The Royals are dropping hints (Athletic subscription required) that Whit Merrifield will not be dealt this off-season because they want to wait until next off-season to see how far they are from contention. Of course, I’ve already done the work for them on that front. The results of projecting next year’s team, even wearing the Royalsiest of glasses, were not great. If the Royals look like any kind of winning team next year it will be because of a fluke, not because the team is any closer to competing.
Perhaps they’re really waiting to see what happens in the minor leagues.