TORONTO _ Last November, in the weeks after winning the World Series, Royals general manager Dayton Moore returned to his office and charted a course for the upcoming offseason. There were holes to fill and free agents to sign, and if Kansas City had designs on a third straight American League pennant, Moore's organization would need to do both _ deftly.
For 10 years in Kansas City, Moore had preached a culture of the right guys for the Royals _ players with a certain combination of competitiveness, talent and clubhouse acumen. As Moore began the offseason, one of those guys was standing right in from of him: right-hander Chris Young.
In 2015, Young had signed a one-year deal with the Royals near the middle of spring training. He had made the team, joined the rotation and started Game 4 of the World Series, becoming, in Moore's view, arguably the MVP of the Royals' pitching staff.
When the World Series was over, Young became a free agent, and a reunion was appealing to both sides. A month later, he signed a two-year, $11.5 million deal and immediately donated a portion of it to a new MLB Urban Youth Academy in Kansas City. Young felt invested in the city, he said, and as spring training beckoned, he was eager to chase another title.
Seventh months later, the hope has subsided. His second season in Kansas City has turned into an agonizing wreck. The latest debacle came on Tuesday night at Rogers Centre. Young allowed six runs and seven hits while being shelled for four home runs. He lasted just 2 1/3 innings as the Royals absorbed an 8-3 loss to the Blue Jays. The Royals dropped to 43-40 after another blowup start.
Last October, Young started Game 4 of the American League Championship Series here in Toronto, allowing just two runs while gutting through 4 2/3 innings in a blowout victory. These days, Young is not the same pitcher, and the results of Tuesday night could jeopardize his status in the Royals' starting rotation.
In 60 innings this season, Young has posted a 6.90 ERA, allowing 46 earned runs and a league-high 26 home runs. On Tuesday, his record dropped to 2-8 as he became only the second pitcher in history to have allowed 26 or more homers in a season in 100 innings or fewer. The other: Left-hander Bruce Chen, who accomplished the feat during his pre-Royals days in 2006.
The Royals, of course, lack great alternatives in the starting rotation. Reliever Dillon Gee could step in for Young as he did in mid May, when Young went on the disabled list with a forearm strain.
As Young struggled in Toronto, right-hander Kris Medlen, another possible option, left a rehab start at Class AAA Omaha in the middle of an inning, reportedly walking off the mound at 49 pitches. He had allowed two earned runs in 2 2/3 innings.
For now, the Royals must search for an answer, whether it resides in the right arm of Young or elsewhere. On Tuesday, they lost their third straight game, limping toward the All-Star break. On Wednesday, they will attempt to avoid a three-game sweep in Toronto.
