Five Objectives Kansas City Royals Must Accomplish for Successful 2018

Success is in the eye of the beholder. But here are five things that — if accomplished — would make almost all Kansas City Royals fans happy in 2018.

Let’s be honest. The Kansas City Royals would need an absolute miracle to reach the postseason next year. It’s the truth, and we all know it.

Even if the 2017 team somehow stayed completely intact due to an issue with the league office not processing paperwork properly, the Kansas City Royals aren’t making the playoffs. Last year’s team wasn’t good enough, and 2018’s squad will undoubtedly be worse.

Plus, there is a good chance Boston, New York, Cleveland and Houston will make the postseason again. That leaves one spot up for grabs. Minnesota grabbed it in 2017 after 103 losses the previous year. So, yes, there would be some precedent to the Royals stealing the second Wild Card spot in 2018. That Twins team, though, was a young, exciting bunch — not unlike the Royals of 2014.

Like I said, barring a miracle, the Kansas City Royals will miss the playoffs for a third straight season. There’s nothing wrong with that. But nobody wants that number to reach anywhere near as high as it was after the 2013 season. That’s why the organization needs to make sure it hits every goal that it sets.

Some are so obvious that they don’t make our ensuing list, such as nailing their high-round draft picks and avoiding bad contracts. Others are a little more nuanced — but equally important. That’s where we come in with five objectives the Kansas City Royals need to achieve for a successful season.