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]
Distancing himself from his father a bit? Or possibly he figures the name change will confuse all of the new 2014-15 fans and they'll think he's a new player to the organization. [Reply]
Distancing himself from his father a bit? Or possibly he figures the name change will confuse all of the new 2014-15 fans and they'll think he's a new player to the organization.
He has a brother who also goes by Raul Mondesi (Jr or II, I think).
I still wish he'd gone with RA Mondesi. Would have been badass. [Reply]
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.
The White Sox and Rick Hahn crushed it with their trades. It’s sad that they couldn’t build around Chris Sale, Jose Quintana, Adam Eaton, Jose Abreu and Tim Anderson. But they were backed into a corner and chose a direction. I’m happy. Losing sucks when they actually try. Losing during a rebuild has its purpose and I can get behind it. It’s fun now following prospects. Not all pan out certainly. But the Sox have a great young core.
The Royals will be back in a few years. You won a World Series so that’ll ease the pain. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Prison Bitch:
How would you know they "crushed it"?
Because the White Sox farm was brutal prior to these trades and now it’s stacked. Not all will work out certainly but it’s exciting to see these prospects start to come up. They’re drafting better too now that they hired Nick Hostetler and changed draft philosophy. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Mecca:
Having 10 guys on a top 100 is pretty crazy.
Eloy Jimenez could end up being better than Moncada. He’s got crazy potential. He’s got as Stanton-type power. https://youtu.be/kde52AM4UwI
Sorry on my phone right now. Here’s the link.
Now back to the Royals as I’m not trying to derail the thread.
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.
With a little foresight on Dayton's part, they would have been restocked and one of the better farm systems in MLB. [Reply]
Originally Posted by jaa1025:
With a little foresight on Dayton's part, they would have been restocked and one of the better farm systems in MLB.
Eh. He tried. He had the Eaton deal with the Nats in place before the Sox did. Not his fault that both Cain and Davis got hurt in the middle of 2016. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Chiefspants:
Eh. He tried. He had the Eaton deal with the Nats in place before the Sox did. Not his fault that both Cain and Davis got hurt in the middle of 2016.