Royals Report: 5 Things About Bomb-Fest In Chicago

2) Cheslor Cuthbert Needs To Start Producing

Cheslor Cuthbert plays good defense at third base and was crushing the ball at Omaha. He appears to have the bat speed to succeed at the plate, but his production isn’t bearing that out. So far, Cuthbert is slashing .252/.273/.346 for an OPS of .619.

More from Kings of Kauffman

• KC Royals Rumors: Is a monster move in the cards?
• KC Royals Free Agent Hunt: 3 Tampa Bay pitchers
• Grading the 2022 KC Royals: The $25 million man
• KC Royals Winter Meetings Tracker: Expectations met
• KC Royals Winter Meetings Tracker: Day 3 update

That’s just not good.

Cuthbert only has 50 at bats this season, and 153 in his major-league career. He’s still adjusting to a full-time role and could be suffering from small sample size. And, yes, both KC Royals manager Ned Yost and GM Dayton Moore are well-known for their patience.

Patience is great when a team isn’t playing in meaningful games, or the rest of the lineup is hitting well enough to carry a weak bat. But the 2016 Kansas City Royals are mired in a horrific offensive slump that is killing the team. If Cuthbert doesn’t turn things around soon, the KC Royals will either insert Christian Colon into the lineup at third base, or seek help on the trade market.

Whit Merrifield can also fill-in at third, but that would also mean playing Omar Infante or Colon at second base.

Next: Eric Hosmer