Staumont, who solved his ongoing struggle with inconsistent command in the second half of 2016, could be in the mix for a roster spot with the Royals in spring training, the Kansas City Star reports.
The Royals may opt to give Staumont more time to develop in the minors to begin the year, but one other path would be for him to work out of the bullpen to open 2017 with the hope of a transition to a starting role later in the season. Staumont can touch 100 mph with his fastball, and his success from late-August on with Double-A Northwest Arkansas included a six-start stretch with only 12 walks in 34.1 innings after he issued 96 walks in 89 frames between High-A and Double-A over the first four-and-a-half months of the season. Additionally, Staumont has posted an 11:4 K:BB in 10.1 innings on the mound in the Arizona Fall League in October.