Daily Clips
December 2, 2017
LOCAL
KC, Morin avoid arb; Gore now free agent
December 1, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/262703296/mike-morin-signed-terrance-gore-non-tendered/
Terrance Gore agrees to minor-league deal with Royals
December 1, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article187639953.html
Mike Moustakas collects third comeback player award
December 1, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article187583443.html
Royals pitcher Danny Duffy receives continuance in DUI case
December 1, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article187521738.html
MINORS
Schwindel Continues Strong Year in Winter Ball
2017 Omaha Player of the Year has driven in 12 runs in 15 games
December 1, 2017 By Andrew Green/Omaha Storm Chasers
https://www.milb.com/storm-chasers/news/schwindel-continues-strong-year-in-winter-ball/c-262699362
Frank Schwindel Powers His Way into Royals' Plans
November 25, 2017 By Alan Eskew/Baseball America
https://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/frank-schwindel-powers-way-royals-plans/#7fUhGo1GmokDKjWw.97
Binford returns close to home, signs minor league deal with O’s
December 1, 2017 By Tim Koelble/Hagerstown Sports
https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/sports/binford-returns-close-to-home-signs-minor-league-deal-with/article_fc1876c6-d710-11e7-8e06-570c46e6694d.html
NATIONAL
Holland, Moose honored as Comeback Players
Rockies closer, Royals third baseman bounced back from injury in '17
December 1, 2017 By David Adler/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/262716294/comeback-winners-greg-holland-mike-moustakas/
List of moves at Friday's non-tender deadline
December 1, 2017 MLB.com
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/262690758/mlb-players-non-tendered/
Sources: Yankees tab Boone as new manager
December 1, 2017 By Bryan Hoch/MLB.com
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/262690760/aaron-boone-is-yankees-new-manager/
Posting system set, race for Ohtani to take off
December 1, 2017 By Joe Trezza & JP Morosi/MLB.com
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/262697050/shohei-ohtani-mlb-posting-agreement-ratified/
White Sox sign catcher Castillo to 2-year deal
Backstop eager to play for manager Renteria, help young team develop
December 1, 2017 By Rhett Bollinger/MLB.com
http://m.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article/262708572/white-sox-sign-catcher-welington-castillo/
MLB boosted total annual drug tests by 25 percent to 10,237
December 1, 2017 ESPN.com (via AP)
http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/21633615/mlb-boosted-drug-tests-25-percent-2017
MLB TRANSACTIONS
December 2, 2017 •.CBSSports.com
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions
LOCAL
KC, Morin avoid arb; Gore now free agent
December 1, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/262703296/mike-morin-signed-terrance-gore-non-tendered/
The Royals on Friday non-tendered speedy outfielder Terrance Gore, and also signed right-hander Mike Morin to a one-year deal, thus avoiding arbitration with him.
Morin's deal is a split contract worth $750,000 in the Majors, or $250,000 in the Minors.
Gore, 26, played in parts of four seasons with the Royals and stole 21 bases in 25 attempts. He also had four postseason steals. Gore is now a free agent and able to sign with all 30 MLB teams.
Gore was out of options going into 2018 and would have had to have been placed on the 25-man roster or designated for assignment. Quite often, teams who non-tender players such as Gore will try to sign him back to a Minor League deal.
Morin, 26, was claimed off waivers from the Angels late in the season. He had a 7.94 ERA with the Royals in six appearances.
"We see value in [Morin] competing for a spot in the bullpen next season," Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. "Hopefully he can add to our depth."
The moves were made ahead of Friday night's deadline to tender contracts for those on the 40-man roster. The Royals have four players eligible for arbitration, including Morin, and right-handers Kelvin Herrera, Brandon Maurer and Nathan Karns.
Terrance Gore agrees to minor-league deal with Royals
December 1, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article187639953.html
The Royals performed some roster maintenance on Friday, signing right-handed pitcher Mike Morin to a one-year contract while opting to let outfielder Terrance Gore become a free agent before re-signing him on a minor-league deal.
The moves came before Friday’s deadline to tender contracts to salary arbitration eligible players.
The Royals also tendered contracts to pitchers Kelvin Herrera, Nathan Karns and Brandon Maurer. But first, they maneuvered to retain Gore, 26, while clearing a roster spot.
A playoff weapon in 2014 and 2015, Gore offers elite speed and base-stealing ability late in games. The rest of his skill set, however, has never matched his speed. He was also out of options entering 2018 after spending parts of the last four seasons on the 40-man roster.
The Royals performed some roster maintenance on Friday, signing right-handed pitcher Mike Morin to a one-year contract while opting to let outfielder Terrance Gore become a free agent before re-signing him on a minor-league deal.
The moves came before Friday’s deadline to tender contracts to salary arbitration eligible players.
The Royals also tendered contracts to pitchers Kelvin Herrera, Nathan Karns and Brandon Maurer. But first, they maneuvered to retain Gore, 26, while clearing a roster spot.
A playoff weapon in 2014 and 2015, Gore offers elite speed and base-stealing ability late in games. The rest of his skill set, however, has never matched his speed. He was also out of options entering 2018 after spending parts of the last four seasons on the 40-man roster.
The move avoided arbitration for the 26-year-old reliever.
Morin posted a 7.20 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 20 innings last season while splitting time between the Angels and Royals. He still offers potential. His best season came as a rookie in 2014 when he logged a 2.90 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 59 innings. He'll likely enter camp competing for a job in the bullpen.
Friday’s deadline offered the latest important date of the offseason. Players reach salary arbitration after accumulating three years of major-league service time or “super-two” status. Once that happens, clubs can tender those players contracts and head to the arbitration process. Players reach full free agency after six years of service time. In arbitration, the two sides exchange salary figures in January. They can settle at any time before a potential arbitration hearing in February.
The Royals’ 40-man roster now has 37 players and three open slots.
Mike Moustakas collects third comeback player award
December 1, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article187583443.html
Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas has collected another accolade for his resurgent season in 2017, winning Major League Baseball’s AL comeback player of the year award on Friday afternoon.
Moustakas previously won comeback player of the year honors from The Sporting News and the MLB Players’ Choice Awards. Former Royals reliever Greg Holland was selected the NL comeback player of the year after a sterling season as the Rockies’ closer.
Moustakas, 29, and a free agent for the first time, made history in 2017, clubbing 38 homers and breaking the franchise record of 36 set by Steve Balboni in 1985. The performance came one year after Moustakas tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in a collision with Alex Gordon in Chicago.
Moustakas tied for fifth in the American League in home runs this season and also set career highs with 75 runs, 85 RBIs and a .521 slugging percentage. He finished with 2.6 Wins Above Replacement, according to Baseball Reference.
Royals pitcher Danny Duffy receives continuance in DUI case
December 1, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article187521738.html
Royals pitcher Danny Duffy, who was cited for driving under the influence of alcohol in August, received a continuance in his case Friday morning in Overland Park Municipal Court.
Steve Sakoulas, an attorney representing Duffy, told The Star that he was “continuing negotiations.” Duffy, who entered a not guilty plea through his attorney in October, did not appear in court Friday.
Duffy’s next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 19. He was cited around 8 p.m. Aug. 27 in the drive-thru lane of a Burger King restaurant after employees called police because they saw a vehicle stopped short of the window with a man inside slumped over the console between the driver’s and passenger’s seats.
A 28-year-old left-hander, Duffy concluded his seventh season with the Royals in 2017, posting a 9-10 record with a 3.81 ERA in 24 starts. He signed a five-year, $65 million contract extension last January following the best season of his career in 2016.
Two days after being cited in Overland Park, Duffy held a news conference at Kauffman Stadium and apologized “for the distraction.” He also asked Royals fans and observers to “let the facts shake out.”
For now, Duffy has not faced any public discipline or punishment from Major League Baseball. The Royals have stated that they wish to let the legal process play out.
MINORS
Schwindel Continues Strong Year in Winter Ball
2017 Omaha Player of the Year has driven in 12 runs in 15 games
December 1, 2017 By Andrew Green/Omaha Storm Chasers
https://www.milb.com/storm-chasers/news/schwindel-continues-strong-year-in-winter-ball/c-262699362
After an outstanding 2017 campaign with the Storm Chasers that included Omaha Player of the Year honors, infielder Frank Schwindel continues to mash in winter ball.
Since joining Estellas Orientales in the Dominican Winter League, Schwindel has accumulated a .311 average (19-61), adding four runs, six doubles, one homer and 12 RBI, along with a .797 OPS.The 25-year-old has recorded hits in all but two of his 15 contests with Orientales, including six multi-hit efforts. He also blasted his first home run as part of a two-hit game on November 30 while driving in two RBI.
Schwindel had tallied an 11-game hit streak between November 11-28, compiling a .348 clip (16-46) with three runs, six doubles and nine RBI. He also recorded hits in each of his final ten games with the Storm Chasers to complete the 2017 regular season, meaning Schwindel has tallied knocks in 23 of his last 25 games between Omaha and Orientales. Going back further, Schwindel had collected hits in 47 of his final 50 matchups with the Storm Chasers, meaning he has recorded at least one base knock in 60 of his most recent 65 games.
The New Jersey native in 99 games with the Storm Chasers in 2017 posted a .321 average (126-392) with 51 runs, 30 doubles, 17 homers and 72 RBI, in addition to an .868 OPS. Schwindel posted three hit streaks of ten games or longer, including an 18-game stretch between July 15-August 1. From the day he made his Triple-A debut with Omaha on May 18 until the end of the 2017 PCL campaign, Schwindel ranked first in the league in doubles, as well as tied for first in hits, second in total bases, tied for fifth in extra-base hits (47) and tied for seventh in RBI.
It was a sensational season for Schwindel, who also ranked tied for second among all minor leaguers in doubles (43), tied for third in hits (174), fifth in total bases (286), tied for fifth in extra-base hits (66) and seventh in RBI (97) between Omaha and Double-A Northwest Arkansas.
Frank Schwindel Powers His Way into Royals' Plans
November 25, 2017 By Alan Eskew/Baseball America
https://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/frank-schwindel-powers-way-royals-plans/#7fUhGo1GmokDKjWw.97
With a hot finish at Triple-A Omaha, first baseman Frank Schwindel might have hit his way into the big league picture for 2018.
An 18th-round pick in 2013 out of St. John's, Schwindel collected a hit in 47 of his final 50 games to finish with a .321 average that ranked ninth in the Pacific Coast League. The 25-year-old righthanded batter hit 17 home runs at Omaha and 23 overall at two levels.
Schwindel hit .350 at Double-A Northwest Arkansas to earn a May 18 promotion to Triple-A, where he hit just .228 at Omaha in June before taking off.
“I've hit at every level,” he said. “It's just a matter of staying consistent and keeping it going.”
Schwindel, who hit 43 doubles and ranked fifth in the minors with 66 extra-base hits, said he slimmed down this season while gaining more strength overall.
“I always thought I was a doubles hitter with some power thrown in there," he said. “I worked a more right field approach this year and hit a lot more extra-base hits to right field—even a couple of homers the other way.
“I’m just trying to become a complete hitter, and the power is going to come. That's what the coaches have been telling me. You have to learn how to hit before you learn how to hit for power."
While Schwindel was drafted as a catcher, he has not started a game behind the plate since 2014 at low Class A Lexington.
“I have started working on foot speed, getting a little more range," Schwindel said. “My glove has always been good (at first base)."
Schwindel reported to the Dominican League in November and hopes to compete for a big league job in spring training. He has been to Kauffman Stadium twice before, when honored as the Lexington player of the year in 2014 and the Omaha player of the year in 2017.
“Hopefully, next time it will be when I'm suited up," Schwindel said.
Binford returns close to home, signs minor league deal with O’s
December 1, 2017 By Tim Koelble/Hagerstown Sports
https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/sports/binford-returns-close-to-home-signs-minor-league-deal-with/article_fc1876c6-d710-11e7-8e06-570c46e6694d.html
Christian Binford got an early Christmas present as December began on Friday.
The Hagerstown native was a happy camper after signing a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles following seven years in the Kansas City Royals organization.
After his release from the Royals, Binford has spent the offseason keeping in tune physically, before interest from the Orioles became serious.
“I had a couple of inquiries through my agent, but the Orioles began to really show some interest,” said Binford, a Mercersburg Academy graduate. “Going through the process, this was definitely the best fit for me. It all has happened in the last two weeks.”
Binford, who turns 25 on Dec. 20, began his professional career with Burlington (N.C.), the Royals’ rookie team in the Appalachian League. He advanced to Lexington in the Single-A South Atlantic League, Wilmington in the Single-A Carolina League and Northwest Arkansas in the Double-A Texas League. His last stop was with Triple-A Omaha in the Pacific Coast League, on the doorstep of reaching the zenith of every boy’s dream of playing in the majors.
He was an all-star with Lexington in 2013 and with Wilmington in 2014, and was selected to pitch in the 2014 Futures Game.
He amassed a 37-52 record with a 4.28 ERA over 123 minor league starts. The numbers don’t stand out, but the 6-foot-6, 220-pound right-hander still has the potential to land a job in the big time — especially if he stays healthy.
“All the health is good right now, 100 percent,” said Binford. “I’ll begin throwing again in 2-to-3 weeks, once the plan from the Orioles comes along. It’s going to be good to be able to work out closely with a teammate.”