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]
Here's an excerpt: I wonder who he was talking about?!?!?!?
After getting little guidance from Royals players when he first came up, Duffy wants to help out younger teammates. He has taken 22-year-old left-hander Richard Lovelady, who's in his first big league camp, under his wing.
"We had an extreme lack of leadership from the players' standpoint when I was younger," Duffy said. "I'm not afraid to say that. I got worn out by six dudes that were in the corner of the clubhouse that I had more time than them combined in the big leagues.
"Hindsight is 20-20. You wish you'd popped one of them in the mouth, seriously. I should have punched one in the throat when I had the opportunity because, looking back, that's not right," he said. "I'm not going to name these guys' names as much as I'd like to. They're probably out playing slow-pitch softball right now. But I tell you what, everything comes around. We now have dudes in the clubhouse that can lead by example and try to lead the right way." [Reply]
I would bet the reasons for Hosmer going to San Diego is how the contract was structured. Royals probably had lower amounts in the beginning with no opt out clause and wouldn't go 8 years. [Reply]
Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry:
I would bet the reasons for Hosmer going to San Diego is how the contract was structured. Royals probably had lower amounts in the beginning with no opt out clause and wouldn't go 8 years.
Reading between the lines on some of the national commentators, I wouldn't be surprised if the Royals matched the deal.
Kansas City has always felt too small for Hos. It is what it is. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Bowser:
Only if he is at third and Moose is at first. /puke
And can we PLEASE stop with the "Let's put Whit at first!" crap? Thanks in advance.
Agree with no Whit at first. Pretty sure the Royals would never do that anyway. I imagine the Royals will go with Dozier at 1st and Cuthbert at 3rd. Assuming that the reports of Moose not wanting to come back are true. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Chiefspants:
Reading between the lines on some of the national commentators, I wouldn't be surprised if the Royals matched the deal.
Kansas City has always felt too small for Hos. It is what it is.
Then why go to SD? Place is a baseball wasteland.
I suppose they may have sold him on SD being a Los Angeles suburb and he can get endorsements out there he can't get here. It's a dubious argument to me [Reply]
Originally Posted by Prison Bitch:
Then why go to SD? Place is a baseball wasteland.
I suppose they may have sold him on SD being a Los Angeles suburb and he can get endorsements out there he can't get here. It's a dubious argument to me
I think Hos will be all about that Cali-beach life. [Reply]