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]
I guess I am in the minority around here but I don’t see all the doom and gloom as most. People are basically writing off our younger guys but I don’t really see that any have proven they can’t play or don’t have upside. 2011 and 2012 were the first years of the beginning of WS runs. But the main position players were younger so they needed more time to develop. Plus the starting pitching was atrocious leading to back to back 90 loss seasons.
But with this group guys like Cuthbert, Boni, and Soler are older and should be getting consistent every day time at a later age. Not because they are bad but largely because they’ve been blocked and not allowed the freedom to develop at the major league level due to being in organizations that have been contending. I’m thinking they will be better this year than Hosmer, Moose, and Cain were in their early years due to being older and just having more experience. We went from 72 wins in 2012 to 86 wins in 2013.
I don’t see why this team can’t fall somewhere between those numbers. The rotation is better and I think the offense can be better especially with the juiced ball. People tend to forget how terrible the offense was basically all the way until late 2014 to the start of 2015. The offense this season I see being better than probably any team of WS guys prior to the second half of 2014. I am thinking something like 78-82 wins. Don’t underestimate the value of a more winning culture either. [Reply]
Originally Posted by mr. tegu:
I guess I am in the minority around here but I don’t see all the doom and gloom as most. People are basically writing off our younger guys but I don’t really see that any have proven they can’t play or don’t have upside. 2011 and 2012 were the first years of the beginning of WS runs. But the main position players were younger so they needed more time to develop. Plus the starting pitching was atrocious leading to back to back 90 loss seasons.
But with this group guys like Cuthbert, Boni, and Soler are older and should be getting consistent every day time at a later age. Not because they are bad but largely because they’ve been blocked and not allowed the freedom to develop at the major league level due to being in organizations that have been contending. I’m thinking they will be better this year than Hosmer, Moose, and Cain were in their early years due to being older and just having more experience. We went from 72 wins in 2012 to 86 wins in 2013.
I don’t see why this team can’t fall somewhere between those numbers. The rotation is better and I think the offense can be better especially with the juiced ball. People tend to forget how terrible the offense was basically all the way until late 2014 to the start of 2015. The offense this season I see being better than probably any team of WS guys prior to the second half of 2014. I am thinking something like 78-82 wins. Don’t underestimate the value of a more winning culture either.
I think if the bullpen pitches like last year we will not be very good at all. But otherwise I've always agreed that saying the Royals don't have any prospects isn't quite accurate. Soler, Mondesi and Cuthbert were all highly thought of guys who haven't been able to develop because we were trying to win games. All of those guys have yet to get into their prime years. Even Moose and Hos didn't click until their mid to late 20s, so there's still potential there. And Duffy is a solid starter. But if Herrera and Maurer pitch like last year none of that will matter and they'll probably lose 90 games. [Reply]
Originally Posted by tk13:
I think if the bullpen pitches like last year we will not be very good at all. But otherwise I've always agreed that saying the Royals don't have any prospects isn't quite accurate. Soler, Mondesi and Cuthbert were all highly thought of guys who haven't been able to develop because we were trying to win games. All of those guys have yet to get into their prime years. Even Moose and Hos didn't click until their mid to late 20s, so there's still potential there. And Duffy is a solid starter. But if Herrera and Maurer pitch like last year none of that will matter and they'll probably lose 90 games.
Pretty much this. If the bullpen doesn't have success, the rest doesn't matter and the prognostications will come true. The bullpen is actually the most compelling part of the competition for roster spots. Several power arms that could surprise. So many what-ifs in this bullpen group. If a handful of them pan out, bullpen could be interesting. I'm watching Smith, Staumont, Machado, Almonte and even Zimmer. Chances would increase even more if Peralta or Hahn could transition to the pen. I'm most excited with what I've seen of Machado. [Reply]