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 ChiefsCountry:
Should have spent the extra 3 million on Morrison. But meh whatever.
Why? They're very similar players. Royals aren't going anywhere this year. Just save the $3 million.
Actually, I wouldn't sign either. I'd just go with Dozier at 1B and see what happens. If he sucks, then at least we know going forward that he sucks. [Reply]
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
Allard Baird: worst GM in history. As I recall, Baird even said that Dye's contract status had nothing to do with this trade. He was just excited about getting such a talented player to play shortstop.
Originally Posted by Al Bundy:
Dozier must not even be an option.
I was looking forward to watching Dozier play first base this year. We know the Royals aren't going to win very many games, and it would be nice to watch some young players develop.
I don't get this move at all. If they wanted a veteran with some power and a low batting average, I'd have preferred Logan Morrison, the home town kid. [Reply]
Allard Baird: worst GM in history. As I recall, Baird even said that Dye's contract status had nothing to do with this trade. He was just excited about getting such a talented player to play shortstop.
Originally Posted by Lex Luthor:
I was looking forward to watching Dozier play first base this year. We know the Royals aren't going to win very many games, and it would be nice to watch some young players develop.
I don't get this move at all. If they wanted a veteran with some power and a low batting average, I'd have preferred Logan Morrison, the home town kid.
The royals are hamstrung at every turn by the Kennedy and Gordon contracts.... Glass has pulled in the purse strings...
So you end up with Duda instead of Morrison. Re: Dozier... I agree, I wish we would run he or Schwindel out there and see what we have. I guess best case is duda hits well and we unload him at the deadline for a piece. [Reply]
Some news: This past week was my last at the @kcstar, the only place I’ve ever worked and the newspaper I read as a kid. I loved every moment of my nine years there.
I can’t wait to tell you more about what’s coming next. So stick around. Until then, a quick story: pic.twitter.com/3pdWQjLd5t