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 duncan_idaho:
He's worth following each day.
If Soler becomes what many thought he would be, it changes the bear and long-term outlook of the team.
The power and patience are real abilities.
19 and beyond change a bunch if Soler and Mondesi are successful major league players...
The thing you may also recall about Jermaine Dye is that by his age 25 season, not coincidentally the same age Jorge Soler will be next season, he finally figured out how to limit his strikeouts a bit and how to tap into his power a lot. He became a force in the middle of the Royals lineup for two and a half years, until they were forced to trade him before he hit free agency
Originally Posted by Prison Bitch:
The thing you may also recall about Jermaine Dye is that by his age 25 season, not coincidentally the same age Jorge Soler will be next season, he finally figured out how to limit his strikeouts a bit and how to tap into his power a lot. He became a force in the middle of the Royals lineup for two and a half years, until they were forced to trade him before he hit free agency
Originally Posted by Prison Bitch:
The thing you may also recall about Jermaine Dye is that by his age 25 season, not coincidentally the same age Jorge Soler will be next season, he finally figured out how to limit his strikeouts a bit and how to tap into his power a lot. He became a force in the middle of the Royals lineup for two and a half years, until they were forced to trade him before he hit free agency
Originally Posted by siberian khatru:
Platoon partner for Dozier?
In my opinion that would waste a roster spot on the 25 man roster. If the Royals have signed Duda, I hope they have a trade partner for either Cuthbert or Dozier. [Reply]
Anyone see Hoz on espn highlights? "And Hosmer will get an rbi single here"...as he screwdrives the ball straight into the ground, thru the hole on the right side. LOL [Reply]
The Royals and first baseman Lucas Duda have agreed to a contract, according to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman. FanRag Sports' Robert Murray was first to report the signing.
The club has not yet confirmed the agreement, which is pending a physical, per Murray. According to Heyman, the one-year deal is worth $3.5 million.
Kansas City has been looking for a replacement for Eric Hosmer, who departed for San Diego in free agency. Duda should certainly provide a source of power at the position, as he tied a career high with 30 home runs in 2017.
Duda, 32, batted .217/.322/.496 with 50 runs scored and 64 RBIs in 127 games in 2017 split between the Mets and Rays. He is a career .242/.340/.457 hitter with 138 homers and 405 RBIs over eight Major League seasons.