At least one outside observer believes the Kansas City Royals are on the right track with their offseason plan so far. The acquisitions of Jonathan Sanchez and Bruce Chen for the Royals starting rotation is helping to stabilize the weakest link on a team that's quickly developing due to a burgeoning farm system. And when the pieces begin to come together, the Royals will inevitably rise from the basement of the AL Central. That means someone else will have to occupy that role.
"Whether or not the Royals finally rise into contention," writes John Lowe. "they could cause trouble this coming season for anyone who has to face Chen and Sanchez in the same series, or who has to face the heart of the Kansas City order late in a close game. The Royals always are tough on the Tigers; now they might be tough on many other teams, too."
While most Royals fans believe the team still needs a frontline starting pitcher, apparently the rival's perspective is that KC is a force to be reckoned with as is. The Royals certainly hope so.