Eric Hosmer exemplifies Royals' need to evolve on offense

As the 2017 fantasy baseball season approaches, we take a look at the biggest news and story lines from each club. We'll feature one team each weekday ... and we'll finish up on Feb. 15, the first day all teams will have their pitchers and catchers on the field for workouts.

The Kansas City Royals' strategy of contact hitting, speed and defense carried them to consecutive World Series and a title in 2015. But things didn't work out quite as well last season as injuries hit several of their key performers -- and their high-contact approach faltered. The upcoming season could see the Royals swinging for the fences more often.

The Royals will also head to spring training reeling from the tragic death of starting pitcher Yordano Ventura, who was killed in an auto accident in the Dominican Republic on Jan. 22.

2016 at a glance

Record: 81-81 (3rd in AL Central)
Hitting: 23rd (4.17 R/G)
Pitching: 17th (4.21 ERA)

Arrivals

OF Jorge Soler
OF/1B Brandon Moss
1B Peter O'Brien
SP Nathan Karns

Losing their top home run hitter, Kendrys Morales, to free agency, the Royals needed to find a way to replace his run production. Soler -- acquired from the Cubs for closer Wade Davis -- could provide some of that pop, but he hasn't yet shown enough consistency at the plate to be a full-time player.

Moss won't hit for a very high average, but he did connect for 25 home runs and slug .525 against right-handed pitchers last season with the Cardinals.

The Royals added another free-swinging slugger in O'Brien, whose defensive limitations can be overcome by becoming a full-time DH.

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Players to watch

1B Eric Hosmer 
OF Lorenzo Cain
C Salvador Perez

Hosmer traded some contact for power last season and it resulted in career highs in both home runs (25) and RBI (104), but it cost him elsewhere as his batting average, on-base percentage and slugging all declined from the year before.

AN MVP candidate in 2015, Cain battled hamstring and wrist injuries that turned him into a shell of his former self. Expected to be fully healthy for spring training, Cain could be a nice bargain.

For the third consecutive year, Perez led all AL catchers in innings behind the plate. (Yet he's still just 26.) It's a double-edged sword for fantasy owners: all those innings mean guaranteed playing time, but greater chance of fatigue or injury.

Sleepers

3B Mike Moustakas
SP Danny Duffy

Moustakas seemed like he was just turning the corner offensively when he tore a ligament in his knee that ended his season after only 27 games. He'll be back to 100% for spring training and, at age 28, should still be in the prime of his career.

Duffy made the move from the bullpen in May to the top of the rotation by season's end. He had a streak of 10 consecutive wins and finished 12-3 with a 3.51 ERA. He also found an extra mph on his fastball and rediscovered an ability to miss bats (9.4 K/9). There's a lot to like, especially if he can avoid the home run ball.

Bullpen

Closer: Kelvin Herrera
Next: Joakim Soria

Davis' elbow problems allowed Herrera to slide into the closer's role, which he handled quite well, converting 12 of his 13 save chances. He can touch triple digits with his fastball and he struck out nearly 11 batters per nine innings, while walking only 1.5 per nine.

The Royals relied on a dominant bullpen in making back-to-back World Series appearances, but this year's is incredibly inexperienced by comparison.

Position battles

O'Brien will compete with youngster Cheslor Cuthbert for the DH spot. Cuthbert, 24, was forced into action last season by Moustakas' injury and he responded with a .274/.318/.413 slash line and 12 homers in 475 at-bats. How much more can O'Brien give them? The Royals could also slot Soler at DH and put the speedy Paulo Orlando in right field.

Second base is wide open with Whit Merrifield, Raul Mondesi and Christian Colon expected to compete for the starting job in spring training. Cuthbert could even get a shot as well, even though he's played a total of 28 innings in his professional career there.

Prospects

OF Hunter Dozier
SP Matt Strahm
SP Josh Staumont

Dozier crushed the ball in the minors last season, hitting a combined .296/.366/.533 with 23 homers and 75 RBI at Class AA and AAA. He got an eight-game call-up in September, playing exclusively in the outfield even though he's spent the majority of his time in the minors at third base.

Strahm is a former 21st-round pick who was exceptional in the bullpen (1.23 ERA, 30 K's in 22 IP) after he was called up. However, the left-hander will get a chance to crack the starting rotation this spring.

The hard-throwing Staumont, 23, split his time between Class A and AA last season. While he can touch triple-digits with his fastball, he struggled with his control -- averaging 7.6 walks per nine innings. He's still at least a year away from getting a shot in the majors, but he could be the Royals' top prospect.

Projected batting order

1. SS Alcides Escobar
2. 3B Mike Moustakas
3. CF Lorenzo Cain
4. 1B Eric Hosmer
5. C Salvador Perez
6. LF Alex Gordon
7. RF Jorge Soler
8. DH Brandon Moss
9. 2B Raul Mondesi/Whit Merrifield

Projected rotation

1. LHP Danny Duffy
2. RHP Ian Kennedy
3. LHP Jason Vargas
4.  RHP Nathan Karns
5.  LHP Matt Strahm