*** Official 2017 Royals Offseason Repository

[duncan_idaho]

The reign is over. Time to begin the quest for the next one.

Interesting offseason opens for the Royals. Will they go all in for one last shot with this crew? Will they re-tool for 2018 and beyond? Will Dayton Moore actually decrease payroll this time?

Trades, free agent signings, rumors, plans, proposals... dump 'em all here, for this is... the offseason repository!

Royals Top Prospects, 2017

This is a list that’s going to seem a little bleak initially, as Raul Mondesi got enough ABs to age out of the prospect rankings (just barely – at 135 ABs, he is not rookie eligible). But that said, I like the talent and feel like this is a system that will actually be underrated by the prospect services.

Spoiler!

Format: POS/Name/2017 Projected Final Level

1) 3B/OF Hunter Dozier, MLB. Dozier bounced back from a disastrous 2015 campaign that had many wondering, myself included, if he was wrecked. His strong offensive performance in 2016 saw Dozier recapture the mature approach that many liked coming up, while also starting to tap into his above-average raw power for the first time.

In addition to his success at the plate, Dozier also proved he could at least HANDLE an OF spot, which could put him in the conversation for 2017 playing time at the major leagues. If the Royals DO end up trading Cheslor Cuthbert, Dozier could find a decent amount of MLB playing time sliding between RF and 3B. With Moustakas recovering from knee surgery, he likely will need more regular breaks from the field. And the streaky Paulo Orlando is just not an intriguing short-side platoon partner for Jarrod Dyson.

2) LHP Matt Strahm, MLB. Strahm just barely skates under the rookie eligibility rules for a pitcher, so he can be included here. Royals fans already got a taste of the lefty’s abilities, as he used his above-average fastball and slurve to dominate out of the pen in 2016. For him to translate that dominance to the rotation, Strahm will need to maintain his velocity (92-94) and continue to improve a changeup that flashed average at times.

If the changeup becomes a weapon he can lean on against righties, Strahm could be a very solid mid-rotation starter and fringe ToR/No. 2 type (think Danny Duffy-lite).

3) RHP Josh Staumont, AAA. This one could blow up on me and look really silly by this time next year, but I’m encouraged by what we saw from Staumont late last year. He showed significantly improved control down the stretch for Northwest Arkansas, including some impressive playoff starts, while maintaining the big-time K ability. That trend continued in the Arizona Fall League.

If Staumont’s control holds, the Royals have a guy with a plus fastball, plus-plus curve, and average change (with a slider that could develop into a real weapon as he matures). He’ll start next season at AAA and could be an addition to the MLB bullpen or even the rotation before the season ends.

4) RF Jorge Bonifacio, AAA. Boni, like Dozier, had a bounceback season in 2016 with the bat, and also played 15-20 pounds lighter than the year before, which added some nice defensive utility according to reports I’ve gotten. He now looks like a guy could provide solid/average RF production in the major leagues… Average defense paired with potential to put up a .275/.335/.450 line. While that’s not all-star level, it IS playable. Especially at pre-arbitration dollars. He’ll get another year in Omaha to refine his approach, and likely be in the mix of a 2018 mini-youth movement… unless moved for MLB reinforcements.

5) C Meibrys Viloria, Low-A (Lexington). I haven’t seen him in person, but I like the pedigree. You’ve got a lefthanded hitting catcher with the defensive ability to stick behind the plate. He was a big-bonus guy out of Colombia (nearly $500k). And his offensive performance has been highly impressive early, with a good combination of power, plate discipline, and contact skills.

He’s forever away from the majors, just now clearing rookie ball, but Viloria is the most exciting prospect KC has had at Idaho Falls since someone on this board was gushing about a 16-year-old SS tearing it up.

6) 1B Ryan O’Hearn, AAA. O’Hearn is a guy who has never gotten a lot of hype from scouts, but he continues to be a strong producer. He’s someone who likely will strikeout about 25 percent of the time at the big-league level, but has the ability to be a .500+ SLG guy. That plays. He also has shown good patience at the plate, posting above-average OBPs at every level.

Bold prediction: I won’t be shocked if O’Hearn takes over at 1B for KC in 2018/2019 and provides similar offensive production to Hosmer out of the gate. He’s probably never going to be a consistent plus average (.290+) hitter, but .270 with 25 HR is something within reach for him. He’ll get his first shot at AAA in 2017.

7) RHP AJ Puckett, A+. Puckett is a high floor, low-ceiling guy who performed about as you’d expect in 2016 after being the Royals’ first pick in the 2016 Rule IV Draft. He’s not flashy, but Puckett does profile as a solid potential back-end starter. Good fastball command and an above-average changeup are his calling cards. If Puckett finds a reliable breaking ball to put batters away, this could tick up. Great athlete, very similar to Jake Odorizzi in that regard.

8) RF Khalil Lee, Low-A (Lexington). Lee was a two-way player in HS and many viewed him as a pitcher first as a pro, but the Royals drafted him as an OF and were reward with a strong debut campaign. Lee is not a big guy, but he produced solid power numbers despite that. He’s a dynamic athlete who could contribute with power and speed.

9) C Chase Vallot, High-A (Wilmington). Vallot has an intriguing bat, with plus raw power. Got off to a great start in 16 before being sidelined and then sidetracked by injury. RH bat may be good enough to push him out from behind the plate, where he has good tools but a long way to go.

10) RHP Jake Junis and RHP Alec Mills (AAA). I'm copping out here and including both at No. 10 because they're so similar. Like Puckett, they each project as a serviceable back of rotation starter. Similar stuff and profiles, though Junis has shown a little better strikeout ability and may have a smidge more upside as a result.

Others of note:

SS/CF Marten Gasparini. Production has been bad for this toolsy player, but Gasparini has speed and pop that jump out at you. At only 19, need to be patient with him... this European signee was even less polished when signing at 16 than the typical Latin America prospect.

OF Seuly Matias. Loud, loud tools. Matias profiles as a classic RF... big-time power potential. He's a long ways from the majors but is one of the Royals' biggest bonus babies from LA.

RHP Ashe Russell. 2014 1st rounder saw his velocity disappear last year and was quickly shut down. He's intriguing one way or the other, even if he ends up as another notch in the belt of the TINSTAAPP saying.

2B Corey Toups. O'Hearn's HS teammate has been an above-average producer for an up-the-middle player. His small stature hides a surprising amount of pop. Could turn into a Mark Grudzielanek type of offensive second baseman at his peak - solid average, lots of 2Bs.

RHP Scott Blewett, LHP Foster Griffin, RHP Nolan Watson - all three have underwhelmed as pros but were drafted in the supplemental round. Stuff and projectability for each is a positive. Wouldn't be surprised to see one of them take a Cody Reed-like step forward this season and crack the 50-75 range on prospect lists. They all have the natural ability.

SS/2B Ricky Aracena - Jose Altuve-sized Aracena is a switch hitting middle infielder who can flat out run. Switch hitter with a good approach.

RHP Pedro Fernandez - I'm still a believer in his stuff, even if he is destined for the pen. Was having a nice 2016 start until injuries derailed him right after his promotion to AA.

Sirs not Appearing in this Prospect List:

RHP Kyle Zimmer. Same story, different year. The Royals are hopeful they FINALLY found the cause of Zimmer's achy shoulder. If they really did, and he can stay healthy, the talent/potential is exciting.

OF Bubba Starling. Never trust a guy named Derek.

[duncan_idaho]

Great news and glad they got it done. Money is a little higher than I thought it might be, but those yearly averages are really quite affordable considering this market...

If he continues to display the success as a starter he had last year, Duffy is going to provide surplus value at that figure.

Also gives the team the opportunity to extend the window. Saving $3-3.5 million from this year's salary clears up some additional salary.

KC Baseball Prospectus dug through the salary figures this morning and concluded the Royals were likely right at last year's Opening Day payroll. This will give them a little more flex. Should put total payroll around $128 million when all is said and done, with no other changes.

I'd love to see them push it to $140 million total, and spend that remaining 12 million on a bat and a reliever.

Also sets up the rotation nicely for a few more years... KC has control of Duffy, Ventura and Karns through 2021, and Kennedy through 2020 if he doesn't opt out after this season. That's a nice chunk of stability for the rotation.

[tk13]

Good news.

They may not get a deal done, but I truly believe they will make an effort to re-sign some of these other FAs too. I think it's part of the reason Dayton is being very cautious about signing guys and clearing money this offseason. I would not be surprised if they ended up trying to sign/extend one of Moose/Hos/Cain and someone like Herrera.

This move ensures we have Duffy/Ventura signed through the end of this decade too. That's pretty nice.

[mr. tegu]

We probably had him signed for a month. The Royals knew the team across the lot would fail so they were waiting until then to release it to give us some good news.

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

Here are the year-by-year numbers on the Duffy extension:

2017 - $5.0m
2018 - $14.0m
2019 - $15.25m
2020 - $15.25m
2021 - $15.5m

— Rustin Dodd (@rustindodd) January 16, 2017

A player trying to help the team get more talent.

Are you listening Alex?



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[Sure-Oz]

@JeffPassan: If Duffy shoved this year, he was a $100M free agent. That said, for a TJ guy without a full year starting, I think he did really well. https://twitter.com/DaveDego/status/821072707437662209

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by tk13

Good news.

They may not get a deal done, but I truly believe they will make an effort to re-sign some of these other FAs too. I think it's part of the reason Dayton is being very cautious about signing guys and clearing money this offseason. I would not be surprised if they ended up trying to sign/extend one of Moose/Hos/Cain and someone like Herrera.

This move ensures we have Duffy/Ventura signed through the end of this decade too. That's pretty nice.

I think they'll go all in on re-upping Moose and Herrera this offseason (with similar backloaded deals). I believe both players will age the best out of our current core, and I wouldn't be surprised if the FO feels the same way.

I think Kennedy will opt out next season if he puts up similar numbers to 2016, which, while it will hurt us in an area of weakness, it will still give us more financial flexibility as we move forward.

[Sure-Oz]

@JeffPassan: Royals know they can't afford elite free agent pitching, and price of it in trades is exorbitant. This is a risk they almost have to take. https://twitter.com/DaveDego/status/821072707437662209

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

A player trying to help the team get more talent.

Are you listening Alex?



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Talking about Smith? Because you can't renegotiate baseball contracts like that with the MLB's actual Union.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

Now who do the Royals look at for a fa arm or bat

Luis Valbuena - 2 years, $13 million (2017- $6 million; 2018 - $7 million)

Luke Hochevar - 2 years, $10 million, option year for $10 million with $2 million buyout ($4 million, $6 million).

Would leave payroll around $138 million entering the season, with a roster that shapes up like so:


LF - Gordon
CF/RF/DH - Cain
3B - Moustakas
1B - Hosmer
RF/DH - Soler (or C - Perez)
DH/3B/2B/1B/LF - Luis Valbuena
C - Perez (Or RF/DH - Soler)
SS - Escobar
2B/Utility - Whit Merrifield

You'd have Orlando off the bench as your 4th OF, with Cuthbert and Colon in the mix as well, and Butera.

Rotation:

Duffy
Kennedy
Ventura
Vargas
Karns

Bullpen:
Herrera
Strahm
Hochevar
Soria
Chris Withrow
Brian Flynn
Chris Young (swing man)

I would roll the dice with that.

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

Talking about Smith? Because you can't renegotiate baseball contracts like that with the MLB's actual Union.

Yeah...it wasn't thinking about Gordon today.

Sorry.



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[ChiefsCountry]

Better deal than Ian Kennedy or Mike Leake which is what you have to give on the open market.

[Lex Luthor]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

Talking about Smith? Because you can't renegotiate baseball contracts like that with the MLB's actual Union.

LOL, I must have the Chiefs on my mind too much. It never occurred to me that he could have been talking about Alex Gordon!

Maybe I'm just giddy over Duffy's extension. Great news on a horrible and depressing sports day.

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Luis Valbuena - 2 years, $13 million (2017- $6 million; 2018 - $7 million)

Luke Hochevar - 2 years, $10 million, option year for $10 million with $2 million buyout ($4 million, $6 million).

Would leave payroll around $138 million entering the season, with a roster that shapes up like so:


LF - Gordon
CF/RF/DH - Cain
3B - Moustakas
1B - Hosmer
RF/DH - Soler (or C - Perez)
DH/3B/2B/1B/LF - Luis Valbuena
C - Perez (Or RF/DH - Soler)
SS - Escobar
2B/Utility - Whit Merrifield

You'd have Orlando off the bench as your 4th OF, with Cuthbert and Colon in the mix as well, and Butera.

Rotation:

Duffy
Kennedy
Ventura
Vargas
Karns

Bullpen:
Herrera
Strahm
Hochevar
Soria
Chris Withrow
Brian Flynn
Chris Young (swing man)

I would roll the dice with that.

Sounds good

[Sure-Oz]

@DSzymborski: Duffy 5/65 is a tremendous deal. Kudos to the Royals. He should still be tradable if the team collapses next season.

[Lex Luthor]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

@DSzymborski: Duffy 5/65 is a tremendous deal. Kudos to the Royals. He should still be tradable if the team collapses next season.

Tell that guy to shut his whore mouth