AL Central

The window to win almost always closes quicker than you think it will, and it will close on the Kansas City Royals soon enough.

Just not yet.

The Royals pushed into win-now mode when they made their much-debated (at the time) trade for James Shields and Wade Davis three winters ago. They pushed all-in when they traded prospects for a pair of rental players this past July.

Cleveland Indians outfielder Michael Brantley underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder Monday in Wilmington, Delaware, and he is projected to be sidelined for the start of the 2016 season.  

Continue for updates.

Oh, the elusive championship. Teams spend countless seasons hunting for it. Some make it to the top while others are left clamoring in the dust, looking like a character out of Mad Max.

When a franchise finally is able to nab a championship, things tend to change.

Our goal here was to analyze 10 changes that happen and explain each element in detail. Whether it's how these wins affect a city's economy or how coaches are suddenly given more slack, these changes are evident.

The Detroit Tigers' July trade of closer Joakim Soria to the Pittsburgh Pirates isn't working out too well at the moment.

No matter how great the thrill of winning a championship might be, sports are a business. Reserve outfielder Jonny Gomes found that out the hard way on Thursday as the Kansas City Royals announced they have declined their club option on the veteran, making him a free agent. 

Two key pieces of the World Series champions won't be going anywhere in 2016. The Kansas City Royals announced on Thursday that they picked up the options for Wade Davis and Alcides Escobar next season.

The Kansas City Royals celebrated their first championship since 1985 with a downtown victory parade Tuesday afternoon. Fans turned out in droves to attend the festivities after watching the Royals dispatch the New York Mets in five games to win the 2015 World Series.

In a World Series featuring two teams starving for a championship after almost 30 years of famine apiece, the Kansas City Royals would ultimately outlast the New York Mets in five games to earn the title that's alluded them both for so long. 

The city of Kansas City and the Royals organization has had 30 years to plan a World Series parade. You can bet the party will be epic on Tuesday, when the World Series winners return home for their championship parade. 

It will be a celebration fit for a king Tuesday in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, as the city honors the Kansas City Royals and their World Series victory.

Given how much the fanbase and city as a whole have rallied around the Royals over the past two years, Tuesday's parade will be raucous from start to finish.