*** Official 2014 AL Champion Royals Off-season Repository ***

[Anyong Bluth]

So, I didn't see a thread started, and all the others are pretty maxed out to the point where a fresh thread would be needed soon either way.

Time to share the run up to ST & and another memorable year in the making!

[DeepSouth]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Brandon Moss is on the trade block. I think the A's are entering full rebuild mode.

KC should be all over this. Moss is lefthanded, but his career numbers against lefties are respectable, and he offers big-time power and OBP ability. He'd look really great in the middle of the Royals lineup (though they might have to do something different, like slotting Hosmer 2nd and Moss 4th, to maintain the lineup balance they've wanted in the past).

Escobar
Gordon
Cain
Hosmer
Moss
Perez
Moustakas
Infante
Dyson

Would be a pretty strong lineup against RHP. Against lefties, you'd need a RH bat to replace Dyson. That shouldn't be too hard to find. Best case, it would be someone who can play RF, with Cain sliding to CF. But Moss actually has pretty good career defensive numbers in RF, so he could play there if the RH bat can't handle a corner spot.

Against LHP, Moss to RF, Dyson to the Bench, Perez to DH, Pena / Kratz to catcher.

[Unsmooth-Moment]

Originally Posted by ROYC75

This off season is kind of depressing. The season that was Oh So Close to basically being quiet now with great anticipation for next season.

It's frustrating that we really haven't done anything, yet.

Uh, Yes, Put me down for Moss!

Patience. Waiting on the market can sometimes be great. Look at Orioles getting Cruz last year and Braves getting Santana. They got great value in those additions and waited until the end of the offseason.

[CaliforniaChief]

Yeah, patience is exactly what we needed. I like it...let the big names come off and set the market, then look for bounce-backs, value, fit, etc.

I'm not worried at all. We haven't even pulled off our annual trade yet.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by DeepSouth

Against LHP, Moss to RF, Dyson to the Bench, Perez to DH, Pena / Kratz to catcher.

They probably don't want Perez DHing quite that often (it would be 40-50 games), but that could handle 15-20 games.

If it's me, I'd still like to have another OF bat who swings RH, just to provide some insurance for Cain (injury) and Dyson (taking on a bigger role and might not be able to handle it).

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

They probably don't want Perez DHing quite that often (it would be 40-50 games), but that could handle 15-20 games.

If it's me, I'd still like to have another OF bat who swings RH, just to provide some insurance for Cain (injury) and Dyson (taking on a bigger role and might not be able to handle it).

Denorfia!

[penbrook]

Per Marc Topkin

BREAKING: Raul Ibanez has withdrawn from #Rays managerial field due to family considerations. So it's down to Cash and Wakamatsu

[Prison Bitch]

Thought u said Moss could barely walk after the ALCS and would need major hip surgery Duncan?

[Hootie]

Beane spent the last 3 years protecting Moss from lefties ... he's below average against lefties, but meh. I like the guy. We still need a freaking guy who can actually hit lefties, though

[DeezNutz]

I've heard that it's useful to teams when a batter hits a ball in the air and it clears the fencing that's placed in the outfield.

The Royals' winning percentage when the team hit a homerun speaks to this.

[DeepSouth]

Ten Winter Meetings Predictions;

http://www.sportsonearth.com/article...gs-predictions

8. Marlon Byrd to the Royals

If the Royals really are going to maintain what I (and many others) contend is an unaffordable luxury in the back end of their bullpen for 2015 (Wade Davis will make $8 million, Greg Holland will make at least that much in his second arbitration round and Luke Hochevar just inked a two-year, $10 million deal), their free-agent possibilities will be limited. With a need in the corner outfield and in the rotation, the Royals figure to have to make at least one high-profile trade to sustain their state.

Alas, in today's competitive climate, very few clubs can identify themselves as being in something other than a win-now mindset. The Phillies are one of the rare exceptions, and they have precisely the right-handed-hitting outfield piece the Royals need.

Byrd might be entering his age-37 season, but he hit 25 homers last year, and the left-leaning Royals could definitely use that kind of right-handed thump. With an $8 million salary in 2015 and a vesting $8 million option for 2016, Byrd is under control at reasonable rates for today's climate. The Royals would have to dip into their prospect pool to make this happen, but that might be a manageable alternative to stretching the budget well past $100 million and making a long-term investment in a weak market.

Two other trade options that might make sense for the Royals: Dexter Fowler and Chris Carter of the Astros.

[Nightfyre]

If we swung a deal for Moss, would we deal for a RH DH/C type?

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

If we swung a deal for Moss, would we deal for a RH DH/C type?

I wonder if Pena couldnt be that guy.

[Hootie]

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

If we swung a deal for Moss, would we deal for a RH DH/C type?

A few years ago Beane was platooning Chris Carter and Brandon Moss. That platoon might hit 50 HRs and have a 1.200 OPS in 2015 lmao

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by DeepSouth

Ten Winter Meetings Predictions;

http://www.sportsonearth.com/article...gs-predictions

8. Marlon Byrd to the Royals

If the Royals really are going to maintain what I (and many others) contend is an unaffordable luxury in the back end of their bullpen for 2015 (Wade Davis will make $8 million, Greg Holland will make at least that much in his second arbitration round and Luke Hochevar just inked a two-year, $10 million deal), their free-agent possibilities will be limited. With a need in the corner outfield and in the rotation, the Royals figure to have to make at least one high-profile trade to sustain their state.

Alas, in today's competitive climate, very few clubs can identify themselves as being in something other than a win-now mindset. The Phillies are one of the rare exceptions, and they have precisely the right-handed-hitting outfield piece the Royals need.

Byrd might be entering his age-37 season, but he hit 25 homers last year, and the left-leaning Royals could definitely use that kind of right-handed thump. With an $8 million salary in 2015 and a vesting $8 million option for 2016, Byrd is under control at reasonable rates for today's climate. The Royals would have to dip into their prospect pool to make this happen, but that might be a manageable alternative to stretching the budget well past $100 million and making a long-term investment in a weak market.

Two other trade options that might make sense for the Royals: Dexter Fowler and Chris Carter of the Astros.

Hmm. Chris Carter. Average isn't so good, but the RH power would be nice.

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Brandon Moss is on the trade block. I think the A's are entering full rebuild mode.

If the A's are entering full rebuild mode, what in the world was Billy's rationale for inking Butler to a 3 year, 30 million dollar deal?

That's not exactly offering a flyer to someone.