Kansas City Royals 2017 Team Preview

Repeating as the champion in any sport is difficult. Baseball is no exception. The Kansas City Royals learned that firsthand last season as they aimed to be the first team to repeat since the turn of the century Yankees. They were unable to accomplish that feat, going 81-81. But, in 2017, they look to get back to their winning ways that saw the Royals win the pennant both in 2014, and 2015.

Going into the season the Kansas City Royals face a lot of questions about their future. Clearly the main headline of the their offseason was the tragic death of young pitcher Yordano Ventura in the Dominican Republic in January. The fiery right-hander was an integral part of the 2015 championship, and will be remembered for his Game 6 performance against the Giants. A close knit club, the Royals will have to find a way to unite going forward, and a celebration of Ventura’s impact such as the likes of Eric Hosmer at the World Baseball Classic will most certainly be a part of the upcoming season.

While young pieces remain bright for the core of players that built the Royals into being a power in the American League, 2017 is crucial in determining the future of what could be the next ten years of Royals Baseball.

Team leaders such as Eric Hosmer, Alcides Escobar, Mike Moustakas and Lorenzo Cain all hit free agency after this year. All of these players grew in the Royals system, and while most would assume they would be returning, the markets on all the players could be substantial, and difficult decisions will have to be made.

How the team fares in 2017 could go a long way to determining how the Royals choose to allocate their salary going forward.