Call to the pen
Fansided

MLB in the Midwest: A Christmas wish list for the AL Central

By Kristen Bentley

The Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez celebrates his walk off grand slam for an 8-4 win against the Minnesota Twins on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. (John Sleezer/Kansas City Star/TNS via Getty Images)
The Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez celebrates his walk off grand slam for an 8-4 win against the Minnesota Twins on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. (John Sleezer/Kansas City Star/TNS via Getty Images) /
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On March 14, 2017, with the Kansas City Royals, Terrance Gore smiles after scoring a run against the Los Angeles Angels during spring training in Surprise, Ariz. (John Sleezer/Kansas City Star/TNS via Getty Images)
On March 14, 2017, with the Kansas City Royals, Terrance Gore smiles after scoring a run against the Los Angeles Angels during spring training in Surprise, Ariz. (John Sleezer/Kansas City Star/TNS via Getty Images) /

The Royals off-season can be summed up in two words: Terrance Gore. The speeding pinch runner was re-signed by the Royals and fans are confused by the unnecessary move.

The team is a long way off from the 2015 World Series win, but they still have Salvador Perez and Alex Gordon. A Christmas wish would be that those two continue to lead the team and possibly even earn All-Star invitations in 2019.

The Royals and Tigers are in relatively the same spot, in the early phase of rebuilding. So, it would be expected that Royals fans would hope that Santa would give them more wins than the Tigers get. But, with the off-season signing of Gore, the hopes for more wins than the Tigers could be merely a dream.

But, Gore isn’t the only off-season signing the Royals have made. They also signed Chris Owings and Billy Hamilton. It is clear that the Royals are looking for speed, but they aren’t too concerned with batting stats. Hamilton could be a big help in the big outfield at Kauffman Stadium.

In 2015, the Royals had a bullpen that wouldn’t quit and was highlighted by Wade Davis, Kelvin Herrera, and Luke Hochevar. Royals fans Christmas wish list should include getting the bullpen in order, now that the last of the 2015 pen – Herrera – is now a free agent. Wily Peralta is signed through 2020, so wishing him a successful season should be included in a letter to Santa.

While asking for a good season out of the pen, it wouldn’t hurt to ask for healthy starters, too. Of the five pitchers in the rotation, no one had close to 200 innings. Jacob Junis – who was up and down all season – pitched 177 innings. Everyone else had less than that.

It might be difficult for Royals fans to wish for anything beyond just getting fewer than 100 losses. It’s a good place to start, because the only way to go – after finishing 5th in the worst division in the MLB – is up.

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