Query: who will be the Rockies everyday second baseman in 2021? Further, who will be the first baseman? Based on playing time in 2020, it looks like the answers to those questions involve some combination of Ryan McMahon, Brendan Rodgers, and Josh Fuentes. As I outlined a few weeks back, there is reason for concern if those are the options.
Let’s start with the most experienced of the bunch. Despite stretches of downright excellent production, McMahon has yet to find his footing in the majors.
FanGraphs
It’s always been a battle with the league-average line for McMahon when it comes to overall offensive output. His career .317 wOBA puts him just above league average, not accounting for position. That might make for a decent second baseman, but doesn’t quite hit the mark of the slugging first baseman the Rockies have been lacking for nearly a decade.
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Royals Rumblings - News for December 18, 2020
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Josh Gibson, he of many home runs
Programming Note: This is my last real rumblings of the year. Next Friday is Christmas and the week after that is New Year’s so they’re going to be some light OT threads and I may or may not have already written them.
Both Lynn Worthy and Jeffrey Flanagan had stories about Mike Matheny’s Zoom call Thursday. MLB.com won the toss so we’ll start with their story:
The Royals are entering 2021 with a simple mindset: The rebuild is over, and they are ready to compete again for the playoffs. Royals manager Mike Matheny, now in his second year as the skipper, isn’t conceding the American League Central race. The Royals won 12 of their final 18 games in 2020 and believe they have momentum heading into ‘21.
Dayton Moore could be looking for a left-handed bat, here are some free agent possibilities
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Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
The Royals have been an oasis of activity in a slow off-season around baseball, having already added free agent first baseman Carlos Santana, outfielder Michael Taylor, starting pitcher Mike Minor, and re-signing reliever Greg Holland. But in case you thought the Royals are done, Dayton Moore’s recent comments to MLB Network radio this week suggest there still could be work for him to do.
In the interview, Moore cited the versatility of Hunter Dozier and Whit Merrifield as reasons why the Royals could be flexible with who they continue to pursue. But he adds that if they were to add another position player, it would “ideally” be a left-handed bat that could play at either third base or outfield - or perhaps both.