I would like it. The price you guys were talking about yesterday (Calixte or Mondesi) makes it unattractive, but if it was, say, a low impact guy like a depth starter or a lottery ticket arm, that might work.

Also was thinking about this... let's play pretend and flash forward to mid-season or this time next year. Say Orlando Calixte is raking at Northwest Arkansas (.280/.330/.500 slash). At his age, and if his D at SS holds up, that probably makes him a top 50 prospect. Would St. Louis be interested enough in a young SS to move one of the power RHPs for him? With Rosenthal, Miller, Jenkins and Martinez, seems like there's a surplus there that might match up.

Cards perspective on that? Not sure how dire a need SS is for you guys.

Could be. I liked Seitzer and believe Francouer had a hand in his dismissal along with Leadheaded Ned. Guess we will see what happens with the new batting coaches.

If I'm being optimistic about the offense, here are best case scenarios:

7 - Alex Gordon: .310/25/80 RBI/110 R/10 SB/.380 OBP/.500 SLG
6 - Escobar: .300/8/50/85 R/.340 OBP/.390 SLG/40 SB
3 - Eric Hosmer: .300/30/110/100/15 SB/.350 OBP/.500 SLG
DH - Billy Butler: .325/30/100/85/0/.375 OBP/.500 SLG
5 - Mike Moustakas: .280/35/90/80/3/.340 OBP/.500 SLG
2 - Sal Perez: .300/22/85/75/0/.330 OBP/.500 SLG
9 - Jeff Francoeur: .280/25/75/75/.315 OBP/.450 SLG
8 - Lorenzo Cain: .280/20/75/75/.320 OBP/.450 SLG/25 SB
4 - Chris Getz: .260/0/40/65/.300 OBP/.375 SLG

If you get max upside years from EVERYONE (not going to happen), then you can talk about elite offense.

I think 720 R is a pretty good mark to shoot for. And that's with Hosmer and Moustakas being quality producers, if not elite guys (though if Moose puts up a .270/30/80 line, with his defense, that makes him an elite AL 3B).

JIMP

ROFL

Go take a look at how many runs the Royals scored in 2011. Hosmer and Moose had significant sophomore slumps.

The "we might make the playoffs" scenario presumes their 3rd years, which is not an unreasonable assumption at all, will be like or better than their 1st years. And Butler/Gordon/Perez/Escobar wont regress.

Frenchy had an .805 OPS in 2011. Shocked everyone, but he did it. He's not likely to repeat that because his babip was really high in 2011, but it was really low in 2012, and he's probably a low-700 OPS guy. If we're talking "maximum potential" for Frenchy, thats not an outrageous call. (what is probably unreasonable is presuming everyone maxes out)

If we actually do that, we're probably closer to 770-780 runs than 720.

Don't think for a minute that duncan was projecting our lineup in its totality. He simply listed all of the major pieces and their individual best-case scenarios.

Some might make this; some won't, and some will disappoint.

In sum, have to hope that the roster as a whole is significantly more talented, and this is the million-dollar question.

RUSH Sucks!!!

I'm by no mean saying that's what I expect the lineup to put up (And if that did happen, I'd expect them to be over 800 runs).

Just listing best case scenarios, IMO, from each of them. Not what I actually expect to see ...

No way Mo our GM can expect a Calixte for a utility player. Nor anything less than a Meyer + more for any of those other pitchers you mentioned.

Kelly or Lynn maybe. For crissakes Lynn won 18 games last year.

I think DJ was talking about throwing in Kelly and Shumaker. Thats too much for me. I think Kelley would be your #2 or #3 starter. He throws in the high 90's and doesn't walk a lot of hitters. He's a top notch talent. And he's the grandson of Machine Gun Kelly. Think of the marketing.:hmmm:

Shumaker would be way better for you guys at 2B than Getz. No way they are asking a lot for Shu.

DM has decided that this is your 2 year window to make a run. I hope is pans out. You loyal Royal fans deserve to root for a winner. Deserve to experience playoff baseball in KC.

The ****?

Agree with all of this, dude. Thanks for the kind thoughts.