baseman Kris Bryant said Friday that players are "pretty upset" outfielder Bryce Harper and shortstop Manny Machado http://www.royalsfanproshop.com/authentic-ryan-goins-jersey , the offseason's most notable free agents, remain unsigned with spring training less than a month away.Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com provided comments about the situation from Bryant, who suggested there are "not enough teams trying to be competitive.""It's really weird," he said. "Two of the best players in the game, and they have very little interest in them, from just what I hear. It's not good. It's something that will have to change. I know a lot of the other players are pretty upset about it."Fellow third baseman Evan Longoria of the San Francisco Giants also weighed in on the situation with an Instagram post Friday featuring pictures of Harper, Machado, closer Craig Kimbrel and starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel:"We are less then a month from the start of spring and once again some of our games biggest stars remain unsigned. Such a shame. It's seems every day now someone is making up a new analytical tool to devalue players, especially free agents. As fans, why should 'value' for your team even be a consideration? It's not your money, it's money that players have worked their whole lives to get to that level and be deserving of. Bottom line, fans should want the best players and product on the field for their team. And as players we need to stand strong for what we believe we are worth and continue to fight for the rights we have fought for time and time again."Bryant and Harper are both represented by famed agent Scott Boras, and the Cubs star's comment about the lack ofcompetitiveness is likely music to Boras' ears.The agent has lamented the rise of tanking in recent years as numerous MLB clubs have sold off veteran assets for prospects in hopes of replicating the Houston Astros' successful rebuild."We have to get rid of the noncompetitive cancer Blaine Boyer Jersey ," Boras toldKen Rosenthalof The Athletic last January. "We can't go to our fanbases and sell the promise of losing to win later. That is destructive to our sport because it has removed one-third of the competition."He once again referred to losing games to improve draft position as a "cancer" during amedia scrumin November.The Astros feature one of MLB's most talented rosters but are only projected to have a $128.5 million payroll in 2019, a mere $10.6 million above the league average, perSpotrac.Other teams have witnessed Houston's success by building through the draft. In many cases, they have accepted the short-term losses in exchange for chances to win big in the future without having to compete financially with the game's big spenders, led by the Boston Red Sox at $225 million.In turn, a limited number of clubs can seriously compete for the likes of Harper and Machado, who are expected to receive lucrative long-term contracts as free agents.The ultimate litmus test could come after the 2020 season when Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout, MLB's gold standard for the past seven years, could hit the open market.If Trout doesn't create a massive bidding war amid interest from virtually every franchise, the MLB Players Association is going to have a serious problem to rectify.Coincidentally, the currentcollective bargaining agreementends following the 2021 season. KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals were a .500 team after a loss on July 25, but since then they’ve been the hottest team in the National League.Yadier Molina broke a tie with a two-run single in the seventh inning http://www.royalsfanproshop.com/authentic-ryan-goins-jersey , Tyson Ross won his St. Louis debut and the Cardinals defeated the Kansas City Royals 8-2 on Sunday to win their fifth straight, matching a season high.The Cardinals moved eight games above .500, equaling their season high set on June 11, and are a National League-best 12-4 since July 27. Manager Mike Matheny was fired on July 14 in an attempt to jump-start the disappointing team.Molina’s bases-loaded single in the seventh scored Harrison Bader and Patrick Wisdom, who had two hits, drove in a run and scored two in his major league debut. Wisdom’s RBI single had tied it at 2-2.“We feel pretty good about ourselves right now,” Molina said. “We are getting hot at the right time.”The Cardinals concluded a three-city trip with a 7-2 record.“It was a good game, a good road trip and a good series,” Cardinals interim manager Mike Shildt said.Ross, who last pitched on Aug. 3 for San Diego, was an emergency starter, replacing Luke Weaver, who was scratched after cutting his right index finger on the aluminum foil cover of his clubhouse meal on Saturday night.Ross (7-9) Melky Cabrera Jersey , who made 22 starts with the Padres before the Cardinals claimed him on waivers last week, allowed two runs on four hits and two walks in six innings.“I felt good and was ready to go,” Ross said. “I was happy to get out there and pitch. After the first inning, I was able to rein it in and get into the strike zone, and keep us in the ballgame.”Paul DeJong hit a two-run homer in a three-run ninth to cap the scoring.Jason Hammel (2-12) entered in the seventh and retired none of the four batters he faced. He was charged with three runs.“I set the tone for the rest of the game right there, coming in and not even getting an out,” Hammel said. “I’m embarrassed.”Jakob Junis limited the Cardinals to three singles, walked none and struck out eight before leaving after six innings with a 2-1 lead.“I hit my spots with my fastball and played my slider off that and I had some good results,” Junis said.Lucas Duda singled home Salvador Perez in the third to put Kansas City up 2-1. Alex Gordon scored in the first after an error by Wisdom, the first baseman.The Royals have lost nine of 10 and are 15-46 since May 30.WEBB EJECTEDCardinals reliever Tyler Webb was ejected with two outs in the ninth by plate umpire Adam Hamari after he hit Jorge Bonifacio with a pitch. Royals pitchers hit four St. Louis batters. “He definitely hit him on purpose,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “I guess that warrants an ejection. We hit four guys today. When you hit four guys, somebody is going to get it. It’s just the way the game is. I don’t blame them for it. If they hit us four times, we’d probably be upset Justin Verlander Jersey , too. Did he have to get ejected? No. I don’t think so. I think it was over. We didn’t intentionally try to hit anybody all day long.”CARPENTER STREAK CONTINUESMatt Carpenter singled and was hit by a pitch from Wily Peralta, extending his on-base streak to 30 games.HERRERA AT SECONDRosell Herrera made his first start at second base for the Royals. He had started 19 games in right field, 11 in center, four at third base and three as the DH since joining the club on June 17. He made his big league debut on May 1 with Cincinnati starting at second base, his only other start at the position, although he played there in the minors.ROSTER MOVESThe Royals optioned RHP Glenn Sparkman to Triple-A Omaha.TRAINER’S ROOMRoyals: LHP Danny Duffy has a stiff shoulder. Manager Ned Yost said Duffy has been dealing with it for his past four starts and a decision would be made Tuesday on whether Duffy will make his scheduled start on Thursday. Duffy received an anti-inflammatory shot Saturday. … RHP Blaine Boyer (lower back strain) was activated from the 60-day disabled list. He posted a 1.08 ERA in eight minor league rehab appearances. … OF Jorge Soler (left toe fracture) was transferred to the 60-day DL.Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright (elbow inflammation) will throw an inning Monday for the Palm Beach Cardinals in the Florida State League. … With RHP Luke Gregerson (shoulder impingement) moved to the 60-day DL, his season is likely over. “I guess the timing looks like, yeah,” Shildt said. “It’ll be a challenge, but we never say never.”UP NEXTCardinals: RHP Miles Mikolas will start the opener of a four-game series against the Washington Nationals at Busch Stadium.Royals: Rookie RHP Brad Keller will start against Toronto. This will be his 13th start since moving into the rotation on May 30.