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]
If anything, the last run showed what happens when the Royals are relevant. I don't think they need to prove anything to get a vastly superior TV deal.
And really, if they're going to dump and build, just do it. Bringing back Hosmer at that point makes no sense. And I suspect Hoz would prefer a different situation at that point.
I'm not mad about it, I'm grateful. It's been a fun run. I get the realities of it. Embrace it wholeheartedly and do it right. [Reply]
Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief:
If anything, the last run showed what happens when the Royals are relevant. I don't think they need to prove anything to get a vastly superior TV deal.
And really, if they're going to dump and build, just do it. Bringing back Hosmer at that point makes no sense. And I suspect Hoz would prefer a different situation at that point.
I'm not mad about it, I'm grateful. It's been a fun run. I get the realities of it. Embrace it wholeheartedly and do it right.
What, they going to try and get ESPN into a bidding war with... who, exactly?
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
I didn't realize he torched the PCL as badly as he did. Some very encouraging signs across the board there and he's had some periods of success at the major league level.
Gotta just stick his ass in RF and have him sink or swim at this point. I think he swims. There will always be holes in his swing but I saw him pull his hands in and punish some inside pitches with the Cubs so he's not completely helpless in that regard. That guy scared the hell out of me as a long-term asset for CHC.
I still think he'll be a good run producer.
He and Mondesi need their 500AB and they'll combine for 35 HR at a min. Tons of K but shit, they'll make $1M .... combined.
Originally Posted by Prison Bitch:
He and Mondesi need their 500AB and they'll combine for 35 HR at a min. Tons of K but shit, they'll make $1M .... combined.
I'm bullish on them both.
Way to go out on a limb on the top two young guys there which most are high on. [Reply]
@JonHeyman: Royals want big prospects for Herrera (naturally). For that reason rangers are disinclined to make big play here.
@jcrasnick: The #Royals have signed pitcher Mike Broadway to a minor league contract with a big league invite. Broadway has pitched in the majors with the #SFGiants and in Japan with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Ebolapox:
Lol Russian trolls have hit lists? Thought that was against Geneva convention re: no state sponsored assassinations :-)
True though, the prospect glimmer is gone from both.
I think Mondesi has looked lost at the plate at the MLB level, much worse than Escobar, but he's only 22. He has a long long way to go before I'd start freaking out. He's still several years from his prime. [Reply]
Mondesi will struggle at the plate this year...but he will be statistically better than Escobar in nearly every way. Not hard to do, but at least it's a position where we'll likely see an upgrade. I think DJLN mentioned Soler in RF. He's more likely to see action in LF. Boni is clearly more comfortable in RF and seemed to progress defensively last year. Gordon will see a few at-bats a week in CF and probably a game or two on the bench or at DH. Soler will DH as well, I'm guessing - especially if Hosmer is not retained - Moss will see more time at 1B if Hoz is not on the roster. [Reply]
