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]
Originally Posted by Lex Luthor:
Give him a look at first base?
Unless they acquire a first baseman, I believe it'll be Hunter Dozier or Ryan O'Hearn at first. I think Soler's been working hard to play a decent OF. [Reply]
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho:
If I'm KC, I'm working on a two-three year deal with Trevor Rosenthal.
Pay him for his rehab year in 2018 and have a very valuable trade chip in 19 or 20.
Isn't that what the Royals tried to do with Kris Medlen. They signed him to a two year deal knowing he wouldn't be much help in 2015, but hoping he'd make his comeback in 2016. I believe he was hurt during most of 2016 also? [Reply]
Originally Posted by DeepSouth:
Isn't that what the Royals tried to do with Kris Medlen. They signed him to a two year deal knowing he wouldn't be much help in 2015, but hoping he'd make his comeback in 2016. I believe he was hurt during most of 2016 also?
Originally Posted by DeepSouth:
So, it works 50% of the time?
Likely less. But those low risk, high reward type moves led us to a World Series (Chris Young, Kendrys Morales, Luke Hochevar).
And they also were part of why we had the 2 years that followed (Medlen, Young, etc). If one of those guys pans out, we could have made the playoffs in one of those seasons. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Chiefspants:
Likely less. But those low risk, high reward type moves led us to a World Series (Chris Young, Kendrys Morales, Luke Hochevar).
And they also were part of why we had the 2 years that followed (Medlen, Young, etc). If one of those guys pans out, we could have made the playoffs in one of those seasons.
Don't disagree with you. But with all the talk about the Royals and payroll, do they want to pay a guy knowing he won't do anything for them in year one? [Reply]
Originally Posted by BWillie:
Jorge Soler better play EVERY SINGLE DAY. Yes he will be atrocious on the field. But he has a chance to become OFFENSIVELY close to Aaron Judge. He probably won't. But he could.
