There was no strategic plan to mine one organization for talent, yet as the offseason continued and the winter months passed, the Royals kept acquiring former Chicago Cubs.
They traded closer Wade Davis for Jorge Soler, coveting the power and controllability of the 25-year-old outfielder. They signed right-hander Jason Hammel, a free-agent starter who won 15 games and posted a 3.83 ERA last season. In the opening days of spring training, they opted to dip into the waters once more, signing left-hander Travis Wood, a reliever who registered a 2.95 ERA in 2016.
All three players had played roles on a World Series champion, the first on the North Side of Chicago in 108 years.