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Kansas City Royals: Way too early 2020 rotation predictions

By Cody Rickman

KANSAS CITY, MO. - AUGUST 14: Kansas City Royals catcher Meibrys Viloria (72) and Royals pitching coach Cal Eldred talk to Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Brad Keller (56) during a time out during a Major League Baseball game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals on August 14, 2019, at Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO. - AUGUST 14: Kansas City Royals catcher Meibrys Viloria (72) and Royals pitching coach Cal Eldred talk to Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Brad Keller (56) during a time out during a Major League Baseball game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals on August 14, 2019, at Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Kansas City Royals pitcher Jakob Junis (65) (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Kansas City Royals pitcher Jakob Junis (65) (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The Kansas City Royals have an opportunity this offseason to make some dramatic changes to their pitching staff.

The correct changes could build a strong bullpen for the wave of starting pitching prospects set to strike Kauffman Stadium as early as late in the 2020 season and early 2021. Beginning in the 2020 season, MLB teams will be able to expand their everyday rosters to 26. The Kansas City Royals will likely carry 13 positional players and 13 pitchers for the 2020 season.

Starting Rotation

The Kansas City Royals’ starting rotation was ranked 27th in WAR, K/9, and 24th in BB/9 in 2019. The Royals could take advantage of some potential trades and buy low options on the free agency market to improve their starting staff.

Don’t expect any big splashes in either the trade market or free agency as the Royals have at least six starting pitching prospects on their way to the majors in the next three years.

  1. Brad Keller RHP – 2019: 4.19 ERA, 1.355 WHIP, 122 Ks in 165.1 Innings
  2. Danny Duffy LHP (possible to be traded this offseason) – 2019: 4.34 ERA, 1.309 WHIP, 115 Ks in 130.2 Innings
  3. Mike Montgomery LHP – 2019 (with Royals): 4.64 ERA, 1.547 WHIP, 51 Ks in 64.0 Innings
  4. Jakob Junis RHP – 2019: 5.24 ERA, 1.426 WHIP, 164 Ks in 175.1 Innings
  5. Jorge Lopez RHP – 2019: 6.33 ERA, 1.472 WHIP, 109 Ks in 123.2 Innings

The current starting rotation for the Royals was disappointing in 2019. The staff appeared hittable and walked to many opposing batters resulting in shorter outings to expose a vulnerable bullpen early in the season.

Brad Keller finished the year on the IL, but looks like he is the only building block in the starting rotation for future competitive teams. Duffy and Lopez each finished the season strong, but the Royals may decide to trade Duffy this offseason and move Lopez back into the bullpen for the 2020 season.

Junis and Montgomery will likely make the starting rotation for 2020. If they can perform more consistently they may generate some trade value for the Royals.

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