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]
Royals manager Ned Yost is adamant that no one, not even Paulo Orlando, has the inside track for the center-field job.
"It's a phrase I don't like," Yost said on Day 2 of camp Thursday. "It means you have deemed Paulo Orlando already is the center fielder.
"No, he isn't. He has an opportunity, just like [Cheslor Cuthbert] has an opportunity [at third base] or [Hunter Dozier] at first base, or whomever. They all have opportunity. No one has an inside track."
With Lorenzo Cain having signed with the Brewers, the Royals will be looking to fill the spot among Orlando, Billy Burns, Bubba Starling, Tyler Collins, Terrance Gore and even Alex Gordon
When it comes down to it, Dozier likely has the higher ceiling and is the better defender at 3B. He should be the everyday third baseman next year. Moving him to first just puts too much pressure on his bat and there is no real reason to put him there anyways. If I held the lineup card pencil, I’d roll with Dozier at third and O’Hearn at first for all of 2018, regardless of any bumps along the way. We know what Cuthbert is, a replacement level-ish player whose main contribution just comes from not being truly bad at everything and not being hurt.
Dozier may not bring superstar level upside, but he’s the better long term piece than Cuthbert and should be given priority at the higher position, not being wasted at first (though he could also play the outfield - which is still better than first).
Reliever Brandon Maurer's salary arbitration hearing is scheduled for Thursday. He filed at $3.5 million, the Royals at $2.95m. The team has never gone to a hearing under GM Dayton Moore.
Originally Posted by DeepSouth:
Reliever Brandon Maurer's salary arbitration hearing is scheduled for Thursday. He filed at $3.5 million, the Royals at $2.95m. The team has never gone to a hearing under GM Dayton Moore.
Royals manager Ned Yost said Thursday that while Escobar will play every day at shortstop, Mondesi still could win a job at the big league level at second base -- yes, second base, which was manned by Whit Merrifield for most of last season.
"It depends how Mondi is doing this spring," Yost said. "Is he doing [badly]? Is he doing great? If he's doing great, we want him here. If he's not, we want him at Triple-A.
"We can move Whit around. Whit can play first or third or left or center. We can mix and match."
Originally Posted by DeepSouth:
Royals manager Ned Yost said Thursday that while Escobar will play every day at shortstop, Mondesi still could win a job at the big league level at second base -- yes, second base, which was manned by Whit Merrifield for most of last season.
"It depends how Mondi is doing this spring," Yost said. "Is he doing [badly]? Is he doing great? If he's doing great, we want him here. If he's not, we want him at Triple-A.
"We can move Whit around. Whit can play first or third or left or center. We can mix and match."
Actually, Moustakas isn't there, as he's a Boras client.
Forgot. Yes, borassholes woild never be caught dead at one of these "job fairs"
Bring your resumes, a baseball card will do. Just ask for an "informational interview" with a ballclub. And make sure you nail your greatest weakness question [Reply]
