MLB 2024

[SubGod22]

Why not get it started.

KAKE - Royals agree with SS Bobby Witt Jr. on record deal that could keep him in KC for 14 seasons

The Kansas City Royals and shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. agreed Monday to the longest contract in franchise history, an 11-year pact that includes three years of team options that could keep the rising star with the ballclub through the 2037 season.

The financial terms were not immediately available. The team has planned a Tuesday news conference to discuss the deal.

The 23-year-old Witt became the first player in Royals history to enter the 30-30 club last year, when he hit 30 homers and stole 49 bases. The only other American League shortstop to accomplish the feat by Witt's age was Alex Rodriguez in 1998.

Witt's breakthrough season, which resulted in him landing seventh in AL MVP voting, came after he hit 20 homers and stole 30 bases as a rookie. No player in big league history has hit 50 homers and stole 79 bases through his first two seasons.

“From the day we drafted him we felt confident Bobby would become one of our game’s brightest stars and biggest talents,” Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said. “These last two seasons have been confirmation of that talent, and proof that he’s an even better teammate. We know he wants to win here for our fans as much as we do.”

Now lets hope that they surround him with talent and he's not just the prized piece of a 100 loss team year after year.

[SubGod22]

Guaranteed $288.7M

Potential $377M

The contract will be re-worked eventually, but as it stands right now it's the 3rd largest contract in MLB history from what I've seen. Only behind Shohei Ohtani ($700M) and Mike Trout ($425M).

His contract is more than the top 4 contracts in Royals history combined. It's exciting news for Royals fans, but it has to be followed up with shaping a team around him that can compete for championships.

Cynical me thinks this is just an outward investment towards trying to get the citizenry to commit to funding a new downtown/North KC ballpark.

[SubGod22]

In other Royals news...

WBJ - KC Royals name stadium location choice as early voting looms for sales tax extrension

The Kansas City Royals on Tuesday confirmed plans to pursue a new downtown baseball stadium in the East Crossroads.

The team's site centers on, and would demolish, The Kansas City Star's former printing press at 1601 McGee St.

The stadium would be bounded west to east by Grand Boulevard and Oak Street, and north to south by Interstate 670 and 17th Street. Adjacent team and corporate offices, hotel, residential and entertainment development would be built along the stadium's eastern edge to Locust Street. Team visuals also show two additional eastern blocks of the South Loop Link, from Grand to Oak.

It would be near T-Mobile Arena. Really not where I want to go when visiting the KC area, but this isn't being built for me.

[ABC]

I think it is a pretty cool area. Very close to the Cross Roads district, which I like much more than Power and Light. To me P&L is just a big real estate development, and Cross Roads growth has been much more organic with lots of locally owned shops, bars, restaurants, breweries and even a distillery or two.

[BAShocker]

Man, it feels as if the Royals have already lost 100 games.

Hope this gets turned around soon.

[WstateU]

I’ll just put this here…

Interesting baseball history

https://x.com/bbgreatmoments/status/1778377453486149669?s=46&t=2V_2F7cvRAo3nyj2tMrEmg

[Onegreatracer]

Man, it feels as if the Royals have already lost 100 games.

Hope this gets turned around soon.

Good news

[BAShocker]

Good news

Yeah, my reverse psychology post actually worked this time…haha.

[SubGod22]

I'm refusing to get too excited about things. I've been well conditioned as a Royals fan to just expect the worst until there's much more evidence to support otherwise.

[WstateU]

Royals Throwback…

[RoyalShock]

I'm refusing to get too excited about things. I've been well conditioned as a Royals fan to just expect the worst until there's much more evidence to support otherwise.

They are quite clearly better than last year. I'm just not sure how much better. The starting rotation is solid, with an emerging ace. The offense has been productive. The bullpen, though, has been problematic.

It's too early to tell how good the teams they've played so far really are. Except for the White Sux. They're bad. Most of Houston's starting rotation is injured.

But it's encouraging they are whipping bad teams and competing with the others.

[ShockBand]

They are quite clearly better than last year. I'm just not sure how much better. The starting rotation is solid, with an emerging ace. The offense has been productive. The bullpen, though, has been problematic.

It's too early to tell how good the teams they've played so far really are. Except for the White Sux. They're bad. Most of Houston's starting rotation is injured.

But it's encouraging they are whipping bad teams and competing with the others.

They are so far accomplishing the "try not to suck" mantra!

[RoyalShock]

Now that we're nearly a third of the way into the season, I think they've risen above "try not to suck", and have reached "start looking at mid-season trades to make a playoff run".

The starting pitching has been incredible (Lugo is an early Cy Young candidate), and the bullpen roles are starting to solidify now that MacArthur has supplanted Smith as the closer. Zerpa and Schrieber are showing some consistency.

Witt Jr is exceeding his lofty expectations. Perez is having a career year. Massey returning has helped give the offense some consistency. Garcia is doing fine in the leadoff. Fermin showing a solid bat when he gets in the lineup.

Need Melendez, Velasquez and Renfroe (who has been putrid, other than some walks) to start producing closer to their career averages. All are more than 100 points below their career OPS.

[RoyalShock]

KC going for eight in a row today.

[RoyalShock]

Check. Extra innings check.