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.
Current Prospects to Watch:
OF Seuly Matias - Huge tools. Hit 2 HR in Lexington (A) season opener.
1B Nick Pratto - Top pick in 17 has advanced approach and good glove; needs to start tapping into power in first full year in minors. Also at Lexington.
OF Michael Gigliotti - Good defender in CF, good OBP skills, plus baserunner. Next mainstay in CF for KC, IMO. Advanced college bat also starting at Lexington.
OF Khalil Lee - Probably has highest upside in Royals' system. Could hit 30 HR in majors, could steal 30 bases. Plus defensive ability in RF. Nice test at Wilmington this year.
3B Emmanuel Rivera - Really nice approach and good contact skills. Power is still developing. Also getting a good test at Wilmington.
SP Foster Griffin - Made nice strides in 2017. Needs to continue to progress in 2018. Could be a lefty version of Jakob Junis (good breaking ball that he can really manipulate, OK fastball, good command).
1B Samir Duenez - Duenez still is intriguing, hoping for a step forward in his power production this year at Northwest Arkansas, which would turn him into a legit prospect.
Others to keep an eye on:
SP Gerson Garabito (Wilmington), OF Marten Gasparini (Lexington), C MJ Melendez (Lexington), RP Tyler Zuber (lexington), RP Richard Lovelady (Omaha), SP Dan Tillo (Lexington), SS Nicky Lopez (NWA), SP Scott Blewett (NWA), OF Brewer Hicklen (Idaho Falls),
In general, Lexington and Wilmington are the most interesting spots to watch. Nice depth and a lot of interesting pieces at both. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Titty Meat:
There have been whispers around town that he has substance abuse issues. The BK epsiode being the most notable. Besides that he now has a lengthy durability issue and with the team in the red and going nowhere the next 3 years it wouldnt be shocking if they move on. Should have done it while he had value but whatever.
Duffy was not on anything at the time of the BK drive-thru incident. He was blood-tested and the alcohol was the only thing found, or he would have faced more severe punishment.
Those whispers are just that - whispers.
KC is on the hook for the contract unless they find someone willing to take it. There’s no win for KC to simply move him in a salary dump.
His value was at a peak entering 2017, and they could have traded him then, but kept him to try to take another shot at winning.
If KC is going to do a pure salary dump of a starter, it should be someone like Ian Kennedy who doesn’t have enough upside to make you a big loser in the deal on the back end of it. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Prison Bitch:
They should dump them both for nothing, if they even can.
I’ll buy that on Kennedy. You’re not going to get anything for him and if you can find someone to take on some of the contract, it is worthwhile.
With Duffy, there’s still more upside - and risk that comes with it- in just flat dumping him. He’s still just a good first half or good year away from being someone you can get value for.
The front office can survive overpaying Duffy for a few years while the team is not competitive. What it could not survive is dumping him for nothing and then seeing him perform well for another team.
Not much risk of that with Kennedy... at this point. [Reply]
You'd almost certainly have to give up something of decent value to get someone to take Kennedy's contract. I'm not optimistic about that at all. [Reply]
Originally Posted by tk13:
You'd almost certainly have to give up something of decent value to get someone to take Kennedy's contract. I'm not optimistic about that at all.
How about 2015 ALCS MVP Alcides Escobar??? [Reply]
Originally Posted by RealSNR:
How about 2015 ALCS MVP Alcides Escobar???
Hopefully he’s gone after this year and they just commit to going young. He’s going to be cheap and likely obtainable on a minor league deal next year. [Reply]
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho:
Hopefully he’s gone after this year and they just commit to going young. He’s going to be cheap and likely obtainable on a minor league deal next year.
With Whit likely back and Lopez looking ready doesn't he pretty much have to be gone? You have Herrera as a utility guy. [Reply]
Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy:
With Whit likely back and Lopez looking ready doesn't he pretty much have to be gone? You have Herrera as a utility guy.
You would think so. But they’re loyal to him.
I was fine with bringing him back this year. They wanted to make Mondesi prove it and thought he needed it for his development. Can’t really argue with that so far. [Reply]
Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy:
With Whit likely back and Lopez looking ready doesn't he pretty much have to be gone? You have Herrera as a utility guy.
Hopefully Whit is not back, Mondesi and Lopez can man the middle. And yes, I'm assuming we get a rather large return for him. Herrera can be the utility IF guy, and we have other cheap options that can fill in. [Reply]
Originally Posted by OKchiefs:
Hopefully Whit is not back, Mondesi and Lopez can man the middle. And yes, I'm assuming we get a rather large return for him. Herrera can be the utility IF guy, and we have other cheap options that can fill in.
If they do bring Whit back, we have a pretty solid IF. Whit/Lopez @ 3B, Mondesi at SS, Whit/Lopez at 2B. I see no reason why Lopez/Whit can't play 3b. Whoever has stronger arm out of Whit/Lopez should play it, which I would imagine is Lopez. Ideally Hunter Dozier will play like the Hunter Dozier in the last 3 weeks but I'm not counting on it. [Reply]
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho:
You would think so. But they’re loyal to him.
I was fine with bringing him back this year. They wanted to make Mondesi prove it and thought he needed it for his development. Can’t really argue with that so far.
I wasn't fine with it and you shouldn't have been either, he's a negative WAR player. If your point is you wanted him to block Mondesi for a bit, that's fine, but you can go get a diff vet SS to do that. [Reply]
Also did anyone hear Ned on with Keitzman yesterday? Always appreciate how hes a straight shooter but he didnt seem confident in coming back next year. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Titty Meat:
There have been whispers around town that he has substance abuse issues. The BK epsiode being the most notable. cking if they move on. Should have done it while he had value but whatever.
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho:
Duffy was not on anything at the time of the BK drive-thru incident. He was blood-tested and the alcohol was the only thing found, or he would have faced more severe punishment.