The Kansas City Royals are likely going to be pretty bad in 2018. If they stay healthy and get some bounceback seasons, they could top out at 85 wins or so, true. This is not a hopeless team. But they are unlikely to do so. Just think of it this way: in 2016 and 2017, the Royals were remarkably similar and aggressively mediocre, clawing their way to a 161-163 record. Now, their most reliable starting pitcher and two best position players play for different teams, their vaunted bullpen and defense shadows of what they were.
Whether or not you want to call it a ‘rebuild,’ the Royals are moving away from long-term contract commitments and are begrudgingly turning their eyes to future seasons.