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]
3. Kelvin Herrera and Jon Jay to the Astros for pitching prospect David Paulino and J.D. Davis.
Herrera has been touted here for weeks as the right one for the Astros. Paulino has been dangled by the Astros forever. The Royals will need corner guys with Mike Moustakas and Lucas Duda free agents.
6. Mike Moustakas to the Braves for A.J. Minter and Kyle Muller.
The Braves are likely to seek a third base upgrade, but probably not of a mind to deal top guys or add huge money, so Machado and Donaldson may be less likely. Moustakas is having a nice year at a reasonable rate, and he’d fit fine.
These would be fair returns.
Paulinho is a huge power arm with durability concerns. Worst-case, he would be a good back-end bullpen piece.
If he can stay healthy, he throws enough strikes to have a 3 floor with a ToR ceiling. MLb ready now.
Davis is a 3B with good power. He’s already 25 and is also MlB-ready. You’d get his prime years under control.
I like Muller and I LOOOOOVE AJ Minter, who I think is going to be an elite closer.
Minter is already a major leaguer and would slide right into the closer spot for KC. Muller is a projectable High-A arm that would slot nicely with the Lee/Matias/Pratto wave.
Personally, I think both deals are good for KC, but wonder if KC would prefer a little more youth and upside in return.
Rogelio Armentaros is also a guy I could see KC valuing over Paulinho despite him being a little lower ranked. [Reply]
Cam Gallagher having a nice year at AAA. 102 ABs, 2 HR, .333 avg, .839 OPS.
Maybe we can finally get rid of Butera as a back up. I know he's had some good spurts with the Royals, but bottom line is he's a .550 career OPS hitter. [Reply]
Maybe could've used more trade bait gmd
@BooneOWH: Clay Buchholz has made three starts since signing with Arizona after leaving Omaha after getting his release from the Royals. He's 1-1 with a 1.50 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 18 innings. WHIP is 0.67. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Sure-Oz:
Maybe could've used more trade bait gmd
@BooneOWH: Clay Buchholz has made three starts since signing with Arizona after leaving Omaha after getting his release from the Royals. He's 1-1 with a 1.50 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 18 innings. WHIP is 0.67.
Man, just kinda sucks that our rotation is so good that we couldn't find a spot for him. [Reply]
Omar hit a home run in a WS game for the Royals. That's 100x more significant than anything Batting Practice Kennedy has ever done for us. Just saying. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Sure-Oz:
Maybe could've used more trade bait gmd
@BooneOWH: Clay Buchholz has made three starts since signing with Arizona after leaving Omaha after getting his release from the Royals. He's 1-1 with a 1.50 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 18 innings. WHIP is 0.67.
You mean Moore made the wrong personnel decision AGAIN? [Reply]