The Royals go into this off-season coming off back-to-back 100-loss seasons, perhaps not unsurprising for a rebuilding team but undoubtedly a frustrating experience for General Manager Dayton Moore. More help seems to be on the way with a group of young pitchers from the 2018 draft class likely ready to make their Major League debuts within the next year, but in the meantime, the Royals may have to rely largely on a pitching staff that ranked third-worst in the American League in ERA.
This will be a year of transition for the Royals, with a new manager in Mike Matheny, one of the last vestiges of the championship team, Alex Gordon, possibly retiring, and a new owner in John Sherman.