It's the end of the world as we know it... and we feel... fine?
2018 is a season of transition for the Royals, or at least it is at this point. Dayton Moore is back. Will he swing full into THE PROCESS 2.0? Or will he try to load up again and make some reload magic happen?
Pending Free Agents:
1B | Eric Hosmer | San Diego Padres, 8 years, $144 million ($5 million signing bonus; $20 million/year in Yrs 1-5; $13 million/year in Yrs 6-8 wth player opt out)
Spoiler!
(DI's Guess: Texas Rangers, 6, $118 million)
3B | Mike Moustaskas | Kansas City Royas, 1, $6.5 million
Spoiler!
(DI's Guess: Los Angeles Angels, 5, $98 million)
CF | Lorenzo Cain | Milwaukee Brewers, 5 years, $80 million
Spoiler!
(DI's Guess: San Francisco Giants, 4, $68 million)
RP | Mike Minor | Texas Rangers, 3, $28 million
Spoiler!
(DI's Guess: Los Angeles Angels, 3, $35 million+ $12 million team option
SP | Jason Vargas | New York Mets, 2, $16 million
Spoiler!
(DI's Guess: Baltimore Orioles, 2, $29 million)
SS | Alcides Escobar | Kansas City Royals, 1, $2.5 million
In case I, picks would be #32, 33, and 34, if Alex Cobb of Rays signs for $50 million guaranteed.
Kansas City will likely have 5 of the top 40-45 picks in the draft, and the bonus pool money should rival that of the teams drafting 1-3 in the 2017 draft. This should give KC tremendous flexibility in acquiring talent that otherwise might slip or not be "signable."
2018 Draft Names to Watch
RHP Kumar Rocker, N Oconnee HS, Georgia.
Spoiler!
Possibly goes top 10 but is a big, physical SP with ace potential. Moore and co. will be all over him if he slips a bit and could offer top 10 money at No. 16
OF Jarred Kelenic, Waukasha West HS, WI
Spoiler!
Kelenic is the top prep bat, toolsy OF. Royals would be ecstatic to have shot at him.
1B Triston Casas, American Heritage HS (FL).
Spoiler!
Tremendous raw power, best in HS bats. Royals typically like HS arms or HS bats with "special" tools. He qualifies.
RHP Carter Stewart, Eau de Gallie HS (Ga).
Spoiler!
Another big, physical specimen with huge upside. More likely to be available mid-first than Rocker.
ANY Any, Any (Any). Any current top projected pick who slides for injury concerns. Includes current top prospect prospect SP Brady Singer, U of Florida. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Mother****erJones:
How long do you think it takes before KC is competing again? That’s now 3 rebuilding AL Central teams (Tigers, Royals and White Sox).
The White Sox appear to be doing it really well. I'm not sure KC has the ammo to boost their rebuild the way the Sox did. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Mother****erJones:
How long do you think it takes before KC is competing again? That’s now 3 rebuilding AL Central teams (Tigers, Royals and White Sox).
Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla:
The White Sox appear to be doing it really well. I'm not sure KC has the ammo to boost their rebuild the way the Sox did.
Let's see on the Sux. I wouldn't just hand them the Central in 2020, they acq a lotta boom/bust Soler types. [Reply]
Originally Posted by cmh6476:
Sean maneaa, Mike Montgomery, matt strahm, Brandon Finnegan :-)
Exactly. Add Lamb and Cody Reed to that mix. Except Strahm doesn't really fit into that bunch - we actually received players that we had some extended control of, one of which we flipped (Buchter) for more controllable arms.
It's a myth that we depleted the system via any of these trades. If none of those guys actually become quality, long-term MLB pieces, whatever affect they had on our organizational talent and rankings was a mirage. The only significant losses from trades during our WS runs were Odirizzi and Myers.
Our main issue has been recent misses in the draft. Last year looks to be the first solid draft we've had since the WS runs began. [Reply]
Originally Posted by dallaschiefsfan:
Exactly. Add Lamb and Cody Reed to that mix. Except Strahm doesn't really fit into that bunch - we actually received players that we had some extended control of, one of which we flipped (Buchter) for more controllable arms.
It's a myth that we depleted the system via any of these trades. If none of those guys actually become quality, long-term MLB pieces, whatever affect they had on our organizational talent and rankings was a mirage. The only significant losses from trades during our WS runs were Odirizzi and Myers.
Our main issue has been recent misses in the draft. Last year looks to be the first solid draft we've had since the WS runs began.
Which reveals a real problem in the way they were running the development program during those early teens years.
They did a great job of helping guys max out their stuff. But that lends itself best to bullpen pieces, not stable starting pitchers. They've made some changes in the development system over the past few years (including downplaying the wrong of Bill Fischer, who is a fossil/relic of the past).
I've defended Moore's draft record - saying they have done pretty good in the first round overall, especially when weighing useful assets, but there's definitely room for improvement in early round and in overall draft approach.
I do like that perhaps they're starting to see more of the value of college bats with some advanced feel - like Gigliotti and Lopez - and move a little bit farther away from the crazy-toolsy-but-raw kids.
They need to nail this draft, that's for sure. They need to land at least two guys who can be premium talents. I'd like to see them in on advanced college arm with No. 2 upside. KC Baseball Prospectus did a nice write-up on Tristan Beck out of Stanford, who is a perfect fit there.
It's going to be fun to break down draft strategy. Even if they only get a second-tier comp pick for Moustakas, the Royals are going to have so many picks and such a big pool, it will allow them to get really creative. [Reply]