I'm pretty sure they plan for Duffy to eventually take that spot in the rotation. Chen's contract has a major incentive included if he makes more than 15 starts, and they've talked a lot about the flexibility he gives them.

All just reads to me like they're planning for Chen to be part of the rotation early and then move out as the season goes on.

I know it's just spring training, but Vargas is looking good at the mound today. 3-0 Royals over the Padres.

Not just today, he has looked pretty good all ST. Hope he can carry that over to the season.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Kyle Blanks boomed a 2-run HR off Vargas. Carlos Peguero opted not to move from his post in LF on that one. Second HR allowed this IP.</p>&mdash; Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) <a href="https://twitter.com/McCulloughStar/statuses/445314478565892096">March 16, 2014</a></blockquote>
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As a side note, I put the over under at 3 for the number of years Andy McCullough lasts at the Star before a bigger paper picks him up. He's way too good to last long in KC.

I jinxed it. :(

I'll take the under assuming you don't mean a literal paper. Grantland or ESPN would be my real guesses. As Poz showed, there is no need to move to a bigger market to get noticed..

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Royals&amp;src=hash">#Royals</a> baseball hits the air tonight at 7:30 on FOX Sports Kansas City: Yordano Ventura and the <a href="https://twitter.com/Royals">@Royals</a> vs. Texas. <a href="http://t.co/Qq07YxxGgU">pic.twitter.com/Qq07YxxGgU</a></p>&mdash; FOX Sports KC (@FSKansasCity) <a href="https://twitter.com/FSKansasCity/statuses/445561529681723393">March 17, 2014</a></blockquote>
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I know it's spring and offensive numbers should be seriously looked at, but is there anything to Maxwell's ST figures so far? Could he take a small jump?

Nice! :thumb:

Iglesias will be out at least 4 months and might miss the whole season. Detroit has decided not to pursue Stephen Drew to replace him, they'll either work out a trade or just go with whoever their backup is.

According to Rosenthal, we almost traded Hochevar for Mark Ellis last year.

:doh!:

That might have been enough to get KC into the postseason last year.

He was a 3 WAR player. Probably enough to take KC to 90-91 wins.

It apparently fell apart on their end, not ours.