KC Royals: Why Cheslor Cuthbert Will Replace Terrance Gore

The KC Royals optioned outfielder and pinch running specialist Terrance Gore to NW Arkansas on Wednesday. I’m predicting Cheslor Cuthbert will get the call to Kansas City.

Fellow FanSided site KC Kingdom posted an excellent rundown of all the possible players the Kansas City Royals could choose to bring to the big club in place of Terrance Gore. Scott Dillon’s 10-part slide show made a similar article I planned to write on Thursday morning simply redundant. So instead, I decided to “call my shot” along with my reasons why I think 23-year-old AAA prospect Cuthbert will get the call.

I want to make clear that I don’t have an “source”, or some other form of inside knowledge, about what the Royals brain trust intends to do. I’m simply applying deduction to make a guess. If you don’t like such a speculative story,  then this piece isn’t for you.

As for me, I like puzzling through situations like this. So, with no further ado, let’s begin:

We’re all presuming, of course, that Gore’s replacement will come from the KC Royals minor-league system. That’s not necessarily the case. Kansas City Royals general manager Dayton Moore could be adding a free-agent such as Alex Rios (which I doubt), or could have agreed to a trade.

While possible, I don’t see either type of move as likely. I agree that Gore’s replacement will come from the system. Trades rarely come this early in the season. And about the only free agent I’d like the KC Royals to sign would be Tim Lincecum, and he’s holding his showcase later today.

I somehow doubt the Kansas City Royals would clear roster space for Lincecum before even seeing him pitch.

Hence we come to my first reason:

Next: Reason No. 1