Kansas City Royals news: The Tigers add a big free agent arm

Mike Petriello at MLB has a great article about how moving the fences at the K may help the Royals.

Consider this: That’s approximately four homers more per season for Perez over the past half-decade. He’s played the equivalent of 12 full seasons, counting partial years across his 14-year career. Were you to apply four homers to each of those 12 seasons – and you shouldn’t, really, because he’s a player who has aged and changed over time, but bear with us here – that’s 48 more.

In reality, the career gap between Perez’s 132 home-field homers and 171 road dingers is 39, which isn’t all that far off from the roughly estimated missing 48. Perez has 303 career homers as it is, 14 behind George Brett for the franchise record. But playing with these dimensions all along, he might have already cracked the 350 mark, or at least be close to doing so.

Michael Baumann at Fangraphs writes about what Jac Caglianone needs to do in his second MLB season.

Caglianone was so awful in his first taste of major league action — and so unbelievably dominant at every step before then — that I wouldn’t ask him to make dramatic changes to his swing or approach based on a third of a season. The batted ball numbers being what they were, I’d give him some rope and see how much of the ugliness of last year off-gasses on its own.

But if that doesn’t happen, the Royals will still be at least one big bat away from being able to make a run. Whether Caglianone can put his rookie year behind him — and to what extent — could end up swinging the AL Central race.

Jaylon Thompson writes about the strengths and weaknesses of the infield.

However, second base is the position to watch. The Royals expect Jonathan India to draw the bulk of the playing time at the keystone spot. He is a tenured veteran but was inconsistent during his first season with the Royals.

India admitted he didn’t feel comfortable in his new environment. He needed time to adjust to the Royals, Kauffman Stadium and his new situation. India also battled through nagging injuries that sapped his effectiveness.

The Royals pondered whether to non-tender India this offseason. They ultimately decided to keep him and bank on a resurgent 2026 campaign. Now, India will operate alongside teammate Michael Massey at second base.

Kevin O’Brien at Royals Keep lists five Royals sleeper pitching prospects to watch.

The Tigers sign Framber Valdez to a three-year, $115 million deal.

Outfielder Miguel Andujar signs a one-year, $4 million contract with the Padres.

The Red Sox sign Isaiah Kiner-Falefa to a one-year, $6 million deal.

Pittsburgh signs pitcher Mike Clevinger to a minor league deal.

Zac Gallen would love to return to the Diamondbacks.

Former Diamondbacks outfielder David Peralta retires.

The Pirates are interested in Marcell Ozuna.

Who are the favorites heading into the World Baseball Classic?

The family of late Padres owner Peter Seidler works out a partial agreement on ownership of the team.

Frank Thomas is mad at the White Sox for omitting him from a Black History Month social media post.

Detroit Tigers World Series hero Mickey Lolich dies at age 85.