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 siberian khatru:
Gotta be something else going on with Almonte, something not related to health and performance.
Royals had concerns about Almonte’s health, including his ability to pitch soon with his shoulder. Like Zimmer, he’s battled arm issues over the years, and they needed a spot. We’ll see if it’s wise, but a fairly straightforward baseball move.https://t.co/tlARsZdhEj
Royals had concerns about Almonte’s health, including his ability to pitch soon with his shoulder. Like Zimmer, he’s battled arm issues over the years, and they needed a spot. We’ll see if it’s wise, but a fairly straightforward baseball move.https://t.co/tlARsZdhEj
If he’s hurt there are ways to move him off the 40 and stash him to see how he rehabs without getting rid of him. And why in the world would they feel compelled to make such a move to make room for Abraham Almonte of all people? [Reply]
That's the part that I don't get. Sometimes guys get hurt or you just run out of room to stash guys. I don't get why they needed to do this for Abraham Almonte. [Reply]
I’ll try to get the 2018 season repo started tonight. I’ll bring over some of the draft pick stuff and try to highlight some prospects to watch this year.
Slightly related preview: Really do think Jakob Junis is for real and may be the Royals best starter entering 2019, even if Duffy is healthy.
His slider is a real weapon, and he understands how to use it.
That’s an encouraging sign for the Royals pitching development. Antique Bill Fischer was the pitching director for minor leagues for most of the first half of Moore’s GM-ship. His direction was good for getting guys to max out their stuff and velocity but not as good at developing look and feel for pitching and was especially anti-slider. [Reply]
Originally Posted by siberian khatru:
If he’s hurt there are ways to move him off the 40 and stash him to see how he rehabs without getting rid of him.
If he's hurt, and more towards the chronically hurt like Zimmer, why do they need to bother keeping him on the 40-man?
They are allegedly going to re-sign Zimmer, maybe that was the plan for Almonte until they got a decent offer for him. [Reply]
If you all are up for a pick-me-up, I stumbled upon a condensed game of our 2015 Opening Day ass-kicking of the White Sox today.
Everything about that day felt like a good omen - from our spectacular base running, incredible defense, the oppo shot from Moose, the contributions of our new additions (Kendrys, Rios and Madson), and a dominant outing from Ace Ventura. The team was also as goofy and fiery as all get out, from getting targeted by Sarjahejizh, Ace's cramp, Lorenzo's looney toons fall - if there was one game that would set the tone for the season and could convince the masses that 2014 wasn't a fluke, it was this one.
Originally Posted by Dartgod:
Back to back walks and now 3-0 on batter number 3. I don't know what the fuck his issue is, but I'm starting to not be a fan.
The meltdown is on. He looks like Charles Barkley swinging a golf club out there. [Reply]