MLB season preview: Can the Royals silence the doubters again?

Editor’s Note: With the arrival of baseball season we’re previewing each MLB team, from worst to best. We’ll look at their key offseason moves, projected lineup, best and worst possible outcomes plus examine the team’s fantasy implications with the help of friends from Roto Arcade. Our daily series continues with No. 3: The Kansas City Royals.

The Royals have their doubters, but then again, they’re used to that by now.

(AP) The World Series champs return much of their core from last season — except for a couple trade-deadline rentals who were never going to stick around — but the projections and predictions aren’t being too kind to them. One has them finishing 77-85, another has them finishing last in the AL Central. Same thing happened after their 2014 run to the World Series.

So the Royals are basically the Rodney Dangerfield of baseball. No respect.

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Yes, Johnny Cueto and Ben Zobrist are gone, but the core that’s taken these Royals to back-to-back World Series is still in place. That’s Lorenzo Cain, Eric Hosmer, Salvador Perez, Mike Moustakas and that fear-inducing bullpen now led by Wade Davis.

There might be sexier picks to make in the AL Central or the American League as a hole. But it also seems shortsighted to bet against a Royals team that has made a habit out of proving its doubters wrong. (Mike Oz)

Key additions: Ian Kennedy, Joakim Soria

Key subtractions: Johnny Cueto, Ben Zobrist, Ryan Madson

The World Series champs lost some talent in the offseason, but retained their biggest star. Alex Gordon’s return came as a surprise to many, but the team found a way to get it done. Other than that, Kennedy was their only add. He’s coming off a rough year in which he gave up 31 home runs, but a move to Kauffman Stadium should help. Losing Cueto, Zobrist and Madson hurt, but each came with flaws. Cueto wasn’t particularly good down the stretch, Zobrist is getting old and Madson hadn’t been healthy for years. The team may be worse on paper, but the strong core is still intact. (Chris Cwik)

Ian Kennedy: Many scoffed at Kennedy’s five-year, $70 million contract, and had plenty of reason to do so. The 31-year-old has been mostly average during his career, and isn’t coming off a great season with the Padres.

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His 4.28 ERA is nothing to write home about, and he gave up an astounding 31 home runs. That’s not a fluke either. Kennedy has always had trouble with the long ball. That could change now that he’s in Kauffman Stadium, though.

On top of that, the Royals have done a good job getting the most out of their pitchers lately. If they can do for Kennedy what they’ve done for Edinson Volquez and Chris Young, maybe fans will start to understand why they paid a steep price to bring him in. (Cwik)

Lineup:
1. Alcides Escobar, SS (.257/.293/.320, 76 R, 3 HR, 47 RBI, 17 SB)
2. Mike Moustakas, 3B (.284/.348/.470, 73 R, 22 HR, 82 RBI)
3. Lorenzo Cain, OF (.307/.361/.477, 101 R, 16 HR, 72 RBI, 28 SB)
4. Eric Hosmer, 1B (.297/.363/.459, 98 R, 18 HR, 93 RBI)
5. Kendrys Morales, DH (.290/.362/.485, 81 R, 22 HR, 106 RBI)
6. Salvador Perez, C (.260/.280/.426, 52 R, 21 HR, 70 RBI)
7. Alex Gordon, OF (.271/.377/.432, 40 R, 13 HR, 48 RBI)
8. Jarrod Dyson, OF (.250/.311/.380, 31 R, 2 HR, 18 RBI, 26 SB)
9. Omar Infante, 2B (.220/.234/.318, 39 R, 2 HR, 44 RBI)

Rotation:
1. Edinson Volquez (13-9, 3.55 ERA, 200.1 IP, 155 K)
2. Yordano Ventura (13-8, 4.08 ERA, 163.1 IP, 156 K)
3. Ian Kennedy (9-15, 4.28 ERA, 168.1 IP 174 K)
4. Chris Young (11-6, 3.06 ERA, 123.1 IP, 83 K)
5. Kris Medlen (6-2, 4.01 ERA, 58.1 IP, 40 K)

— compiled by Kyle Ringo

The Royals are a battled-tested and confident group. Did we mention resilient? Though some regression is likely, there’s no reason to count them out yet. Another World Series would be a lot to ask, but the road there could easily go through Kansas City. (Mark Townsend)

The Royals lost some depth in the offseason, while the division around them got a lot deeper. That will create some new challenges, but at worst they should hang around 85 wins and compete for a playoff spot. (Townsend)

What should we do with Jarrod Dyson? He’s currently dealing with an oblique injury that will likely result in him starting the year on the disabled list. But the hope is Dyson misses just the first two weeks, and the injury has made his already low ADP even lower (246.3). He’s averaged 31.5 steals in just 241.3 at bats over the past four seasons and has a career .320 OBP. Billy Hamilton had a .274 OBP last year despite playing in a much more favorable hitter’s park. Hamilton is also dealing with an ongoing shoulder injury and will cost a much higher draft pick.

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Dyson is a terrific defensive player and is slated to be Kansas City’s everyday right fielder once he returns to action. Given the opportunity to be a regular for the first time in his career, there’s 65-steal upside here, which is especially valuable with stolen bases down across the league. Dyson has been overlooked in most fantasy leagues, but few (if any) players drafted so late will impact a category like he can in 2016. (Dalton Del Don)

We saw how much fun Eric Hosmer had celebrating the Royals’ World Series title this offseason, so it’s no surprise he’s a fun follow on social media. You can find Kansas City’s first baseman on Twitter @TheRealHos35 and his Instagram handle is Hosmer305, a nod to his hometown of Miami. Once you’re there, you’ll find plenty of pictures of Hosmer flashing his trademark smile and having a good time. There’s no reason to expect that to stop this season, either, so get on the Hos train and look out below. (Israel Fehr)

You could be the biggest Royals hater in the land and it would impossible to root against Salvador Perez. He’s not only one of baseball’s most durable catchers (he’s played in more than 300 games the past two seasons) but he might also be having the most fun. For example, his exploits on Instagram, in which he pesters teammate/BFF Lorenzo Cain, are great.

If you, somehow, are the person who doesn’t like Salvy. Please let us know. You’re the lost unicorn. (Mike Oz)