KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- After taking the San Francisco Giants to Game 7 in the 2014 World Series and winning the 2015 World Series, the Kansas City Royals failed to make the 2016 postseason.Playing into November in back-to-back seasons, manager Ned Yost said impacted the Royals "a lot" as far as injuries this season."These guys have lost almost three months of recovery and conditioning time over the last two years, which is important for a professional athlete," Yost said. "It takes a toll on you sooner or later."The Royals' injury list was lengthy, with closer Wade Davis having two stints on the disabled list with forearm tightness, right-handed setup Luke Hochevar requiring surgery, outfielder Lorenzo Cain limited to 103 games with a strained left hamstring and wrist inflammation and Chris Young going on the disabled list with a forearm strain.The most crippling injuries, however, could not be blamed on the wear-and-tear from the past two seasons. On May 22, left fielder Alex Gordon and third baseman Mike Moustakas collided while chasing a foul fly ball at US Cellular Field. Gordon broke his right wrist and would be out for five weeks. It was worse for Moustakas, who suffered a torn ACL and missed the remainder of the season."I just wish those suckers hadn't hustled so hard," Yost said and laughed. "But that's who they are. That's the spirit of this team that they're going to give everything they have on every play. Was it a definite turning point for us? Yeah, it very well could have been."Looking forward, the Royals will probably keep most of this team together for one more year to get back to postseason. Their window of opportunity could slam shut after 2017, when All-Stars Eric Hosmer, Moustakas, Cain and Davis, plus emerging staff ace Danny Duffy, are among players eligible for free agency.The Royals need to improve their rotation and could add a starter. They have four sure starters going into spring training -- left-handers Danny Duffy and Jason Vargas and rightys Ian Kennedy and Yordano Ventura.Their trademark shutdown bullpen in 2014-15 was not as solid in 2016, so general manager Dayton Moore may add an arm there.After finishing a disappointing 81-81 in 2016, the Royals' payroll could be around $140 million, which would be a franchise high, for 2017. Then the Royals will have many expensive free agents and will have to pick-and-choose who to retain or they can afford to keep.