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]
Randy Johnson was close... he was MVP won a World Series with the diamond backs and then got traded to the Yankees for 2 years, he went back to Arizona in 2007 and won the division and had the best record in the NL but lost in the NLCS against Colorado. [Reply]
Soria these last two years has been a disaster, relative to what was expected from him when we signed him, given his previous history with the Royals and his successful 2015 season with the Tigers and Pirates ( https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/roya...rs/c-159367354 ).
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho:
I won't argue that Soria had a rough 2016 and 2017. Both years had periods where he got things together and pitched very well for extended stretches.
And his overall numbers were not awful in 2017. He had some peripherals that were very good.
I'm not sad to see him go. But I am surprised it required moving him with an asset that has some real value in Alexander to dump the salary.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
What are your thoughts on the guys we get back? Offset Alexander loss any? [Reply]
Originally Posted by Jerm:
Th way this weekend has gone I’m fully expecting Hos to sign with the Cards tomorrow...
I feel like the Royals recently have made a habit of announcing good things right after the Chiefs lose in the playoffs. I expect something to come out on Monday, possibly a Hosmer signing. [Reply]
And I'll say this again... despite having the deck stacked completely against them, the Royals managed to win two league titles and one world title, through smart GM moves, an owner that stepped up when needed, and an ability to grind things out and be clutch.
Thank you, Kansas City Royals, for being the anti-Chiefs.
