MLB.com’s Anne Rogers details the Kansas City Royals hiring Abraham Núñez and Nic Jackson as hitting coordinators, replacing Drew Saylor.
“Nic and I have built a relationship where we’re always bouncing ideas off each other,” Núñez said. “Always trying to keep each other in the loop at what’s going on at every level. Our communication is really good, and we complement each other. And we learn from each other. For us to be able to work together as one unit, it’s exciting.”
Núñez calls Jackson “The Doctor” because of his biomechanical knowledge, and Núñez brings vast playing experience and the ability to connect with young players, especially international signees. Their different backgrounds and perspectives stood out as they led the organization’s instructional league in Arizona last fall, as did the camaraderie and continuity in processes that Núñez, Jackson and Raccuia shared.
Former Royals outfielder Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones elected to Baseball Hall of Fame Tuesday evening.
Beltrán played for seven teams from 1998 through 2017, collecting 435 home runs and 312 stolen bases while excelling in the postseason, hitting .307/.412/.609 across 65 games. A Rookie of the Year for the Kansas City Royals in 1999, Beltrán won two Silver Slugger awards and three Gold Gloves.
Jones won 10 Gold Gloves, patrolling center field for the Atlanta Braves with such aplomb that Willie Mays once called him the best he ever saw at the position. Mays, Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Schmidt are the only players besides Jones with 10 Gold Gloves and 400 homers, with Jones bashing 434 for five teams from 1996 through 2012.
The Athletic’s Chad Jennings doesn’t like the Royals’ offseason, all for a narrative.
Kansas City Royals — Moving in the outfield fences might be their biggest move of the offseason. The Royals traded for outfielder Isaac Collins, rolled the dice on outfielder Lane Thomas, and added some relievers (notably, left-hander Matt Strahm) but they haven’t made anything that qualifies as a splash.
While David Lesky thinks the Royals are close this offseason, it is the moves they didn’t make last year that might be better.
Early in the offseason, on the Kauffman Corner podcast, I made a point that the Royals responsibility last winter likely meant they had to be a little irresponsible this winter to fix the issues that plagued them. I still stand by what I said last year in that I totally understood not wanting to overspend on players who probably weren’t good enough to overspend on, but I also disagreed with it. To their credit, I think they were generally right. Anthony Santander had a terrible first season in Toronto that was marred by injury. Jurickson Profar was suspended for 80 games almost immediately for PED use. And what I heard last year was that the Angels had asked for Carter Jensen for Ward. I think if everything went the way it had, we’d all be frustrated by that trade today with Ward approaching free agency.
Baseball America took notice of Royals pitching prospect Michael Lombardi this winter.
Under scouting director Brian Bridges, the Royals leaned into versatile athletes in the 2025 draft. Tulane two-way player Michael Lombardi epitomizes this approach. He worked predominantly as a center fielder and reliever for the Green Wave, but Kansas City will develop him as a right-handed starter. “You’re dealing with an athlete who’s highly competitive,” Bridges said. “A two-way player who wants to concentrate on pitching, with limited mileage on his arm. He’s athletic with feel to pitch.”
MLB owners are reportedly “raging” after Kyle Tucker’s free agency agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers and it is now “a 100 percent certainty” that the owners will push for a salary cap.
Owners still have to determine what salary floor and ceiling they’re comfortable proposing, a discussion that’s expected to be a topic at next month’s regularly scheduled owners meeting. The floor, in particular, could be a contentious issue for smaller-market teams, some of which might stand to make more money on an operational basis in the current system. The value of all 30 franchises would instantly rise if a cap is introduced, however.
It would take at least eight owners of 30 to effectively hold up a labor deal, but when it comes to a cap, internal politics will not be the owners’ biggest hurdle. Players have historically been willing to miss many games to avoid a cap system.
“We just completed one of the greatest seasons in MLB history, with unprecedented fan interest and revenues,” union head Tony Clark said in a statement. “While the free-agent market is far from over, it is gratifying to see players at all levels being rewarded for their incredible accomplishments by those clubs that are trying to win without excuses.”
Matt Crossland looks back on the glory of Paulo Orlando.
Mitch Maier and Brooks Conrad talk at the Northwest Arkansas Naturals’ Hot Stove Luncheon.
Chris Bzozowski looks at another utility free agent option in Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
Nick Castellanos’ departure from the Philadelphia Phillies is a when, not an if.
The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported the Athletics also had a deal in place to acquire Nolan Arenado before the Arizona Diamondbacks acquired the third baseman from the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Miami Marlins acquired pitcher Bradley Blalock from the Colorado Rockies, first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
The SSG Landers of the Korea Baseball Organization announced they signed former Royals pitcher Anthony Veneziano to a contract.
Dave Dombrowski calls Bo Bichette joining the New York Mets “a gut punch”.
Cliff Floyd has the Mets paying a hefty price to acquire Freddy Peralta from the Milwaukee Brewers.
Which propsects make up MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 Third Basemen?
Former MLB pitcher Ryan Pressley is joining the Minnesota Twins in a player development role.
CBS Sports ranks the MLB players who could have been free agents this offseason.
They also think Tarik Skubal starts the season in Detroit, but names the Tigers’ ace as the top trade candidate with two months to go until Opening Day.
After years of winning football, why did the Buffalo Bills make a coaching change now?
Duke filed a lawsuit against quarterback Darian Mensah, trying to block him from entering the transfer portal.
The Tampa Bay Rays’ stadium deal with Hillsborough College has the college’s board of trustees’ support after a Tuesday vote. Now the team must market the move to the locality and pursue funding.
Who is predator and who is prey in sports gambling?
Sports streamer DAZN is partnering with Polymarket for in-app, in-broadcast predictions.
Netflix ups the ante in their pursuit of Warner Brothers.
Jennette McCurdy’s new book is meant to make readers feel uncomfortable, but to what end?
I am on the ship today, so I can’t get a link from YouTube. Instead, take this baseball and toss it at someone out of love. Shoot them a message, a quick call, or something to let them know you care about them.
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