David Lesky
@dblesky.bsky.social
I write about the Royals on Inside the Crown and talk about them weekly on Kauffman Corner. And I do some radio too, so that's kind of cool.
insidethecrown.substack.com/subscribe
insidethecrown.substack.com/subscribe
Reposted by David Lesky
Click below for the latest Kauffman Corner Pod. @dblesky.bsky.social, Les Norman and I draft the top 6 Hitters that have the biggest variance and could make the biggest difference, good or bad, for the Royals in 2026.
Apple
tinyurl.com/3f3p4ab3
YouTube
tinyurl.com/mr2erjn3
Apple
tinyurl.com/3f3p4ab3
YouTube
tinyurl.com/mr2erjn3
January 22, 2026 at 4:10 PM
Click below for the latest Kauffman Corner Pod. @dblesky.bsky.social, Les Norman and I draft the top 6 Hitters that have the biggest variance and could make the biggest difference, good or bad, for the Royals in 2026.
Apple
tinyurl.com/3f3p4ab3
YouTube
tinyurl.com/mr2erjn3
Apple
tinyurl.com/3f3p4ab3
YouTube
tinyurl.com/mr2erjn3
The bottom of the #Royals roster was a massive problem in 2025. It's low-hanging fruit, but a pretty quick way to get a few extra wins...if they can fix it. There's reasons to believe, but also reasons to doubt.
Bottoms Up
The Royals roster was FULL of negatives in 2025. Can they eliminate them?
insidethecrown.substack.com
January 22, 2026 at 2:33 PM
The bottom of the #Royals roster was a massive problem in 2025. It's low-hanging fruit, but a pretty quick way to get a few extra wins...if they can fix it. There's reasons to believe, but also reasons to doubt.
The #Royals shouldn't be done this winter. I don't think they want to be done. But a market that was also limited in options hasn't worked out especially well for them either, which means it'll be tough to find the move that actually moves the needle.
The Royals Still Need More But It Won't Be Easy
They are firmly in the mix for the American League Central, but the right moves would help a lot.
insidethecrown.substack.com
January 20, 2026 at 2:45 PM
The #Royals shouldn't be done this winter. I don't think they want to be done. But a market that was also limited in options hasn't worked out especially well for them either, which means it'll be tough to find the move that actually moves the needle.
Reposted by David Lesky
Click below for the latest Kauffman Corner Podcast. @dblesky.bsky.social, Les Norman and I discuss the fences moving in at Kauffman Stadium.
- Why now?
- Who benefits most?
- Help in Free Agency?
- How many more HR's?
Apple
tinyurl.com/48kd3nr4
YouTube
tinyurl.com/4h8bttsm
- Why now?
- Who benefits most?
- Help in Free Agency?
- How many more HR's?
Apple
tinyurl.com/48kd3nr4
YouTube
tinyurl.com/4h8bttsm
January 15, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Click below for the latest Kauffman Corner Podcast. @dblesky.bsky.social, Les Norman and I discuss the fences moving in at Kauffman Stadium.
- Why now?
- Who benefits most?
- Help in Free Agency?
- How many more HR's?
Apple
tinyurl.com/48kd3nr4
YouTube
tinyurl.com/4h8bttsm
- Why now?
- Who benefits most?
- Help in Free Agency?
- How many more HR's?
Apple
tinyurl.com/48kd3nr4
YouTube
tinyurl.com/4h8bttsm
After looking at key hitters yesterday, today I dove into the #Royals pitching and how new dimensions might impact them. They'll have to be better than last year to end at the same spot, but I was surprisingly encouraged by my findings.
insidethecrown.substack.com/p/royals-pit...
insidethecrown.substack.com/p/royals-pit...
Royals Pitching vs. New Kauffman Stadium Dimensions
With the walls coming in, the Royals have helped their bats, but at what cost?
insidethecrown.substack.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:26 PM
After looking at key hitters yesterday, today I dove into the #Royals pitching and how new dimensions might impact them. They'll have to be better than last year to end at the same spot, but I was surprisingly encouraged by my findings.
insidethecrown.substack.com/p/royals-pit...
insidethecrown.substack.com/p/royals-pit...
Reposted by David Lesky
Kauffman Corner streaming at 8:30A Central. @dblesky.bsky.social, Les Norman and I discuss the fences moving in at the K...
- Who benefits most?
- Will it help with Free Agency?
- How it affects OF defense?
- Royals hit how many HR's in '26?
Click below...
tinyurl.com/bdf6fhb7
- Who benefits most?
- Will it help with Free Agency?
- How it affects OF defense?
- Royals hit how many HR's in '26?
Click below...
tinyurl.com/bdf6fhb7
January 15, 2026 at 4:10 AM
Kauffman Corner streaming at 8:30A Central. @dblesky.bsky.social, Les Norman and I discuss the fences moving in at the K...
- Who benefits most?
- Will it help with Free Agency?
- How it affects OF defense?
- Royals hit how many HR's in '26?
Click below...
tinyurl.com/bdf6fhb7
- Who benefits most?
- Will it help with Free Agency?
- How it affects OF defense?
- Royals hit how many HR's in '26?
Click below...
tinyurl.com/bdf6fhb7
One thing that I keep seeing is people comparing the #Royals moving the fences in to 1995. The big difference is that they moved everything but the corners in then. With this change, center field between the auxiliary scoreboards is unchanged. That's an important distinction.
January 14, 2026 at 5:05 PM
One thing that I keep seeing is people comparing the #Royals moving the fences in to 1995. The big difference is that they moved everything but the corners in then. With this change, center field between the auxiliary scoreboards is unchanged. That's an important distinction.
The changes aren't drastic, but the #Royals are bringing most of the walls in at Kauffman Stadium. Today I looked at how that will impact a few key hitters in a way that was somehow both exhaustive and not nearly enough.
New Year, New Walls: How Royals Hitters Will Benefit
The Royals are bringing the fences in.
insidethecrown.substack.com
January 14, 2026 at 2:38 PM
The changes aren't drastic, but the #Royals are bringing most of the walls in at Kauffman Stadium. Today I looked at how that will impact a few key hitters in a way that was somehow both exhaustive and not nearly enough.
We're about a month from spring training, so I thought today was a good day to dig in to what the rest of the division was doing and compare it to what the #Royals have done this winter. Check out who I think has had the best winter so far.
Checking In On the AL Central
Where do the Royals stack up in the offseason moves?
insidethecrown.substack.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:45 PM
We're about a month from spring training, so I thought today was a good day to dig in to what the rest of the division was doing and compare it to what the #Royals have done this winter. Check out who I think has had the best winter so far.
It's a Crown Jewels Friday, which means it's free for everyone! This week, I wrote about the #Royals arbitration exchanges, Quatraro's extension and the stadium issues.
Crown Jewels: Royals Arbitration Numbers, Q for 4 and More Stadium Issues
The Royals have some salary certainty, their manager for the next four years and a stadium headache.
insidethecrown.substack.com
January 9, 2026 at 3:50 PM
It's a Crown Jewels Friday, which means it's free for everyone! This week, I wrote about the #Royals arbitration exchanges, Quatraro's extension and the stadium issues.
Reposted by David Lesky
Click below for the latest Kauffman Corner Pod. @dblesky.bsky.social and I discuss...
- Quatraro extension.
- Bubic trade heating up?
- Bo Bichette an option?
- Al Central Win Totals.
- Jensen/Caglianone the answer?
Apple
tinyurl.com/29hwsskb
YouTube
tinyurl.com/5y35bzwy
- Quatraro extension.
- Bubic trade heating up?
- Bo Bichette an option?
- Al Central Win Totals.
- Jensen/Caglianone the answer?
Apple
tinyurl.com/29hwsskb
YouTube
tinyurl.com/5y35bzwy
January 8, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Click below for the latest Kauffman Corner Pod. @dblesky.bsky.social and I discuss...
- Quatraro extension.
- Bubic trade heating up?
- Bo Bichette an option?
- Al Central Win Totals.
- Jensen/Caglianone the answer?
Apple
tinyurl.com/29hwsskb
YouTube
tinyurl.com/5y35bzwy
- Quatraro extension.
- Bubic trade heating up?
- Bo Bichette an option?
- Al Central Win Totals.
- Jensen/Caglianone the answer?
Apple
tinyurl.com/29hwsskb
YouTube
tinyurl.com/5y35bzwy
Whether the #Royals really are up against their payroll ceiling is up for debate, but if they are (and even if they aren't), I wrote about the players they could move to clear some salary, who might want them and what they might bring back.
insidethecrown.substack.com/p/offsetting...
insidethecrown.substack.com/p/offsetting...
Offsetting Some Royals Salary
The Royals claim to be up against it, and maybe they are, so how can they clear some cash? It's easy!
insidethecrown.substack.com
January 8, 2026 at 2:35 PM
Whether the #Royals really are up against their payroll ceiling is up for debate, but if they are (and even if they aren't), I wrote about the players they could move to clear some salary, who might want them and what they might bring back.
insidethecrown.substack.com/p/offsetting...
insidethecrown.substack.com/p/offsetting...
Reposted by David Lesky
Kauffman Corner Pod streaming at 8:30A Central. @dblesky.bsky.social and I discuss...
- Quartraro... Four More Years!
- Bubic Trade warming up?
- Bo Bichette to KC?
- AL Central Win Totals.
- Jensen/Caglianone affect.
- In other news...
Click below...
tinyurl.com/4vrvzsys
- Quartraro... Four More Years!
- Bubic Trade warming up?
- Bo Bichette to KC?
- AL Central Win Totals.
- Jensen/Caglianone affect.
- In other news...
Click below...
tinyurl.com/4vrvzsys
January 8, 2026 at 8:03 AM
Kauffman Corner Pod streaming at 8:30A Central. @dblesky.bsky.social and I discuss...
- Quartraro... Four More Years!
- Bubic Trade warming up?
- Bo Bichette to KC?
- AL Central Win Totals.
- Jensen/Caglianone affect.
- In other news...
Click below...
tinyurl.com/4vrvzsys
- Quartraro... Four More Years!
- Bubic Trade warming up?
- Bo Bichette to KC?
- AL Central Win Totals.
- Jensen/Caglianone affect.
- In other news...
Click below...
tinyurl.com/4vrvzsys
No matter what the #Royals do the rest of the winter (and I don't think they're done), the best version of them means Jac Caglianone is producing. I looked at his two biggest issues, chase and grounders, today on Inside the Crown.
Jac is the Royals Key
The slugger dominated the minors, but the majors proved to be a problem for the Royals first rounder from 2024.
insidethecrown.substack.com
January 6, 2026 at 2:40 PM
No matter what the #Royals do the rest of the winter (and I don't think they're done), the best version of them means Jac Caglianone is producing. I looked at his two biggest issues, chase and grounders, today on Inside the Crown.
Matt Quatraro now has a contract through 2029 with an option for 2030. I’ll talk about that and maybe some other #Royals topics with @sorenpetro.bsky.social, @kseaboldt.bsky.social and @kylecollier810.bsky.social on Sports Radio 810 here shortly. Listen in!
January 5, 2026 at 9:05 PM
Matt Quatraro now has a contract through 2029 with an option for 2030. I’ll talk about that and maybe some other #Royals topics with @sorenpetro.bsky.social, @kseaboldt.bsky.social and @kylecollier810.bsky.social on Sports Radio 810 here shortly. Listen in!
It’s pretty quiet around baseball, but that doesn’t stop Crown Jewels. In today’s free newsletter, I wrote about Nico Hoerner as an option for the #Royals, if I buy a Jonathan India bounceback and a look at a few of my 2025 favorites.
Crown Jewels: A New Potential Royals Target, India Bounceback Chances and My 2025 Faves
A new player appears to be on the market, and he might be of interest to the Royals, though I have my doubts.
insidethecrown.substack.com
January 2, 2026 at 2:40 PM
It’s pretty quiet around baseball, but that doesn’t stop Crown Jewels. In today’s free newsletter, I wrote about Nico Hoerner as an option for the #Royals, if I buy a Jonathan India bounceback and a look at a few of my 2025 favorites.
Reposted by David Lesky
Click below for the latest Kauffman Corner Pod. @dblesky.bsky.social, Les Norman and I discuss the Royals payroll and more...
- Royals at their limit?
- Need to trade payroll?
- Bubic going?
- Mistake passing on Harvey?
Apple
tinyurl.com/yytrm3tj
YouTube
tinyurl.com/mup3cups
- Royals at their limit?
- Need to trade payroll?
- Bubic going?
- Mistake passing on Harvey?
Apple
tinyurl.com/yytrm3tj
YouTube
tinyurl.com/mup3cups
January 1, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Click below for the latest Kauffman Corner Pod. @dblesky.bsky.social, Les Norman and I discuss the Royals payroll and more...
- Royals at their limit?
- Need to trade payroll?
- Bubic going?
- Mistake passing on Harvey?
Apple
tinyurl.com/yytrm3tj
YouTube
tinyurl.com/mup3cups
- Royals at their limit?
- Need to trade payroll?
- Bubic going?
- Mistake passing on Harvey?
Apple
tinyurl.com/yytrm3tj
YouTube
tinyurl.com/mup3cups
If you start the 2014 Wild Card game at 7:15 and become a paid subscriber to Inside the Crown, you’ll see Salvy drive in Christian Colon right at midnight. And you’ll get all my #Royals newsletters right to your inbox.
Subscribe to Inside the Crown
Taking a deeper dive into all things Kansas City Royals. Click to read Inside the Crown, by David Lesky, a Substack publication with thousands of subscribers.
insidethecrown.substack.com
January 1, 2026 at 1:02 AM
If you start the 2014 Wild Card game at 7:15 and become a paid subscriber to Inside the Crown, you’ll see Salvy drive in Christian Colon right at midnight. And you’ll get all my #Royals newsletters right to your inbox.
Reposted by David Lesky
The #Royals system is improving. Some like it more than others, but the top end talent is getting better and it continues to have some solid depth. Today I ranked the top 25 in the system. There are some very interesting names all the way through.
The ItC Top 25 Royals Prospects List
I am not a prospect hound by any stretch, but I do love ranking Royals prospects.
insidethecrown.substack.com
December 31, 2025 at 2:30 PM
The #Royals system is improving. Some like it more than others, but the top end talent is getting better and it continues to have some solid depth. Today I ranked the top 25 in the system. There are some very interesting names all the way through.
Reposted by David Lesky
Kauffman Corner Podcast streaming tomorrow at 8:30A Central. @dblesky.bsky.social, Les Norman and I discuss the Royals payroll and more...
- Is KC at its Payroll limit?
- Does Bubic get moved?
- Letting Harvey leave a mistake?
- Has KC added enough OBP?
- Enough K's in the bullpen?
- Is KC at its Payroll limit?
- Does Bubic get moved?
- Letting Harvey leave a mistake?
- Has KC added enough OBP?
- Enough K's in the bullpen?
December 31, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Kauffman Corner Podcast streaming tomorrow at 8:30A Central. @dblesky.bsky.social, Les Norman and I discuss the Royals payroll and more...
- Is KC at its Payroll limit?
- Does Bubic get moved?
- Letting Harvey leave a mistake?
- Has KC added enough OBP?
- Enough K's in the bullpen?
- Is KC at its Payroll limit?
- Does Bubic get moved?
- Letting Harvey leave a mistake?
- Has KC added enough OBP?
- Enough K's in the bullpen?
The #Royals system is improving. Some like it more than others, but the top end talent is getting better and it continues to have some solid depth. Today I ranked the top 25 in the system. There are some very interesting names all the way through.
The ItC Top 25 Royals Prospects List
I am not a prospect hound by any stretch, but I do love ranking Royals prospects.
insidethecrown.substack.com
December 31, 2025 at 2:30 PM
The #Royals system is improving. Some like it more than others, but the top end talent is getting better and it continues to have some solid depth. Today I ranked the top 25 in the system. There are some very interesting names all the way through.
As I often do, I’m going to put this out there to force myself to finish it. Tomorrow on Inside the Crown will be my annual top 25 #Royals prospects list. Make sure you’re a paid subscriber so you can read it all:
Subscribe to Inside the Crown
Taking a deeper dive into all things Kansas City Royals. Click to read Inside the Crown, by David Lesky, a Substack publication with thousands of subscribers.
insidethecrown.substack.com
December 30, 2025 at 11:41 PM
As I often do, I’m going to put this out there to force myself to finish it. Tomorrow on Inside the Crown will be my annual top 25 #Royals prospects list. Make sure you’re a paid subscriber so you can read it all:
No joke, I had no idea what day it is. New ItC tomorrow, friends. Sorry for the lack of newsletters!
December 30, 2025 at 2:14 PM
No joke, I had no idea what day it is. New ItC tomorrow, friends. Sorry for the lack of newsletters!