[kcroyalty29]

Hi Guys!


I started with my Royals in 2020 and am currently in 2023 - finally nearing .500.


I thought I was going to compete this year after clearing payroll to go out and sign Aroldis Chapman, who has five stars at the time I signed him.

He became 4 by Opening Day and by week two of the season, he had Tommy John. So that $15 mil on a one year deal was wasted and he became a 2 star.


Ignore that - I'm more upset because BOTH pitchers I grew on the farm (inherited 3 star SP Brady Singer and traded for 3 star SP Forrest Whitley) ALSO had Tommy John surgery this year. Both were 3 stars with 3.5 potential.


I've had other pitchers in this game lose a full star or more after surgeries.


So my question is: Obviously I'm not re-signing Chapman and he's toast because of age.

But guys like Singer and Whitley - both around 26 years old and 3 star SP's with 3.5 potential - are both now basically screwed and will automatically drop to 2.5 star potential? Should I even plan on them being in my 2025 rotation? I had planned on them anchoring it for years to come and now I'm not only looking for new SP options in 2024, but thnking they may not even be core players after that.

How do younger pitchers normally respond to Tommy John in this game?


Also, do the freaking major injuries to pitchers EVER end in this game? I'm not turning injuries off - they're a part of the game and I like them - but this seems a little unfair in one year.


Thanks

Dave