Free Agent Signings:
Carlos Santana
Mike Minor
Michael Taylor
Ervin Santana
Top 10 Prospects:
1 Bobby Witt Jr., SS
2 Asa Lacy, LHP
3 Daniel Lynch, LHP
4 Jackson Kowar, RHP
5 Erick Pena, OF
6 Nick Loftin, SS
7 Kyle Isbel, OF
8 Khali Lee, OF
9 Jonathan Bowlan, RHP
10 Carlos Hernedez, RHP [Reply]
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho:
I was thinking about that 2016 trade deadline earlier today...
because Trea Turner was one of the names involved in discussions then, as was Victor Robles.
Look, the Royals should be trading as much as they can. I'd like to see them be more "transactional" to borrow a phrase Dayton Moore recently was using.
Scott Barlow
Whit Merrifield
should both be guys they're actively talking about.
I'd add Carlos Santana to that list, as well... but we've already heard that isn't the case.
Players I'd basically say Yes to a trade if the name was even mentioned, before they even offer a player: Holland, Minor, Dyson, Taylor. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Chiefspants:
I like that we got someone for Soler.
Also, Dayton makes trades literally all the time. Beni is one that comes to mind, and he wheeled and dealed in 2015 and 2017 (one worked, one did not). Holding in 2016 backfired spectacularly but it was rumored that he was working on deals for Wade and Cain before they got injured. That year comes to mind as a lost one in terms of the long term impact that could have had on the franchise.
But, it's going to be so frustrating if he sits on Whit this season and Whit declines next year. Feels like this was the perfect time to move him.
IF Whit declines next year? Whit has been in decline every year since 2018. His SB are back up again, but as a hitter he’s no longer one of the best in the league. I really don’t care all that much that Whit wasn’t traded because the trade should have happened 2 years ago, at this point the return wouldn’t have been much. [Reply]
Originally Posted by OKchiefs:
IF Whit declines next year? Whit has been in decline every year since 2018. His SB are back up again, but as a hitter he’s no longer one of the best in the league. I really don’t care all that much that Whit wasn’t traded because the trade should have happened 2 years ago, at this point the return wouldn’t have been much.
He's still a very valuable player but has had some bad luck this year. He absolutely could have received a comparable return to some of the other players we saw at this deadline. When I say decline, I'm talking a 2017 Alex Gordon/2018 Alcides Escobar/2021 Hunter Dozier type of drop off. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Mecca:
By the time this team is ready to contend that bullpen won't have any of the sane guys and Whit will be an old declining player.
Respectfully disagree, I actually think this team is closer to contending than most here do.
The one damn " BIG " thing that scares me is Mike Matheney! [Reply]
Originally Posted by OKchiefs:
IF Whit declines next year? Whit has been in decline every year since 2018. His SB are back up again, but as a hitter he’s no longer one of the best in the league. I really don’t care all that much that Whit wasn’t traded because the trade should have happened 2 years ago, at this point the return wouldn’t have been much.
You could easily argue Merrifield's 2019 was more valuable than 2018, because he hit for more power and had a higher OPS.
As for what he is now... He is in the midst of a fairly bad slump that is dragging his 21 line down (On the heels of a white-hot June).
His peripherals and statcast items don't show any real signs of physical decline (exit velo and sprint speed, for example, still in line with earlier years).
He's hitting a higher percentage of ground balls, but not drastically so. Will be interesting to monitor over the rest of the season.
I'm disappointed the Royals couldn't match up on a deal with somebody. It does take 2 to tango, which is the reason he hadn't been traded before this year. Timing, right? Transplant this trade market to 2018 or 2019, and I think some team makes the offer that leads KC to trade him. [Reply]
Whit's a pure hitter, I wouldn't be the least bit shocked if he's still a solid hitter well into his 30s. He's the type of guy like a Zobrist who just hits. Now the speed and defense is another question. [Reply]
Whit had one bad stretch that makes it look like he's declining, but if you dig a little deeper you can see that he's still the same player. By the end of the year he will be back to his usual stats.
Them not trading Carlos Santana is so fucking retarded it's ridiculous. [Reply]
To replace outfielder Jorge Soler, the Royals called up Lucius Fox, yet another infielder. In 22 games at AAA, he had a (checks notes) .527 OPS. Batting .185 with 0 HR.
