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 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.
Technically, every player has a chance to become Aaron Judge.
If I had to guess, most players who have a .900 OPS one season in AAA don't end up like Aaron Judge. [Reply]
Originally Posted by cosmo20002:
People complain about Boras, but the players are ultimately in charge.
I wouldn't say that. Most of these guys have little to no education, they totally rely on their agent (and their lawyers if nec, tho they overlap). They also face tremendous pressure from their union to hold out for every dime to set markets. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Prison Bitch:
I wouldn't say that. Most of these guys have little to no education, they totally rely on their agent (and their lawyers if nec, tho they overlap). They also face tremendous pressure from their union to hold out for every dime to set markets.
I'm not talking about rubes fresh off the truck from Podunk. Veterans like Hosmer and the others know exactly what other players get, and they can easily get any info they want from the union.
I'm sure they have pressure from the agent and the union to get the best deal, but I don't know if taking a couple mil or a year less is going to bring the wrath of the union. But it's their career and they make the ultimate decision on whether a deal is good enough. [Reply]
With that deal I'm a bit skeptical Moose is going to get to $50 million, but anything's possible I guess. I really think the whole 2 WAR thing is killing him... I thought it would knock down his market, but not nearly to this extent. Apparently Dayton did say this today. I don't know what options Moose has left at this point though.
DAYTON on MOUSTAKAS: "Moustakas had some expectations that were a little different, places he wanted to play. It was clear from the beginning that we weren’t a high priority."
