Inbox: Who will be Royals’ No. 5 starter?

KANSAS CITY — Spring Training is roughly six weeks away, and Kansas City fans have plenty of questions about the 2017 Royals.

So let’s get to it, with the first Inbox of the new year.

@FlannyMLB Are the Royals still serious in converting Matt Strahm to a starter and, if so, what do they do about the bullpen?

— Larry F (@lafsr47) January 3, 2017

@FlannyMLB Are the Royals still serious in converting Matt Strahm to a starter and, if so, what do they do about the bullpen?

Yes, the long-term goal is for Strahm to be a starter. But the Royals have four starters locked into the rotation now, and while he will get a look as the No. 5 guy in Spring Training, the guess here is that he will become a setup man for closer Kelvin Herrera. Kansas City went to two straight World Series on the strength of arguably the best bullpen in the league, and a shutdown bullpen is a cornerstone of any Dayton Moore roster. Strahm simply is too good in the bullpen right now to move him elsewhere.

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@FlannyMLB where does Josh Staumont figure into the 2017 Royals? Any thoughts on what his role might be?

– Myles McLaughlin (@MylesMcLaughli9) January 3, 2017

@FlannyMLB where does Josh Staumont figure into the 2017 Royals? Any thoughts on what his role might be?

The Royals truly believe Staumont, who was sensational in the second half last season at Double-A Northwest Arkansas and who can hit 100 mph, can contribute this season in the bullpen. Moore has told me several times he will not hesitate to call up young …

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