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 don't know where the pitching will come from, but I think the book has yet to be written on Soler, Mondesi and Cuthbert. That's kind of the forgotten thing when people say the Royals don't have any prospects. These are all three guys who were highly thought of young players, and they are all 25 or younger.
We're talking about Moose now like he's not replaceable... his age 25 season he hit .212 and was sent to the minors. Eric Hosmer hit 9 home runs his 24 year old season. Alex Gordon didn't click until he was 27. I wouldn't be surprised if at least one of the three breaks out and becomes a really good major league player. [Reply]
Originally Posted by tk13:
I don't know where the pitching will come from, but I think the book has yet to be written on Soler, Mondesi and Cuthbert. That's kind of the forgotten thing when people say the Royals don't have any prospects. These are all three guys who were highly thought of young players, and they are all 25 or younger.
We're talking about Moose now like he's not replaceable... his age 25 season he hit .212 and was sent to the minors. Eric Hosmer hit 9 home runs his 24 year old season. Alex Gordon didn't click until he was 27. I wouldn't be surprised if at least one of the three breaks out and becomes a really good major league player.
In all honesty, Dayton did what he said he would... he's earned my trust for awhile. I don't know how some hate him so much.
I mean, Ned sure... He's had his dumbass moments.
Even last season when the Royals were on that hot streak and wanted to make a push, Dayton made moves and TRIED... it just sucks that those Padres players were turds. I blame the players there, not the GM. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Codered:
I wonder if Whit can play CF and Mondesi will be ready by May to play 2B in the majors? That would make it look a "tiny" bit better. Then you could play Soler/Boni at RF. Soler/Dozier/Salvy at DH depending on the days off.
Still not all that much better then 72-75 wins though.
It’s extremely difficult to lose 100 games, although the Royals know the way. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Molitoth:
I share your optimism! :-)
In all honesty, Dayton did what he said he would... he's earned my trust for awhile. I don't know how some hate him so much.
I mean, Ned sure... He's had his dumbass moments.
Even last season when the Royals were on that hot streak and wanted to make a push, Dayton made moves and TRIED... it just sucks that those Padres players were turds. I blame the players there, not the GM.
Trevor Cahill. Let that shit stain sink in. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Molitoth:
I share your optimism! :-)
In all honesty, Dayton did what he said he would... he's earned my trust for awhile. I don't know how some hate him so much.
I mean, Ned sure... He's had his dumbass moments.
Even last season when the Royals were on that hot streak and wanted to make a push, Dayton made moves and TRIED... it just sucks that those Padres players were turds. I blame the players there, not the GM.
They get too much credit and too much blame. There's a good amount of "luck" involved.
Dayton was in his 8th full season before the 2014 playoffs. For a couple years, everything he did was gold. Since the end of 2015, pretty much every move has been shit, even if some did seem promising at first like the Padres trade last year. [Reply]
Originally Posted by tk13:
I don't know where the pitching will come from, but I think the book has yet to be written on Soler, Mondesi and Cuthbert. That's kind of the forgotten thing when people say the Royals don't have any prospects. These are all three guys who were highly thought of young players, and they are all 25 or younger.
We're talking about Moose now like he's not replaceable... his age 25 season he hit .212 and was sent to the minors. Eric Hosmer hit 9 home runs his 24 year old season. Alex Gordon didn't click until he was 27. I wouldn't be surprised if at least one of the three breaks out and becomes a really good major league player.
Sure, my comments are more based on what the production looks like for 2018. Could those guys develop? I sure as hell hope some of them do. We are in a world of hurt if they don't. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Molitoth:
I share your optimism! :-)
In all honesty, Dayton did what he said he would... he's earned my trust for awhile. I don't know how some hate him so much.
I mean, Ned sure... He's had his dumbass moments.
Even last season when the Royals were on that hot streak and wanted to make a push, Dayton made moves and TRIED... it just sucks that those Padres players were turds. I blame the players there, not the GM.
Dayton gave Gordon a ridiculous contract that nobody else was willing to give him. He's earned some scrutiny for that horrible decision alone. Giving up a high pick (and crazy contract) for Ian Kennedy didn't help. [Reply]
Originally Posted by cosmo20002:
They get too much credit and too much blame. There's a good amount of "luck" involved.
Dayton was in his 8th full season before the 2014 playoffs. For a couple years, everything he did was gold. Since the end of 2015, pretty much every move has been shit, even if some did seem promising at first like the Padres trade last year.
Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla:
Are the Astros just super lucky?
To some extent. I mostly mean that it is extremely difficult to really judge young talent. More top prospects bomb and fizzle out than become all-stars. I do think there is a lot of luck in nailing those picks.
Then there's injuries and that kind of stuff. What if Holland and Moose don't get hurt for 2016? What if Hoch doesn't get hurt and if Ventura doesn't die for 2017?
Then Dayton's not forced to make some of the moves that turned out shitty. [Reply]
Royals have traded LHP Ryan Buchter and DH/1B Brandon Moss to Oakland for right-hander Jesse Hahn and Minor League right-hander Heath Fillmyer. This could clear some payroll space for a certain free-agent first baseman you know.
Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla:
Dayton gave Gordon a ridiculous contract that nobody else was willing to give him.
How do you know that? You don't. This is the biggest bit of revisionist history you'll see. Sure it's terrible in hindsight, but Gordon was coming off a 5 year stretch where he posted about 25 WAR and he keeps himself in as good of shape as any athlete in baseball. The general thought was the last year or two of the contract had the potential to be an overpay, but literally no one predicted he'd fall off a cliff. [Reply]
