Predicting Kansas City Royals' 2016 Record Going Into Spring Training

The Kansas City Royals finally threw off nearly 30 years of frustration by winning a World Series. During the offseason they were able to re-sign franchise player, Alex Gordon. They also let relievers Greg Holland and Ryan Madson move on to other pastures.

The question is whether replacing Holland and Madson with Joakim Soria is going to be enough to keep things moving along. They also traded a boat load of young talent for Johnny Cueto. Now the Royals are relying on Wade Davis to close and Edinson Volquez as their top starter.

Heading into spring training, the Royals’ depth is clearly an issue. Jarrod Dyson is replacing Alex Rios in the outfield, which leaves them with no MLB ready back-up. Jonny Gomes departed in free agency for Japan. Ben Zobrist also left in free agency meaning that the Royals will once again try to make do with Omar Infante at second. While the contact and speed initiative worked last year, every team needs a certain amount of slugging. The departure of Gomes, and to a lesser extent Zobrist, is pushing the limit.

Meanwhile in the pitching rotation Ian Kennedy takes over the spot of Jeremy Guthrie, who had pitched at least 175 innings every year since 2007 before last season’s down turn. Kris Medlen will also be counted on to pitch a complete year in the rotation following 2015 when he only pitched 58. Danny Duffy will also asked to do more, having never pitcher 150 innings in any one big league season. Volquez and developing ace Yordano Ventura should be able to replicate what they did in 2015, but the other three spots are looking more bleak than they have since the Gil Meche days.

The Royals have been a team of hope the past two years in the American League, but much of the hope left this offseason with Guthrie and Rios. The bullpen and rotation are both weaker, as is the bench. Heading into spring training, the Royals aren’t looking like a World Series contender. They’re looking like a team that will go 80-82, good for a third place tie in the parity-ridden Central Division.