When he forgets about that $100MM contract he wants after this season.

1. Alcides Escobar (R) SS
2. Eric Hosmer (L) 1B
3. Billy Butler (R) DH
4. Alex Gordon (L) LF
5. Salvador Perez (R) C
6. Raul Ibanez (L) RF
7. Omar Infante (R) 2B
8. Mike Moustakas (L) 3B
9. Jarrod Dyson (L) CF

Butler, Shields, Hochevar and Aoki gone we could clear close to 29 million from payroll next season. We would have the cash to go get a bat for right field and probably another starter.

What about Davis? I don't know about paying 5 million for a setup guy as good as he's been.

One of Holland or Davis is gone next year.

From ESPN Insider.... Bowden I think.

Kansas City Royals

Why? The Royals are last in the AL Central in runs scored and have had very little offensive production from right fielder Norichika Aoki, who has yet to hit a home run and has a .326 OBP. Rios hasn't hit for much power either (just three homers), but he's hitting .304 and has more upside -- and a better track record -- than Aoki, who would be better off as a fourth outfielder.

Who? The Rangers should be satisfied by getting approximately $6 million off the books for the rest of the season, as well as the $1 million buyout on Rios' 2015 team option ($13.5 million). They'll expect one or two mid-level type prospects in return, and the Royals could offer left-hander Sam Selman and catcher Zane Evans.

Will it happen? The Royals must improve their offensive production from right field, and the market is not flooded with solid options. I would give it about a 30 percent chance that it happens.

This is in regards to getting Alex Rios, for those who didn't know.

This tweet is referring to Art Stewart's new book, "the art of scouting":

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>2) Stewart says Royals had a deal with Deion Sanders to play baseball out of HS. Fell through when he got a Corvette to go to FSU.</p>&mdash; JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) <a href="https://twitter.com/jjcoop36/statuses/484334822823718912">July 2, 2014</a></blockquote>
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The Royals did draft him out of high school, but he didn't sign. Now we know why.

They have about $75 million committed in salary due to bumps in contracts and bumps in arbitration... so if they're staying at the same payroll, probably not as much cash as you might think.

If they can get Rios for that price, that's great. I'd rather see them nab Marlon Byrd, whose price should be similar. But either is a nice upgrade in RF over the current situation, at least offensively.

Dumb bastards should have went after Rios last year like I suggested.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Alex Gordon has his bags packed. He&#39;s headed to Omaha.</p>&mdash; Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) <a href="https://twitter.com/McCulloughStar/statuses/484434886560739328">July 2, 2014</a></blockquote>
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I assume it's because the Royals have a day off and his family is in Omaha?

Nah, he went 0/4 with a walk today. We can't put up with that kind of uselessness.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>(to spend the Fourth of July with his family)</p>&mdash; Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) <a href="https://twitter.com/McCulloughStar/statuses/484435160931135488">July 2, 2014</a></blockquote>
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