percent of the time (third-lowest in MLB) but had just a .306 on-base percentage (19th). Too often the Royals made contact on pitches out of the zone; they finished with the fifth-highest rate.
> Improvement at the leadoff spot may help the issue. The Royals ideally want a better version of Garrett Hampson, a right-handed batter who plays center field, second base and shortstop. Among the players who might fit are Jonathan India and Spencer Steer (trade) and Jurickson Profar (free agent). They have some flexibility with the position. Michael Massey and Maikel Garcia can play the outfield.
> If the Royals explore the trade market for offensive help, league sources suggested that they would listen to offers for pitchers such as left-hander Kris Bubic and right-hander Alec Marsh.
I wasn’t aware that Massey or Garcia could shift to the outfield. Of the two, only Garcia has played the outfield according to baseball-reference with one appearance in rightfield.
The article also mentions that free agent Willy Adames “wants to stay at shortstop but would be willing to play a different position if he gets a strong offer from a team in position to win”. He is probably not a realistic signing for us since it seems that other big spenders are interested in him, but who knows.
Trading Singer for Mullins should at least get a discussion. With the right deal we could still go after a Profar or a Marsh.
They should try and trade for Lars Nootbar. Perfect leadoff hitter if Cardinals are trying to retool this offseason