The Royals may not have wanted to admit they were in a rebuild, but following the departure of stars Eric Hosmer and Lorenzo Cain in 2017, the team dropped off in the standings considerably. Trades and poor drafts had depleted the farm system, leaving them only a few solid players left, combined with a rogue’s gallery of has-beens and never-weres. They lost 104 games in 2018, the second-worst season in club history, then improved by one win in 2019. Last year was another losing season, but after a slow start, the team went 23-24 to end the year, finishing with a 26-34 record, which would have translated to a 70-win season had they played a full schedule.
Royals 2021 Season Preview: It’s time to win
