It’s amazing how the outlook of a franchise can change in a span of just a couple of years.
That’s why it is of vital importance to excel in every aspect of front office management: scouting talent, drafting, trading, spotting international prospects, signing the right free agents, and developing your own players.
You can say that has happened to the Kansas City Royals.
They drafted star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. in 2019 and had him debut in 2022.
They traded for pitcher Cole Ragans, whose career was stagnant in the Texas Rangers, and he turned into an ace in limited time in Kansas City.
Those are just two examples of how the Royals found two legitimate stars.
One is the face of the franchise, and the other is the ace of the staff.
The latter was full of praise about Witt in a recent appearance on Ben Verlander’s podcast.
Full Interview ➡ https://t.co/zBVSPPY7Xp pic.twitter.com/6XzHm1DEvx
“(Witt) is one of the most special players I’ve seen. He is on every aspect: on the bases, at the batter’s box, and in the field. He puts in the work every day behind the scenes. He is the perfect guy to build around for the future,” Ragans stated.
That’s exactly what the Royals intend to do, signing Witt to an 11-year, $288.7 million deal that could be a bit shorter or even longer depending on certain variables.
Witt just hit 30 home runs and stole 49 bases with a .813 OPS in 2023, while Ragans posted an incredible 2.64 ERA in 71.2 frames after coming over from Texas.
Kansas City hopes to build around those two for a long time.