Coming off their second straight trip to the World Series and first title in three decades, the Kansas City Royals are the toast of the league. Looking ahead to 2016, though, there are plenty of questions about the roster and their chances of repeating – as well as a few specific things that they might want to check off their to-do list.
Getting Gordon to stay
The Royals will have a big hole to fill if left fielder Alex Gordon departs for another club. That may very well happen, and GM Dayton Moore has recently said the team has ‘options’ should Gordon leave. And yet the thought of Gordon suiting up in another team’s colors just seems odd, especially with KC coming off a triumphant World Series title. Still, Gordon could walk for a more lucrative deal somewhere else, but it wouldn’t be for lack of the Royals being extremely desirous of a reunion.
Finding another starter
Navigating October without a true "starting rotation" is an unorthodox path to a World Series championship, but the Royals found a way in 2015. They retained veteran Chris Young, who came up big for the club in the postseason, but they still have to find another key starter to fill the shoes left by midseason acquisition Johnny Cueto. Lefty Scott Kazmir has been said to be on their radar, but with the Royals obviously priced out of the marquee free-agent options (having mounted little to no effort to attract Zack Greinke, Jordan Zimmermann and the like) they might have to look to the trade market to find a reliable arm for the staff.
No "hangover effect" for next season
The Royals began 2015 hungry to erase the sting of losing Game 7 of the World Series in 2014 ... and they vanquished that despair with their amazing regular season run and October dominance. Within that context, it may be easy to imagine a "hangover" effect taking shape in 2016. However, the Royals have proven themselves to be among the class of the American League and with every other club gunning for them in 2016, the proverbial "chip on their shoulder" should provide plenty of motivation to get back to that level once again.
Finding someone willing to take Infante
Omar Infante is a dead weight on the roster. At 33, he’s simply not productive enough to warrant a spot, and yet his exorbitant contract all but means he’s anchored in Kansas City until it ends – unless, of course, some team takes him off the Royals’ hands. While that’s unlikely, the Royals are said to be interested in moving him ... but they probably won’t unless they’re willing to eat a lot of the money still owed to him.
