*** Official 2016 Royals Repository, Version 1 ***

[duncan_idaho]

And so it begins: The Royals' second straight attempt to repeat as AL Champions, and first attempt to repeat as World Series champions.

In this thread, we'll track all non-gameday action. Roster moves, prospect news, etc.

I'll start the thread as usual, with division rivals thoughts. I still like KC to repeat as AL Central champs. Here's how I see the rest of it shaking out:

2) Indians - they have the pitching (and seem to have at least semi-Kluber-ed Cody Anderson, who added 3 mph to his fastball in the offseason). Will the offense hold up? I think this is a team that ends up looking a lot like the 2014 Royals. Francisco Lindor will solidify their IF defense over the full season, and is a help with the bat. I think this club is still a year away from really breaking through - the offense still has a lot of question marks - but I like them to nab a wildcard spot.

Key Player(s): Michael Brantley. When Brantley returns - and how he hits when he does - will be critical to the Indians' ability to be good enough on offense.

Jason Kipnis. Kipnis has been an enigmatic offensive performer for the past several years. If he finally has a good offensive campaign from start to finish, Cleveland could make real noise.

Something of interest to me: For all the acclaim the Twins' farm system gets, I look at the Indians young players, and would much rather have them. Brad Zimmer is going to be a very good all-around CF. Clint Frazier has huge power potential and should arrive soon (2017). Lindor is a young stud.

3) Tigers - Old and dependent on a few stars. If Verlander and Sanchez are healthy and effective, they will be playoff contenders. I'm sure JD Martinez will continue to hit roid-aided bombs. I'm also pretty sure Victor Martinez's days as a huge power threat are gone.

Key player: Justin Verlander. Detroit people would have you believe he figured out how to succeed without his big fastball in September of last year. If that's true, and he returns to dominant form, Detroit will likely contend again.

Something of interest to me: Will Jose Iglesias stay healthy and not try to kill teammates in the dugout? His defense makes the whole group much better.

4) Twins - They won't lead the division or be in playoff contention for as long this year, but Minnesota will avoid the cellar.

Key Player: Miguel Sano. Huge power, huge K rate. Can he continue to drive the ball and be a plus offensive player? Probably needs to cut that 35 percent K percentage to do so.

Something of interest to me: Will teams challenge Sano inside with hard stuff? Working away, away, just lets his power play up. Also - will Mike Berardino continue to be the biggest beat writer homer in MLB?

5) White Sox - still managed by a shitty manager who can't control his clubhouse (The blame for the LaRoche thing really should fall on him, not the GM). Still have a shitty overall defense and a lot of douchebags on the team. They will once again look better on paper than they actually perform.

Key player: Carlos Rodon. The White Sox need Rodon to take a big step forward to make an actual move this season. He's got the talent...

And, as always, here are the prospects.

Duncan’s Top 20 for 2016:

Spoiler!

1. Raul Adalberto Mondesi, SS, BOTH: Tools, tools, tools. RA has tools galore. At his best, he’s an All-Star SS who plays elite D, hits 15-20 HR, swipes 40 bags, and is an ideal 1, 2 or 3 hitter. At his worst, I think he looks a lot like Alcides Escobar. Plate discipline is his biggest challenge at this point, but evaluators are confident that will come with time. Clear No. 1
2. Kyle Zimmer, RHP: He’s pitching again and staying healthy, which is nice. He’s pitcing out of the bullpen to build back his arm strength, which is less nice. But still has that high upside, just a lower floor now. Ideally, the team will use him as a bullpen weapon in September (because he has earned it) and then give him a chance to transition back to starting for 2016.
3. Bubba Starling, CF, RH: Starling has been up and down this year but put himself back on the map by greatly improving his K rate while also improving across the slash line as a hitter. His defense and baserunning are MLB ready; if Starling can work himself into a league average hitter, he can be a solid MLB regular who plays great D in CF while hitting 15 HR and swiping 20 bags.
4. Miguel Almonte, RHP: Still love the body, FB/CH combo. Results aren’t eye popping, but he’s still low enough and early enough in the development to prize those things over performance. Still a solid No. 3 starter upside, and just a year and some change away from potentially being ready to contribute at the MLB level.
5. Jorge Bonifacio, RF, RH: Emilio’s little brother got off to a horrible start in 2015 but has heated up as the season went on. He also is translating BP power to game power for the first time, with 15 HR just past the mid-way point of his season. Despite his disappointing 2014, he has a chance to build his way back into legit prospect status – and still is only 22. Next challenge for him should be Omaha, but that may wait for the start of the 2014 season.
6. Scott Blewett, RHP: Blewett has a nice two –pitch mix already and is off to a strong start. With his size (6-6) and a good fastball/curveball combo, Blewett could eventually turn into a good No. 3 starter, with a MLB-average changeup.
7. Nolan Watson, RHP: The Royals’ 2015 sandwich pick is a polished prep arm who is adding velocity and explosiveness to a good, polished base. Likely to move quickly.
8. Ashe Russell, RHP: The 2015 top pick probably needs more work than Watson, but the upside is really nice. Again, advanced two-pitch mix that will depend on him adding a changeup. Could be a very good NO. 2 if it all adds up.
9. Balbino Fuenmayor, 1B/DH, RH: The Balbino came out of basically nowhere in 2015 to earn a Futures Game spot. Big power and an improved two-strike approach have turned the late bloomer into a legit prospect. He’s blocked at the MLB level currently by Eric Hosmer and Kendrys Morales, but Fuenmayor’s combination of power hitting and good average/strike zone control makes him intriguing.
10. Cheslor Cuthbert, 3B, RH: Cheslor probably is not going to be the star KC was hoping for when signing him out of Nicaragua, but he does look like he can be a solid reserve for an MLB club. Good defense at 3B paired with a solid plate approach and some gap power plays fine off the bench. He becomes a lot more interesting if they think he can stick as a 2B, which they have experimented with.

Spoiler!

11. Chase Vallot, C/DH/1B: I really like Vallot’s power and plate discipline combo. His bat will probably force him from behind the plate, but he’s held his own despite being extremely young for every level he has faced.
12. Alfredo Escalera-Maldonado, OF, RH: Escalera-Maldonado earned a promotion to Wilmington at age 20, which is pretty advanced movement for that age. He’s an athletic outfielder who has shown some plate discipline at an early age, which is encouraging. Doesn’t sound like he can stick in CF long term for KC, but his bat has become one to watch.
13. Pedro Fernandez, RHP: I haven’t seen much of him, but like the reports I’ve heard on his fastball and general makeup. Could become the next Almonte/Mondesi, though he’s more likely to land in the pen than either of them.
14. Elier Hernandez, OF, RH: Elier Hernanez teamed with Escalera-Maldonado in breaking out at Low-A and earning a promotion to Wilmington. It’s still early for this guy – he is just 20 years old – but he doesn’t take walks and hasn’t developed the prodigious power many thought he had the potential for. Still worth watching.
15. Hunter Dozier, 3B, RH: Dozier is reworking his swing mid-season, which generally will cause production to do what his has done: Nose dive. The changes he made entering the season (seemingly geared towards increasing his power production) were a disaster, and now he’s trying to get back to what he used to be. Still looks great and checks most of the scouting boxes, but the performance hasn’t matched, and it almost knocked him out of the list.
16. Christian Binford, RHP: After a breakthrough 2014, Binford struggled mightily at AAA and suffered a demotion. His upside remains similar – a back-end starter who can eat innings – but Binford’s lack of velocity and reliance on command have caught up to him so far.
17. Marten Gasparini, OF, SH: Gasparini is intriguing because of his speed and athleticism. He’s a LOOOOONG ways from the majors and young for his level, but reports on his bat speed, swing, and speed remain positive enough to keep him on the bubble.
18. Eric Skoglund, LHP: Skoglund had a nice year at Wilmington. I'm skeptical because his K rate is lower than I like to see for a guy at A+ - just 7/9, and usually guys lose a strikeout or two/9 as they move up the chain from there - but he has excellent control, walking 1.17 batters/9. 6-7 lefties with great control who get lots of ground balls - like Skoglund - have a chance to overcome bad K rates.
19. Ryan O'Hearn, 1B/LF: A lefty stick with power, O'Hearn was a savings signing as an 8th round pick, but a change in his approach increased his power - while increasing his K rate. After Vallot, probably the best pure power prospect in the Royals system.
20. Josh Staumont, RHP: I was terrified of this guy's control problems, and he walked nearly a batter an inning in his pro debut (32 BB in 40 1/3 IP). Staumont's nasty, nasty stuff (plus-plus fastball, plus slider) could make him a very good late-inning reliever who strikes out more than a batter an inning, if he can develop average or slightly below-average control. If he really masters the control, you're talking about a potential Greg Holland type, but that's a TALL task.

[nychief]

don't we play the sox 7 out of the next 10 or something? we'll see plenty of sale this season... boy he has been good.


The white sox have a lot of pressure on them, i'll be interested to see how they respond as the next 3/4 or the season unfold. Think it'll be a dog fight.

[Mother****erJones]

Originally Posted by Why Not?

Sale is a beast no doubt. And the rest of the rotation has impressed. But my God has that lineup underachieved. Worry about Eaton and don't throw a meat pitch to Frazier. Everyone else is meh

It's just not a great lineup. Eaton is a stud, Abreu is underperforming, Frazier is pretty good, Melky has been our most consistent hitter, Lawrie is slumping but has been good for most of the year. After that it's a young inconsistent Avi Garcia who is finally playing better, catching platoon, SS platoon and Austin Jackson. Well add to the roster by the deadline.

[Why Not?]

Originally Posted by Mother****erJones

It's just not a great lineup. Eaton is a stud, Abreu is underperforming, Frazier is pretty good, Melky has been our most consistent hitter, Lawrie is slumping but has been good for most of the year. After that it's a young inconsistent Avi Garcia who is finally playing better, catching platoon, SS platoon and Austin Jackson. Well add to the roster by the deadline.

Well, the Royals lineup hasn't quite been the '27 Yankees either. I think we're in for a good series. Game 1 definitely favors the Sox based on pitching matchup.

[Prison Bitch]

Sale has 9 wins. Minnesota has 10

[KevB]

Hunter Dozier blazing his way back into prospect territory. 2 more home runs tonight for Omaha, 12 on the season between AA and AAA. Big kid, looks the part for sure. Some video highlights if you go to Omaha's site. His first HR at AAA was a line shot the opposite way.

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by Mother****erJones

Royals are lucky as **** they're missing Sale

ChiSox are a .500 team without him.

[PHOG]

Originally Posted by nychief

don't we play the sox 7 out of the next 10 or something? we'll see plenty of sale this season... boy he has been good.


The white sox have a lot of pressure on them, i'll be interested to see how they respond as the next 3/4 or the season unfold. Think it'll be a dog fight.

Yep 3 games this weekend, then home for 3 with the Twins Mon.-Wed. before 4 more next weekend with the White Sux, and then also 3 with Tampa Bay to close out the homestand.

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by KevB

Hunter Dozier blazing his way back into prospect territory. 2 more home runs tonight for Omaha, 12 on the season between AA and AAA. Big kid, looks the part for sure. Some video highlights if you go to Omaha's site. His first HR at AAA was a line shot the opposite way.

Started Triple A 1-for-10. Since then, 14-for-34. Omaha line of .341/.370/.705 after going .305/.400/.642 at NWA.

Jeff Flanagan seems to think the Omaha IF will be Dozier at 3B, Colon at SS and Cuthbert at 2B, with the idea that 1) with Mondesi out, the Royals don't have a legit backup SS if Esky is out for a period, and Colon needs the reps; 2) they want to see if Cuthbert is a solution at 2B.

So despite the 810 narratives, it's not so much that the team dislikes Colon and likes Infante. It's that they're trying to reshuffle the deck a bit.

[siberian khatru]

BTW, Bubba Starling is 3 for his last 39, with one BB and 19 Ks. .195/.282/.376

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

BTW, Bubba Starling is 3 for his last 39, with one BB and 19 Ks. .195/.282/.376

He's never really been great at any level but doesn't he always start really slow?

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

He's never really been great at any level but doesn't he always start really slow?

He started pretty good this year, hitting .254/.361/.521 on May 1.

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

1) with Mondesi out, the Royals don't have a legit backup SS if Esky is out for a period, and Colon needs the reps; 2) they want to see if Cuthbert is a solution at 2B.

So despite the 810 narratives, it's not so much that the team dislikes Colon and likes Infante. It's that they're trying to reshuffle the deck a bit.

So they're going to put all their eggs in the re-signing Hosmer basket and Cuthbert, Mondesi, Dozier will be the new infield by 2018 with Colon filling in for Mondesi during the suspension?

Also I agree with Petro that Colon is a little pudgy to be playing a middle infield spot.

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

So they're going to put all their eggs in the re-signing Hosmer basket and Cuthbert, Mondesi, Dozier will be the new infield by 2018 with Colon filling in for Mondesi during the suspension?

Also I agree with Petro that Colon is a little pudgy to be playing a middle infield spot.

I think he can handle 2B so long as he doesn't balloon into Rickie Weeks.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

So they're going to put all their eggs in the re-signing Hosmer basket and Cuthbert, Mondesi, Dozier will be the new infield by 2018 with Colon filling in for Mondesi during the suspension?



Also I agree with Petro that Colon is a little pudgy to be playing a middle infield spot.

That would be a reasonable long-term view, if Cuthbert can handle 2B. Not sure he can. Dozier is also athletic enough to play RF or LF, if Cuthbert hits but can't stick at 2B.

[KChiefs1]

JBJ has turned into a player.



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