Kansas City Baseball Vault

In an effort to fill the gap left by Eric Hosmer, the Royals signed Lucas Duda to a one-year deal to play first base. But wait, what about Hunter Dozier?

We cover Duda's deal and Dozier's fate, as well as taking a big picture look at the roster and who's safe to make the team out of spring training, and who might end up in Omaha. In the end, some of the guys who are out of options might get the advantage. We looked at the implications.

Follow the Vault at @KCBaseballVault. Follow host Jeff Herr at @TheJeffReport, co-host Michael Engel at @michaelengel. You can also email feedback to [email protected]. Email us a question and if we answer it on the air, we’ll send you a gift certificate to our friends at Kelly’s Westport Inn.

Well Eric Hosmer has made it official and his signing with the San Diego Padres moves the Royals into a true period of transition. 

We discussed his new contract and how it works for him and how the Royals come away with pretty good compensation, too. The next rebuild is underway and 2018 becomes intriguing to see who can stick on the big league roster, as well as to see who emerges from the minor leagues. The Royals have a lot of draft picks as well. The team's record...now that might be a little rough.

Along with softening the blow of that loss, we take a big picture view of the organization and why it shouldn't be another 30 years until the next success. Wrapping up, Mike shared a Dayton Moore travel story.

Follow the Vault at @KCBaseballVault. Follow host Jeff Herr at @TheJeffReport, co-host Michael Engel at @michaelengel. You can also email feedback to [email protected]. Email us a question and if we answer it on the air, we’ll send you a gift certificate to our friends at Kelly’s Westport Inn.

Pitchers and catchers report next week and many of the top free agents are still on the market. We discussed the pattern of skyrocketing salaries over the last decade and the stalemate we're watching now, and what the future fallout might be.

Of course, that leads to where the Royals stand in pursuit of Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas. Dayton Moore made comments that show continuing strong interest in Hosmer, but what about Moose?

Finally, PECOTA projections came out. The Royals are projected...for a rough season. But we looked at some potential surprise figures.

Follow the Vault at @KCBaseballVault. Follow host Jeff Herr at @TheJeffReport, co-host Michael Engel at @michaelengel. You can also email feedback to [email protected]. Email us a question and if we answer it on the air, we’ll send you a gift certificate to our friends at Kelly’s Westport Inn.

Things are brewing now this offseason, especially for Lorenzo Cain who will not return to Kansas City after signing a deal with the Brewers. The Royals will get a draft pick as compensation, but that's not all they've received this week.

The Royals also brought back 2015 ALCS MVP Alcides Escobar. What does this mean for Raul Mondesi in 2018? We figured he had a clear shot to play shortstop every day, but now he may be destined for the minor leagues.

There was also a trade which freed up some payroll space and moved Brandon Moss to Oakland for a pair of intriguing arms in Jesse Hahn and Heath Fillmyer. Of course, creating payroll space and moving the only natural first baseman off the roster is intriguing considering Eric Hosmer is still available...

Follow the Vault at @KCBaseballVault. Follow host Jeff Herr at @TheJeffReport, co-host Michael Engel at @michaelengel. You can also email feedback to [email protected]. Email us a question and if we answer it on the air, we’ll send you a gift certificate to our friends at Kelly’s Westport Inn.

We've waited all offseason for something to happen and finally, on Wednesday...okay still nothing happened, but the Hall of Fame inducted four new members and the Royals signed Ryan Goins.

Beyond that, we decided to back away from guesses and speculation (mostly) and talk about who is on the Royals' roster today, right now, and how that shapes up for 2018. What areas need improvement? What positions might be intriguing to watch? The free agent market will sort itself out, but for now, let's see what the Royals have at this very moment, and what it means for the upcoming season.

Follow the Vault at @KCBaseballVault. Follow host Jeff Herr at @TheJeffReport, co-host Michael Engel at @michaelengel. You can also email feedback to [email protected]. Email us a question and if we answer it on the air, we’ll send you a gift certificate to our friends at Kelly’s Westport Inn.

In the past week, the Royals made a trade, sending Joakim Soria and Scott Alexander out and acquiring minor leaguers Trevor Oaks and Erick Mejia. We discuss.

We also revisit the re-signing of Alex Gordon, just a short two years ago. It's...not that uplifiting, I'm afraid.

Follow the Vault at @KCBaseballVault. Follow host Jeff Herr at @TheJeffReport, co-host Michael Engel at @michaelengel. You can also email feedback to [email protected]. Email us a question and if we answer it on the air, we’ll send you a gift certificate to our friends at Kelly’s Westport Inn.

So news finally popped up during this slow, cold offseason, as Bob Nightengale reported that the Royals offered Eric Hosmer a seven-year deal at $147 million. Not a bad deal for Hosmer in a rough first baseman market!

It seems that the Royals are competing with the Padres for Hosmer's services, but Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star also reported that there has not been an offer. Jeff and Mike weighed the two reports and discussed the potential idea of that size of contract, plus its implications. They also talked about potential developments in the future for former Royals Alcides Escobar and Jason Vargas, who have hardly been mentioned this winter.

Follow the Vault at @KCBaseballVault. Follow host Jeff Herr at @TheJeffReport, co-host Michael Engel at @michaelengel. You can also email feedback to [email protected]. Email us a question and if we answer it on the air, we’ll send you a gift certificate to our friends at Kelly’s Westport Inn.

We took last week off for Christmas and ... not much has changed. Eric Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain, and Mike Moustakas are still free agents, as are many other notable major leaguers. What gives?

We discussed the factors in play and speculated about how this weird market might work out once things (if things) start moving.

Follow the Vault at @KCBaseballVault. Follow host Jeff Herr at @TheJeffReport, co-host Michael Engel at @michaelengel. You can also email feedback to [email protected]. Email us a question and if we answer it on the air, we’ll send you a gift certificate to our friends at Kelly’s Westport Inn.

The writing is on the wall, and it sure looks like the Royals will look to rebuild this offseason. So far, they haven't made many moves, but those could be coming. Some names are obvious. Some...surprising. 

Follow the Vault at @KCBaseballVault. Follow host Jeff Herr at @TheJeffReport, co-host Michael Engel at @michaelengel. You can also email feedback to [email protected]. Email us a question and if we answer it on the air, we’ll send you a gift certificate to our friends at Kelly’s Westport Inn.

This week, Jeff returned at 100% and we covered a little bit of the offseason action that's happened in the last week. The Royals signed two pitchers: Wily Peralta and minor leaguer Yefri Del Rosario. What were our first impressions? Just so happens that we tell you in the first half of the show!

Then, as promised, we each picked three free agent targets for 2018 and why we chose those guys over other potential options. We tried to stay pretty realistic about what would be possible for the Royals, but there's always room to dream a little. 

Follow the Vault at @KCBaseballVault. Follow host Jeff Herr at @TheJeffReport, co-host Michael Engel at @michaelengel. You can also email feedback to [email protected]. Email us a question and if we answer it on the air, we’ll send you a gift certificate to our friends at Kelly’s Westport Inn.