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]
Herrera’s velocity has been good and he has 7 swinging strikes in 27 pitches. That’s a crazy high swinging strike rate that won’t hold up, but seeing him punch that rate up is huge.
His best season was 2016, and it was his career high for swinging strikes. If he can keep that rate up, I think we see the stud reliever we’d gotten used to prior to 2017.
Even just holding a 15 percent rate would push him into that territory. With his stuff, used right, that’s possible. [Reply]
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho:
Herrera’s velocity has been good and he has 7 swinging strikes in 27 pitches. That’s a crazy high swinging strike rate that won’t hold up, but seeing him punch that rate up is huge.
His best season was 2016, and it was his career high for swinging strikes. If he can keep that rate up, I think we see the stud reliever we’d gotten used to prior to 2017.
Even just holding a 15 percent rate would push him into that territory. With his stuff, used right, that’s possible.
Herrera is the big time trade deadline chip they have this year. Teams always need relievers, especially ones that have pitched in big time games. We should get a decent return for him. [Reply]
Source: Cole Hamels can block trades to all teams except Mariners, Cardinals, Nationals, Astros, Cubs, Phillies, Braves, Royals, and Rays. He earns $22.5M this season in final year of contract, followed by $20M club option ($6M buyout) for 2019. @MLB@MLBNetwork
Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry:
Herrera is the big time trade deadline chip they have this year. Teams always need relievers, especially ones that have pitched in big time games. We should get a decent return for him.
Shut him down, put him on ice, and wait for the offers. :-) [Reply]
The #Angels have acquired RHP Miguel Almonte from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for cash considerations or a PTBNL. Almonte has been optioned to @SaltLakeBees.
To make room on the 40-man roster, C Juan Graterol has been designated for assignment.
The #Angels have acquired RHP Miguel Almonte from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for cash considerations or a PTBNL. Almonte has been optioned to @SaltLakeBees.
To make room on the 40-man roster, C Juan Graterol has been designated for assignment.
The #Angels have acquired RHP Miguel Almonte from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for cash considerations or a PTBNL. Almonte has been optioned to @SaltLakeBees.
To make room on the 40-man roster, C Juan Graterol has been designated for assignment.
