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What will roles be for Strahm, Soria in 2017?
- Updated: September 23, 2016
DETROIT — As thoughts turn toward how the Royals will shape up their pitching staff for 2017, two names will figure prominently in internal discussions this offseason: Joakim Soria and Matt Strahm.
The Royals have indicated that Strahm will compete for a rotation spot in Spring Training. But Strahm, 24, has been such a sensation in the bullpen — 0.95 ERA in 18 games entering Friday’s series opener against the Tigers — that the club could wind up valuing him more there for now, especially as it tries to recreate the shutdown bullpen of 2013-15.
Soria has had a disappointing season with seven blown saves, eight losses and a 4.12 ERA. And he has been on the mound when either the tying or go-ahead run was scored 13 times.
There was some chatter when Soria was signed last December that he might get a chance to start some games. But the Royals never considered that possibility in 2016. Will they consider that for 2017?
Manager Ned Yost said anything is possible, and that the Royals will discuss all of their options in the offseason. But general …
