Story begins a new chapter

Last season, Colorado Rockies' No. 11 ranked prospect Trevor Story finished the year in Triple-A Albuquerque, with a Major League shortstop still in front of him on the depth chart -- Jose Reyes. Reyes was acquired in the Troy Tulowitzki deal with Toronto, and was set to be a place holder until Story was ready. After a domestic violence incident left Reyes on the restricted list, the 23-year-old Story was given an opportunity to take the starting shortstop role for the first time. Taken with the 45^th overall pick in 2011, Story has always been seen as a solid, future Major League shortstop. Last year between Triple-A Albuquerque and Double-A New Britain, Story hit 20 home runs, with 40 doubles and 22 stolen bases. He had a strong showing this spring, finishing up with a .340 average (18-for-53), with six home runs and 13 RBIs, and was rewarded by manager Walt Weiss with the Opening Day shortstop job.

The story only gets better from there.

In his debut, Story faced 2015 NL Cy Young Award runner-up Zack Greinke, and in his second at-bat, promptly hit a three-run-home run the opposite way for the first hit of his Major League career. He wasn’t done there, and in his third at-bat in the fourth, he followed up with a 439-foot no doubter off of Greinke. Story finished his debut going 2-for-6, with four RBIs and two home runs. He became only the fifth player since 1900 to homer twice in his debut. Offense wasn’t his only tool showcased, as he also showed off the glove by robbing D-backs’ catcher Wellington Castillo of a hit with a diving grab in the seventh. In his second Major League game, Story flashed the power again, hitting a 433-foot shot off of newly acquired right-hander Shelby Miller. Finally, his fourth home run was a two-run blast that came against lefty Patrick Corbin in the third game of the season.

With the home run on Wednesday, Story became the first player in the modern era to have a home run in each of his first three Major League games. As of Thursday, Story is 4-for-14 (all four hits are home runs) with seven RBIs in three games. Now don’t expect him to keep hitting home runs at this pace, but with Coors Field playing a factor in 81 of the Rockies’ games, we might just see a 20 homer season from the rookie.

Prediction time 2016

Although predicting the outcomes of a season is often hard, it is still something that many enjoy doing. This offseason provided the hope of improvement for some, while others stood idle. It should be a very interesting 2016 season, with many new teams in the hunt to make the playoffs. Here are my predictions, division-by-division, for the 2016 season.

American League

American League East
1. Boston Red Sox
2. Toronto Blue Jays
3. New York Yankees
4. Tampa Bay Rays
5. Baltimore Orioles

American League Central
1. Kansas City Royals
2. Detroit Tigers
3. Minnesota Twins
4. Cleveland Indians
5. Chicago White Sox

American League West
1. Texas Rangers
2. Houston Astros
3. Seattle Mariners
4. Los Angeles Angels
5. Oakland Athletics

AL Wild Card
1. Toronto Blue Jays
2. Houston Astros

National League

National League East
1. New York Mets
2. Miami Marlins
3. Washington Nationals
4. Atlanta Braves
5. Philadelphia Phillies

National League Central
1. Chicago Cubs
2. Pittsburgh Pirates
3. St. Louis Cardinals
4. Milwaukee Brewers
5. Cincinnati Reds

National League West
1. San Francisco Giants
2. Los Angeles Dodgers
3. Arizona Diamondbacks
4. San Diego Padres
5. Colorado Rockies

NL Wild Card
1. Pittsburgh Pirates
2. Los Angeles Dodgers

World Series
San Francisco Giants over the Kansas City Royals

Stay tuned this week for a breakdown of each prediction, team-by-team.

A "Baby Brave" is back

The Atlanta Braves have named right fielder Jeff Francoeur to their Opening Day roster. Francoeur last suited up for the Braves on July 9, 2009, and when he signed a Minor League deal to reunite with the Braves on Feb. 24, many thought he was a longshot to make the roster because of Atlanta's outfield depth. He proved himself all throughout Spring Training, building upon a bounce-back 2015 season with the Phillies in which he hit .258, with 13 home runs and 45 RBIs after spending most of 2014 at Triple-A El Paso. Through March 30, Francoeur has hit .327 (17-for-52), with a homer and four RBIs in 20 games. He will be a valuable piece in the Braves' clubhouse and will provide some right-handed pop off the bench.

This move seemingly decreases Michael Bourn and Emilio Bonifacio's chances at cracking the roster. The left-handed-hitting Bourn is not the speedster he used to be, but is another good clubhouse presence as well as a good defensive outfielder. So far this spring, Bourn has hit .245 (12-for-49), with two triples and five RBIs. Bonifacio, whose value comes through his speed and versatility, is coming off a down year in which he was released by the Chicago White Sox. Bonifacio is hitting .260 (13-for-50), with four extra-base hits and 17 strikeouts in 21 games this spring. The Braves signed him to a club-friendly one-year, $1.25 million contract, and would seemingly be willing to eat the money if they decide to part ways.

To add to their outfield options, the Braves signed outfielder Drew Stubbs to a Minor League contract this week after he opted-out of his contract with the Texas Rangers. Over the final days of Spring Training, the Braves plan to give him a shot at making the Opening Day roster. When at full potential, Stubbs brings a power-speed combination to the game, evidenced by accruing 89 home runs and 152 stolen bases over his seven Major League seasons. He has battled inconsistencies throughout his career, often hitting for a low average, and racking up high strikeout totals, but is worth taking a chance on. Stubbs, the No. 8 overall pick in 2006 by the Reds, has posted a .300 average (12-for-40), with two home runs and three stolen bases in 19 spring games thus far. This has given the Braves the hope that Stubbs can be a productive right-handed-hitting back up option in center, to complement the left-handed-hitting Ender Inciarte.

Let the games begin

Spring Training is a fresh start for all 30 teams, who all have an equal chance at winning a ring. It is a time of hope, new beginnings and revivals. Prospects seek to prove themselves, veterans take in another year and non-roster invitees look to resurrect careers that have fallen short in recent years. For fans, it is a time to see their team's newest player in a new uniform, watch batting practice, and collect autographs. Spring Training is where the opening chapter to the year's book begins. With many teams starting play on Tuesday, here are the top three things to watch for in Spring Training this year.

1. New Cubs on the North side
Last year was a monumental year for the Chicago Cubs, who won 97 games, advanced to the NL Division Series and featured the NL Cy Young Award winner, Jake Arrieta, the NL Rookie of the Year, Kris Bryant and the NL Manager of the Year, Joe Maddon. This offseason the Cubs dug deep into their pockets, spending a total of $285 million on four players -- right fielder Jason Heyward, right-hander John Lackey, utility man Ben Zobrist and most recently center fielder Dexter Fowler. They also added Adam Warren and Rex Brothers via trade. The lineup this season looks to be even better than last year by adding Heyward and Zobrist to the likes of Anthony Rizzo and Bryant. The Cubs will also benefit from a full year of Kyle Schwarber, who hit 16 home runs in 69 games as a rookie last year. On the pitching side, the rotation is even deeper than in 2015, with Arrieta positioned in the No. 1 slot, followed by Jon Lester and Lackey. Maddon's presence has continued to be felt, and with a full year under his belt in Chicago, he can have an even greater impact on the team in 2016.

2. The Diamondbacks' new snakes and skins
Although they are a relatively new franchise, dating back to only 1998, the Arizona Diamondbacks are already on their third uniform change. This offseason they debuted the "D-backs Evolution" by unveiling eight new uniforms. They kept the Sedona red and black color schemes, but added a teal accent in their home alternate, road alternate and red alternate jerseys. They also changed the fonts in addition to adding a darker grey to the road uniforms. To better connect with their name, they added a diamond pattern to the shoulders and the back of the pant legs to represent snakeskin. On the baseball side, chief baseball officer Tony La Russa and general manager and senior vice president Dave Stewart were busy this offseason finding pieces to bolster their club, whose offense scored the second-most runs in the National League in 2015. Their notable acquisitions include 2015 NL Cy Young Award runner-up Zack Greinke, right-hander Shelby Miller, shortstop Jean Segura and right-handed-reliever Tyler Clippard. Only time will tell whether or not this team will compete in 2016, but with a cast of Paul Goldschmidt and A.J. Pollock now paired with pitchers like Greinke and Miller, the Diamondbacks certainly have put themselves in a position for success. Hopefully for the Diamondbacks, the D-Backs Evolution can usher in an age of winning, after averaging only 76 wins over the past four seasons.

3. Minor risk, Major reward
Every year, handing out a Minor League contract with an invite to big league camp seems to pay off  for at-least a handful of clubs. Last year Kelly Johnson revived his career by going back to the Atlanta Braves on a Minor League deal. He finished the year hitting .265 with 14 home runs and 47 RBIs in 335 plate appearances between the Braves and the New York Mets. Here are five non-roster invitees to look out for in 2016.

Jimmy Rollins - Chicago White Sox
The 2007 NL MVP had a down year last year with the Los Angeles Dodgers, hitting .224 with 13 home runs and 41 RBIs in 144 games. The 37-year-old shortstop can still play, and even turned down offers to be in a utility role. The White Sox have 22-year-old Tim Anderson waiting in the Minors, but starting the season with Rollins at short could give Anderson more seasoning before being tested at the Major League level.

Bronson Arroyo - Washington Nationals
The 39-year-old Arroyo was one of the most durable pitchers in the game until his 2014 season was cut short due to a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Arroyo pitched at-least 200 innings from 2005 to 2013 except for 2011 when he threw 199 innings. If he proves healthy, this could be a high-reward move for the Nationals.

Jeff Francoeur - Atlanta Braves
After enduring almost a full year in the Minors with the Padres in 2014, Francoeur made the most of his time in 2015 with the Phillies, hitting .258 with 13 home runs and 45 RBIs. Though he most likely won't command a starting job in Atlanta, he could be valuable in a platoon role, as well as in the clubhouse. Francoeur was tops in the Majors off the bench last year going 11-for-30, and was second with 11 RBIs. Atlanta can definitely find a spot for a former "Baby Brave."

Domonic Brown - Toronto Blue Jays
A career year in 2013 led many to believe that the left-handed-hitting Brown would be a key piece in the Phillies team of the future, but after struggling mightily the past two years, Brown found himself at Triple-A Lehigh Valley for most of 2015. Although he might not hit for a high average, Brown still has some pop in his bat, and could be an asset in a platoon role in Toronto.

Ricky Romero - San Francisco Giants
After a breakout 2011 season where he posted 15 wins and a 2.92 ERA in 225 innings, the five-year $30.1 million extension that Romero signed in 2010 was looking like a steal for the Blue Jays. Romero, though, fell off of the map in 2013 after being demoted to Class-A Dunedin. He hasn't reached the Majors since 2013, but could be a diamond-in-the-rough for the Giants.

Evaluating the top five free agent starting pitcher deals of the offseason

Pitching around baseball is at a premium, and many starting pitchers are netting lucrative deals from clubs looking to add established arms. This offseason, a plethora of starting pitchers hit the open market and so far, teams have focused on signing a top-of-the-rotation type. Here is a look at the five biggest contracts, in terms of average annual value, given to starting pitchers this offseason.

 Zack Greinke -- $206.5 million over six years with the Arizona Diamondbacks -- $34.4 million AAV

After signing with the Dodgers in 2012 on a six-year, $147 million contract with an opt-out clause, many speculated that Greinke would exercise his opt-out at the end of 2015. Greinke did exactly that, and struck it rich. The two contracts combined have Greinke earning $282.5 million over nine seasons. He was helped by his stellar 2015 in which he posted a 19-3 record, 200 strikeouts and a 1.66 ERA, the lowest ERA for a starting pitcher since Hall of Famer Greg Maddux's 1.63 ERA in 1995. The 2009 American League Cy Young Award Winner finished second only to Chicago's Jake Arrieta in the 2015 National League Cy Young Award voting. Over the last four seasons, Greinke has been a model of consistency, winning at least 15 games in the past four seasons, and accruing at least 200 innings and 200 strikeouts in three of the last four. Although the Diamondbacks paid a lot for the right-hander, they now have a bona fide ace as well as a mentor to righty Shelby Miller and lefty Patrick Corbin.

David Price -- $217 million over seven years with the Boston Red Sox -- $31 million AAV

Price is no stranger to the American League East, having pitched parts of seven seasons there with the Rays and the Blue Jays. He has a career record of 104-56 and a career ERA of 3.09. Of his seven full seasons, Price has won at least 10 games in all seven, and has made 31 or more starts in five of the seven. The 2012 American League Cy Young Award winner finished second to Dallas Keuchel in the 2015 AL Cy Young voting while splitting the season between Detroit and Toronto. Price will bolster a Red Sox rotation that struggled mightily in 2015, as they posted the third worst starter's ERA in the AL at 4.39. He will provide the Sox with an ace, which was just what they lacked as their rotation featured No. 3 starters such as Rick Porcello and Joe Kelly. The Red Sox, having previously acquired closer Craig Kimbrel from the Padres to bolster the bullpen, have now made the move needed to solidify their rotation to be able to contend in 2016.

Johnny Cueto -- $130 million over five years with the San Francisco Giants -- $26 million AAV

After an outstanding 2014 in which he went 20-9 with a 2.25 ERA, Cueto took a step back in 2015, finishing with a record of 11-13 with a 3.44 ERA. His numbers with the Reds were very good, as he posted a 2.62 ERA in 19 starts, but they dropped off with the Royals, as he posted a 4.76 ERA in 13 starts. Moving back to the National League will help Cueto, especially when making his home starts at the spacious AT&T Park. Over his career, Cueto has accrued a 96-70 record with an ERA of 3.30. What Cueto provides for the Giants is innings. Besides Madison Bumgarner, the Giants have not had a starting pitcher throw 200 innings since Matt Cain did so in 2012. Cueto has posted more than 200 innings in three of the past four years. With the D-backs signing Greinke and acquiring Miller in a trade with the Atlanta Braves, signing Cueto was the perfect move for the Giants to respond.

Jordan Zimmermann -- $110 million over five years with the Detroit Tigers -- $22 million AAV

Zimmermann has been a model of durability over the past four seasons, posting at least 195 innings and 12 wins a season in that span. He owns a career record of 70-50 with a 3.32 ERA. The 29-year-old righty went 13-10 with a 3.66 ERA in 2015 and reached the 200 strikeout plateau for the first time in his career. The Tigers, having traded David Price and having lost Max Scherzer to free agency over the past year, have solidified their rotation with this move, as their top three will consist of Justin Verlander, Zimmermann and Anibal Sanchez.

Jeff Samardzija -- $90 million over five years with the San Francisco Giants -- $18 million AAV

Samardzija had a rough 2015, posting the third worst ERA in the Majors at 4.96. This though, was due to a mechanics breakdown in addition to an overuse of the cutter. After addressing the issues, Samardzija had showings of his old self in his last two starts of the season, which included a complete game one-hitter against the Tigers. Samardzija will never be a low ERA guy, nor an ace, but he brings tremendous value due to his competitiveness on the mound, character and the ability to eat innings. San Francisco is a perfect landing spot for the veteran righty, and just like with Cueto, Samardzija will benefit from pitching at AT&T Park.

Don't count the Atlanta Braves out

The Atlanta Braves endured a miserable 2015 season that included inconsistencies from young players, trades of fan favorites and numerous injuries. The front office of the Braves -- led by general manager John Coppolella, team president John Schuerholz and president of baseball operations John Hart -- has shifted the team into a rebuilding mode with eyes on contending when SunTrust Park opens in 2017.

Over the past 13 months, the Braves' front office has been busy piecing together trades to net big prospect returns. In this time, they have acquired 12 of their top 17 prospects (according to MLB.com) via trade. Although many fans are frustrated with the rebuilding process, the Braves have a very bright future ahead of them, as they are looking to bring back the formula of success that worked so well through the 1990s and early 2000s: stockpile young arms.

Here is a look at the Braves' offseason moves, as well as prospects to watch in 2016.


Although the Braves have traded some of the fan favorites over the past year, these deals were constructed to build around young talent, especially young arms. Last November, the Braves traded right fielder Jason Heyward and right-hander Jordan Walden to the Cardinals for righty Shelby Miller and righty Tyrell Jenkins. Although the move was not popular with some at first, there was a lot of value in acquiring a Major League starter who had four years of control and a Minor League arm who was still developing, in exchange for an outfielder who was one year away from hitting the open market, and an oft-injured reliever. Miller would go on to have a terrific 2015 campaign, although his 6-17 win-loss record didn't say so.

Recently, trade rumors swirled around the 25-year-old Miller, but Coppolella was firm on his word that he wanted impact talent in return. The Braves would end up striking a deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, sending Miller and left-hander Gabe Speier to the D-backs in exchange for shortstop Dansby Swanson, righty Aaron Blair and outfielder Ender Inciarte.

Swanson, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 MLB First-Year Player Draft, is from Kennesaw, Georgia, and attended Marietta High School. He has tremendous upside as well as makeup, and is ranked No. 10 overall on MLB.com's Top 100 Prospects list.

Blair is also in the Top 100 Prospects, ranked at No. 61 overall. He projects to be a middle-of-the-rotation starter and should be seen in Atlanta's rotation sometime this year.

Inciarte is a 25-year-old outfielder who can hit for contact as well as bring speed to the basepaths. He is also a premium defender who can play all three outfield spots. 2015 was a breakout year for Inciarte, as he hit .303 with 27 doubles and 21 stolen bases in only his second year in the Majors.

Overall, this trade was set up by dealing Heyward to the Cardinals last year. If the Braves didn't trade Heyward, they would've only received the 35th overall pick in the 2016 Draft, nothing compared to the haul that they received from the Diamondbacks in addition to Jenkins.


Andrelton Simmons has been the best defensive shortstop in the game over the past three-plus years. He had become a fan favorite in Atlanta, and often appeared on highlight shows dazzling with his defensive wizardry. Simmons, though, is below average in the offense department, posting a combined 1.4 offensive WAR over the past two seasons. The Braves, looking to add pitching, saw this as an opportunity to sell high on Simmons' defense, and they were able to acquire the No. 19 overall prospect in baseball (according to MLB.com), Sean Newcomb, a future middle-of-the-rotation starter in Chris Ellis and veteran shortstop Erick Aybar in exchange for Simmons and Minor League catcher Jose Briceno.

Newcomb, a 6-foot-5, 22-year-old lefty, immediately became the Braves' No. 1 prospect. Newcomb should be a future No. 1 starter for the Braves, and is projected to be in the Majors by 2017.

Ellis, a third-round pick in 2014 out of Mississippi, is another quality arm that should also be ready by 2017.

Aybar, who turns 32 on Jan. 14, posted an oWAR of 6.7 over the past two years, and will provide an upgrade offensively over Simmons. Given time, this trade could be one of the most influential for the Braves moving forward.


So far, the 2016 Braves seem to be shaping up to be better than the 2015 version. Coppolella has focused on adding even more of a veteran presence to the squad as well as adding to the bullpen, which ranked 29th in the Majors in bullpen ERA (4.69) in 2015. In the bullpen, the Braves have added Jose Ramirez (trade with Mariners), Jim Johnson, David Carpenter and Ian Krol.

Ramirez, 25 years old, can dial it up to 100 mph, but has lacked consistency so far in his career. In 16 career Major League games with the Yankees and Mariners, he is 1-2 with an 8.66 ERA and 15 strikeouts compared to 17 walks. If he can harness his stuff, Ramirez can be a great piece to the bullpen.

Johnson, who signed a one-year deal last year with the Braves, is back after a mid-season trade with the Dodgers. Last year in 49 games with the Braves, Johnson went 2-3 with a 2.25 ERA, and will benefit by reuniting with pitching coach Roger McDowell.

Carpenter, who signed a Minor League contract with an invite to spring training, posted a 2.63 ERA over 126 2/3 innings with the Braves over 2013 and 2014, and could be just the low-risk, high-reward deal the Braves need.

Krol was acquired from the Tigers in the deal that sent Cameron Maybin to Detroit. The 24-year-old lefty has posted a 4-4 record with a 4.91 ERA in 88 innings in his career. Although still unproven, Krol can add depth to a bullpen that struggled in 2015. With Jason Grilli and Shae Simmons coming back from injuries, the Braves will look to add a few more mid-tier pieces to round out the bullpen.

The Braves lacked veteran presence in the rotation in 2015, and to fill that void, they signed veteran righty Bud Norris to a low-risk $2.5 million contract. This could turn out to be very beneficial to the Braves if Norris can bounce back to his 2014 form that saw him win 15 games with the Orioles.


On the position player side, the Braves have brought back veteran catcher A.J. Pierzynski on a one-year deal to help continue the growth of Christian Bethancourt. In 113 games in 2015, Pierzynski hit .300, with nine home runs and 49 RBIs after taking the starting catching position from Bethancourt early in the season.

For the bench, Georgia native, and former first-round pick Gordon Beckham has signed a one-year deal with the Braves to provide defensive help all around the infield. Beckham had a .209 average, 6 home runs and 20 RBIs for the White Sox in 2015. Although he hasn't produced as many would've liked, a change of scenery could be beneficial to the 29-year-old utility man.

The Braves have also signed catcher Tyler Flowers, who is no stranger to the Braves organization, as they drafted him in the 33rd round in 2005. Flowers attended Blessed Trinity Catholic High School in Roswell, Georgia, and like Beckham, he is a Georgia native who was enticed by the opportunity to play at home. In 2015, Flowers posted a .239 average with 9 home runs and 39 RBIs in 331 at-bats with the White Sox. He has been praised for his game-calling abilities, his relationships with pitchers and his pitch-framing skills. The right-handed-hitting Flowers will be a perfect fit to platoon with the left-handed-hitting Pierzynski.


Prospects are just what their name suggests -- prospects. They are not finished products, but they have the potential to become something great. The Braves have done a great job of restocking a farm system that was barren under former GM Frank Wren. Here's a look at four Braves prospects who could make their debut in the 2016 season.

RHP - Blair - ETA 2016 - Braves' No. 4 overall prospect
Blair can reach 95 mph with his fastball and has two quality secondary pitches. In 2015, he posted a 13-5 record with a 2.92 ERA in 26 games, 25 of them being starts, between Double-A Mobile and Triple-A Reno. He also posted a 120/50 K/BB ratio. Blair is deemed very close to being Major League ready, and he should be in the rotation sometime during the 2016 campaign.

RHP Jenkins - ETA 2016 - Braves' No. 7 overall prospect
Jenkins thrived in 2015 with the Braves, posting an 8-9 record with a 3.19 ERA in 25 starts between Double-A Mississippi, and Triple-A Gwinnett. At 23, Jenkins has bounced back nicely from shoulder surgery in 2013, and will only continue to get better as he continues to get innings under his belt. Jenkins will have to improve his command if he wants to stay in the big leagues, as evident by his 88/61 K/BB ratio. Overall, he is a talented young arm who will be a nice middle-of-the-rotation type arm in the future.

3B Rio Ruiz - ETA 2016 - Braves' No. 12 overall prospect
Ruiz was acquired by the Braves in the Evan Gattis deal with the Astros last January, and spent his first year in Double-A in 2015. Although he struggled at times (.233/.333/.657), Ruiz still showed he can get on base and use the whole field. As he continues to develop, Ruiz should fit nicely in the Braves' lineup, and with another Spring Training with the Braves this spring, he should be more consistent in 2016.

OF Mallex Smith - ETA 2016 - Braves' No. 17 overall prospect
Smith had a terrific 2015 campaign with the Braves after coming over from the Padres as part of the Justin Upton deal. Between Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Gwinnett, Smith had an average of .306 with a .373 OBP and was 57-for-70 in stolen bases. It was the first season that Smith had played above Single-A, and he showed tremendous growth, as well as provided the Braves with a reason to believe he could take over center field at some point in 2016.


The Braves are not finished making moves, as they are still looking to add a few bullpen pieces and possibly another veteran starter. Overall, they are putting together a pretty good club, even with the future in mind, and they are definitely aiming to win more than 67 games in 2016. The Braves aren't too far away from contenting either, and although it may take a season or two to get there, it should definitely be worth the wait as a copious amount of talent is on the rise in Atlanta.

Party like it's 1985 -- A recap of what turned it around for the Royals' franchise

The Kansas City Royals have had an amazing two seasons, but it all started with player development, key trades and having a plan for their roster construction. General manager Dayton Moore has done a great job of putting this team together to be a cohesive unit. He has also built it under the principles of putting the ball in play, manufacturing runs, and playing good defense. Here is a look back at the timeline of the Royals since 2010.

It all started on Dec. 19, 2010. The Royals, seeking young talent while an asset was at its peak, dealt 2009 American League Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke and shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt to the Brewers for Alcides Escobar, Lorenzo Cain, Jake Odorizzi, and Jeremy Jeffress. At the time, Escobar, had just completed his first full season with the Brewers at age 23. Cain, 24, had also gotten some time with the Brew Crew, playing in 43 games. Odorizzi, 20, was considered as one of the top pitching prospects in the game, and was the key chip in the deal. Jeffress, the former first-rounder, and only 23, had a blazing fastball and loads of potential as well. This was the deal that forever altered the course for the Kansas City Royals, and it was a trade that would ultimately set them up for years to come.

The next big step for the Royals took place in 2011, with Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas and Salvador Perez all making their Major League debuts. Third baseman turned left fielder Alex Gordon also had a breakout year, finally living up to the hype that garnered him comparisons to Royals great George Brett. Gordon went on to hit .303 with 23 home runs and 87 RBIs while being named a Gold Glover, an award he would win for the next three years. Even with all of the young talent on the team, the Royals would still lose 91 games.

The following season was yet another growing year. After a terrific rookie campaign that saw him hit .293 with 19 home runs in 523 at-bats, Hosmer struggled in 2012, hitting only .232. Moustakas enjoyed some success, hitting 20 home runs and 34 doubles, but his average was  just .242. Cain showed some promise on the basepaths and in center field in 61 games, and Perez hit .301 in 76 games. Although there were some bumps in the road in 2012, players continued to develop under manager Ned Yost.

It would be the offseason of 2012 that would yield another franchise-changing move. The Royals, needing a bulldog at the top of the rotation, dealt top prospect Wil Myers, pitchers Odorizzi and Mike Montgomery, and third baseman Patrick Leonard to the Rays in exchange for James Shields and Wade Davis.

The Royals took a big step in the right direction in 2013. They won 86 games, finishing third in the AL Central behind the Tigers and Indians. Shields brought exactly what Kansas City asked for, a change of mentality of the whole staff. Shields emphasized reaching 1,000 innings between the starters, and they came close. Between Shields (228 2/3), Guthrie (211 2/3), Santana (211) and Davis (125 1/3), the Royals staff combined for 776 2/3 innings, only 23 1/3 away from the four main starters each pitching an average of 200. Hosmer bounced back, hitting .302, with 17 home runs while setting career bests in most offensive categories. Perez hit .292 in 138 games, while earning his first Gold Glove and All-Star nod. Moustakas, though, didn't have the same success as these other two, hitting .233 with only 12 home runs and 42 RBIs. Escobar also had a down year, but was a perfect 22-22 in the stolen base department. The Royals were left with hope and a desire to make it further after being left out of the postseason party despite winning 86 games.

The Royals featured a new level of confidence in 2014. Shields once again led the staff with 227 innings pitched, and the rotation this year would post 949 innings as a staff. The bullpen became the three-headed monster of Holland, Davis and Kelvin Herrera, with many saying, "Just get to the sixth with the lead." Greg Holland posted a 1.44 ERA while locking down 46 saves in 48 chances, and striking out 90 in 62 1/3 innings. Davis, moved to the bullpen in 2014, and he found immediate success, being able to throw harder over a short period of time. Davis posted a 1.00 ERA and struck 109 batters in 72 innings. Herrera also dazzled, posting an ERA of 1.41. On the hitting side, the Royals thrived with a contact approach. The Royals were last in baseball in home runs, but had the fewest strikeouts, 985, in the league. Cain had a breakout season as he hit .301 and stole 28 bases. Escobar also enjoyed a breakout campaign, hitting .285 with 31 stolen bases. Hosmer had a bit of a down year, but still drove in 58 runs. The Royals would sneak into the AL Wild Card Game, defeating the A's, and would eventually come within 90 feet of scoring the tying run in the ninth inning of Game 7 of the World Series against the Giants.

The Royals were just happy to be in the 2014 World Series, but had their eyes on the ultimate prize in 2015. The Royals would get off to their best 81-game record, 48-33, since 1980. They would go on to win the division by 12 games, winning 95 in the regular season. The playoffs is where they really broke out. Seven times, the Royals came back from a deficit of multiple runs to win the game. They were five outs away from elimination in Game 4 of the AL Division Series in Houston, but refused to back down. In the World Series, they trailed in the eighth or later three times, but would win those three, becoming the only team ever to do so. They did a great job of sticking to their approach at the plate, consistently put the ball in play, even against Matt Harvey and Jacob deGrom.

When you look at the base of the Royals' roster, it starts with their homegrown talent. Of the players on the World Series roster, 12 are homegrown, including Perez, Christian Colon, Hosmer, Moustakas, Raul Mondesi, Jarrod Dyson, Gordon, Cain, Danny Duffy, Herrera, Luke Hochevar and Yordano Ventura. That doesn't include Holland (DL) and Terrence Gore (left off roster).

The trade on Dec. 19, 2010 will be forever remembered as the one that helped the Royals set up for success. Without that trade, the Royals wouldn't have had their center-fielder (Cain), their shortstop (Escobar) or their closer (Davis), all of whom had a big impact on the Royals' success.

The Royals, being a small-market team, can't afford to make mistakes in player development, and they have made the most of their opportunities. The Royals also had a plan, one that defies modern baseball thinking: put the ball in play. Their whole roster was built this way, and teams should take note. It's one thing to strike out here and there, but when you can't put the ball in play, your chances for success decrease. Myers was so highly regarded, but struck out too much for their liking, so they dealt him for other key pieces.

The Royals have brought back a lost brand of baseball, putting the ball in play, one that is refreshing to watch, and one that ultimately led them to becoming 2015 World Series Champions.