BURNING QUESTIONS
Who plays third base?
The Royals head into spring training with multiple options at third base. Kansas City signed former Phillies starter Maikel Franco to a one-year, $3 million deal in the offseason.
Franco hit . 234 with 17 home runs in a down year last season, but he could provide the Royals with another power bat if he’s able to bounce back. He averaged 24 homers and a .730 OPS between 2016 and 2017.
Hunter Dozier is the other option at third for the Royals. Dozier was one of the most productive hitters in K.C.’s lineup last year, hitting a career-high 26 homers with an .870 OPS.
Although he’s slated to start in right field, if Franco falters in camp, Dozier might end up back at third.
Who’s fills out their rotation?
The Royals haven’t done much to improve a weak back end of the rotation. Danny Duffy, Brad Keller, Mike Montgomery and Jakob Junies are probably in, but none of them had an ERA below 4.19 last season. Jorge Lopez and Glenn Sparkman both had ERAs over 6.00 while former Yankee Chance Adams, Eric Skoglund and others with marginal or no big-league experience could also be in the mix.
Top pitching prospect Brady Singer might end up being their best option.
Singer has shot through the minors since he was drafted in 2018. Last season, he made it to Class AA, finishing with a 3.47 ERA there with 8.4 strikeouts and less than one home run allowed per nine innings. He finished with a 2.85 ERA across high A and AA.