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Joel Wagler

Joel is a lifelong Kansas resident and have covered the NFL, MLB, college football, and college basketball for thirteen years. He has served as a writer and an editor for various sports and entertainment sites, plus was the Senior Director of Sports for a digital media outlet for a decade.

Could the Royals swing a trade for Cody Bellinger?

The Royals are looking to upgrade their outfield while improving the middle of their batting order. Cody Bellinger might be what the team is looking for. Could they make a trade work?

Can Bills end Chiefs' 15-game winning streak?

Their Week 11 matchup will significantly impact the AFC playoff race and might decide who will have home-field advantage this postseason. 

Royals must build around Bobby Witt Jr. by pursuing offensive upgrades

Bobby Witt Jr. needs some offensive help in Kansas City.

What Juan Soto's contract will look like and who can afford it

New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto will hit free agency after the World Series, and it will be interesting to see what kind of contract he will sign. 

How can the Royals improve in 2025?

After losing 106 games in 2023, the Royals shocked the baseball world in 2024. How can they improve on that performance next season?

Royals escape New York tied despite nothing offensively from their young stars

The Royals have stayed competitive with the mighty Yankees even though their second and third hitters are a combined 0-for-19 with nine strikeouts in New York. 

Orioles are young, talented and will return to postseason soon

The Baltimore Orioles need their youth movement to turn into a mid-20s movement.

Royals set franchise pitching record during team's offensive slump

The Royals' pitching staff has nearly single-handedly kept their postseason dreams alive.

Royals continue to struggle mightily without Vinnie Pasquantino

The team's struggles since losing Pasquantino to injury are remarkable.

Seth Lugo still a long shot to win Cy Young after masterful win vs. Yankees

The Royals wouldn't be anywhere near the playoffs without Lugo's on-field performances and off-field leadership.

Is this a down year for Orioles catcher or has two-time All-Star reached his ceiling?

When catcher Adley Rutdchman was selected first overall by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2019 June Amateur Draft, some people thought he might be the best catching prospect since MLB went to the current draft format in 1987. 

Is Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. closing in on the best season in franchise history?

Bobby Witt Jr. recently was anointed the AL Player of the Month after hitting .489, with an OPS of 1.353, seven home runs, 22 batted in and 26 runs scored.

Chiefs don't need outside motivation in drive to win third straight Super Bowl

Many things could prevent the Chiefs from winning another Super Bowl, but lacking motivation isn't one of them.

This team has won the Chris Sale-Vaughn Grissom trade so far

The Braves sent Grissom to the Red Sox in exchange for Sale in December of last year.

Don't look now, but the Astros are right back in the postseason picture

It's been an amazing turnaround, mostly on the mound.

Bobby Witt Jr. is awesome for sure, but he has a flaw in his game

Bobby Witt Jr. is a sensational young player for the Royals, but there is one part of his game that can be nitpicked.

Rangers need Big Three to get going to make playoff push

After winning their first World Series championship in franchise history last fall, the Texas Rangers have been disappointing in 2024. If they hope to turn things around, they are going to need their Big Three to start pulling their weight.

Royals' June swoon ruins good early season vibes

For most of April and May, the Kansas City Royals were MLB's feel good story of the year. Since then, though, things have started to crumble.

Royals pitching depth being exposed by Yankees

Contenders or pretenders? That is a relevant question when talking about the Kansas City Royals. If the answer were based on the last three games against the Yankees, that answer would be a resounding "pretenders."

Rangers' Corey Seager bounces back from terrible April with terrific May

Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager has begun to recover from an abysmal April.

Astros red-hot rookie Joey Loperfido is due for major regression

Astros rookie Joey Loperfido has started his major league career red hot, but is he due to cool off soon?

Royals' surprise ace may regress slightly, but don't look for his numbers to crash

Kansas City Royals starter Seth Lugo has been one of baseball's pleasant surprises in the early going this season.

A look at Cedric Mullins' offensive downfall

 In 2021, Cedric Mullins was a star player on an absolutely terrible team. That breakout did not prove to be a sign of things to come, and Mullins' production has continued to sink lower in 2024.