Not so fast. From management to the coaching staff to the players, the Royals still believe they are a World Series contender.
And with several potential free agents after 2017 -- Mike Moustakas, Eric Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain, and Alcides Escobar -- and the window of opportunity perhaps closing, the Royals' perfect season would be for that core to go out with another championship parade.
"The reality is that you can't keep everyone together forever," left-hander Danny Duffy said.