We look at first base prospect Frank Schwindel as Spring Training draws closer.

With a definite need at first base currently, it would seem like a no-brainer to the casual baseball fan to place Schwindel at first to start the season. Though I went against that, highlighting in this previous piece of mine why you should be wary of Schwindel.

Our own Alex Duvall looks at another potential trade situation for Royals lefty starter Danny Duffy.

Every team in the league would gladly take Danny Duffy on their team. There’s not a team in baseball with four better options than Duffy in their rotation. The problem for KC is that the asking price is going to be so high for Duffy (and rightfully so), that there’s only going to be a handful of teams who not only can make a trade for him, but also that would be willing to.

Sean Thornton at Royals Review asks three questions after the Eric Hosmer news.

I’ve long been a proponent of bringing Moose back to Kansas City, but with the developments of the last month weighing heavy on my mind, my opinion has shifted just a bit. I still believe that re-signing Moustakas isn’t an awful idea, especially if it would be on a two or three-year deal. But with the market for him all but dead at the moment, the Royals definitely shouldn’t roll out an armored bank truck for him.

Craig Brown at BP Kansas City highlights some of Eric Hosmer’s best moments in Kansas City.

Long-time Royals watchers will point directly to George Brett. My god, did that guy ever own the Clutch Gene. A great player, a Hall of Famer, one of the best ever to play the game, he somehow managed to elevate his game at just the right moment when the spotlight shone the brightest. Of the most identifiable moments from the first run of franchise glory, almost all of them feature Number Five.

It seems as if Mike Moustakas is unlikely to return to Kansas City.

It is reported that Eric Hosmer will honor the late Yordano Ventura by wearing his number 30 for the San Diego Padres.

Rustin Dodd hosts a Q&A with Royals prospect Nicky Lopez over at the Kansas City Star.

Lopez: I think it was just, you know, the confidence. I made some minor adjustments to my stance, my swing, and the size of the bat, and once you start seeing some production, you start getting a little bit more confidence. (You) just have fun with it. I had one of the best experiences of my baseball career down in the fall league. Just meeting all these new guys and playing with guys all over this country from different teams, and it was just a great experience overall. I think that’s what it was. Just confidence.

Slugger J.D. Martinez is heading to the Boston Red Sox, as it seems the offseason is quickly heating up.

Old friend Jarrod Dyson inks a deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, signing for two years.

And Peter Moylan is heading over to the Atlanta Braves.

Eric Longenhagen of Fangraphs has some early notes for some of the top draft prospects.

Baker is remarkably athletic for his size (he’s listed at 6-foot-4, 270 pounds), but he’s a below-average athlete compared to his peers and not especially nimble or skilled on defense. He has an above-average arm but doesn’t run well enough to hide in an outfield corner. He’s a bat-only prospect, and I left this weekend with some questions about how much he’s going to hit. It’s early, lots of hitters don’t have their timing yet, and if Baker hits all spring he’ll be an early pick, but this was just an okay first look.

Wayne Cavadi of Minor League Ball looks at MLB Draft prospect Joey Bart, a catcher out of Georgia Tech.

At the plate, Bart is aggressive, and attacks at any pitch he sees. That led to a 50-to-16 strikeout-to-walk ratio last season, and can definitely see it leading to a little swing-and-miss throughout his career. He does make contact, and it is seemingly always hard.