MLB · AL Central
Kansas City Royals news Friday, November 13, 2026
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The 30-second version
- MLBRoyals GM J.J. Picollo says Bobby Witt Jr. is not going anywhere, as Witt earns third All-MLB First Team honor.
- MLBBraves sign former Dodgers reliever Evan Phillips to a three-year, $35 million contract.
- MLBCubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong wins unanimous National League MVP, beating Shohei Ohtani.
The 5-minute version
202669–93
5th AL Central · Missed playoffs
Fri, Feb 19 vs Rangers
No. 1 in the 30-second version
Royals GM J.J. Picollo says Bobby Witt Jr. is not going anywhere, as Witt earns third All-MLB First Team honor.
Picollo said Tuesday that Witt is a franchise cornerstone, despite the Red Sox reportedly inquiring about Witt's availability before the trade deadline. Witt was named shortstop on the 2026 All-MLB First Team on Wednesday night, the third straight year, and became the first shortstop with three selections since the awards began in 2019. Relievers David Bednar and Adrian Morejon received qualifying offers and have until Nov. 17 at 3 p.m. Central to decide, with the offer worth $23.15 million. Royals Review thinks Kansas City is unlikely to make a major push for those relievers.
Source: Royals Review
Royals' bullpen posted a 5.07 ERA in 2026, and a fan site eyes free agent reliever David Bednar.
Royals Review says the team cycled through 32 relievers and had 26 blown saves, and that the bullpen will be a focus this offseason even if spending is not aggressive. Bednar, 32, has 146 career saves and a 2.47 ERA this year, and the Yankees offered him a Qualifying Offer. The site also flags Adrián Morejón, 27, who posted a 2.83 ERA in 83 innings and struck out 30.4 percent of hitters he faced.
Source: Royals Review
Royals Review checks in on the nine Royals prospects playing in the Arizona Fall League.
Felix Arronde is 2-1 with eight strikeouts in 6.1 innings over three AFL starts. Josh Hansell has a 1.50 WHIP over nine relief appearances.
Source: Royals Review
Around the MLB
No. 2 in the 30-second version
Braves sign former Dodgers reliever Evan Phillips to a three-year, $35 million contract.
Phillips, 32, will make $11 million in 2027 and 2028 and $13 million in 2029, and the Braves said he will donate 1% of his salary to their charitable foundation. He posted a 3.46 ERA in 31 games for the Dodgers in 2026 after returning from Tommy John surgery, and he had not allowed a run in 17 career postseason appearances. The Braves were looking for late-inning help after closer Raisel Iglesias became a free agent.
Sources: ESPN · NBC Sports · MLB.com · USA TODAY Sports
No. 3 in the 30-second version
Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong wins unanimous National League MVP, beating Shohei Ohtani.
Crow-Armstrong hit 45 home runs, stole 41 bases, drove in 107 runs and batted .280 this season. Yahoo Sports reported he received all 30 first-place votes from the BBWAA, with Ohtani getting 26 second-place votes. He is the first Cubs player to win the award since Kris Bryant in 2016.
Sources: CBS Sports · LA Times · Yahoo Sports · NBC Sports Philadelphia
Astros name Brad Ausmus manager, a former Houston catcher who was Yankees bench coach.
Ausmus, 57, previously managed the Tigers from 2014 to 2017 and the Angels in 2019, according to The Crawfish Boxes, a fan blog. The Astros' general manager Randy Flores announced the hire, and a press conference was scheduled for Friday at 10 AM. Lone Star Ball, a fan blog, reports Ausmus is close with former teammate Jeff Bagwell, an advisor to owner Jim Crane, which raises questions about how much power Flores has.
Sources: CBS Sports · ESPN · Lookout Landing · The Crawfish Boxes
Pat Murphy wins NL Manager of the Year for a third straight season, and Will Venable wins AL honors.
ESPN reports Murphy became the first manager to win NL Manager of the Year three straight seasons. According to South Side Sox, Venable finished with 111 points, ahead of Kevin Cash and Chad Tracy, and the White Sox went 84-78 to make the postseason for the first time since 2021. The honors were voted on by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
Sources: CBS Sports · ESPN · Brew Crew Ball · South Side Sox
Yankees have reportedly talked trade with the Rangers about Corey Seager, per Jon Heyman.
MLB Trade Rumors' Darragh McDonald notes Seager has full no-trade protection, and CBS Sports says he has five years and roughly $155 million left on his contract. The Yankees have also been linked to Luis Arraez, Brandon Lowe and Carson Kelly. Pinstripe Alley and SB Nation both note that CBA negotiations could delay major moves.
Sources: CBS Sports · Pinstripe Alley
How this is made: Summaries are written with AI from the linked reporting. For the full account, read the sources.