*** 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.

[Sure-Oz]

@ClintScoles: Players have enough respect for GMDM that at this point I would be shocked if a Hos deal doesn't get done. Wouldn't have came out otherwise

@DBLesky: LRT: Great point by Clint. When the #Royals want a deal, they get one. I can't think of one deal they wanted but didn't get done.

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by dlphg9

He was shit in the playoffs in 2015

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by dlphg9

He was shit in the playoffs in 2015

And while he was very good in '14, the way Bumgarner tortured him the 9th of Game 7 is what nightmares are made of.

The problem with guys with wide splits in the post-season is the aggression of the opposing manager. From the 5th inning on, you could see a specialist come in at any second. If the tying run is on 2nd in the 6th or later, out comes the LOOGY and those guys give him fits.

Hosmer's a streaky hitter and he can hit anyone when he's on, but that's what you'd be counting on - that he catches a hot streak at the right time. Because if he's just 'fair to middlin', aggressive post-season managers will match him up to death.

Moose and Cain have better post-season skill-sets, IMO. I think the changes Moustakas made to his swing a couple of years ago make better equipped to handle lefties and righties, thus making him less matchup prone. Cain's strength at the plate is that he does a nice job staying inside the ball so while righties give him some grief, he's actually surprisingly adept at dealing with the power pitching you see more of in the post-season. I'm not sure how - he has a shockingly long swing for a relatively small player, but he makes it work for him. Guys really do struggle to get inside his kitchen. And even if he's struggling, his defense in CF is more valuable than Hosmer's at 1b.

[mikeyis4dcats.]

chalk me up as another Moose over Hos vote

[Chiefspants]

I don't know how the Royals find the compromise between Hos and Boras wanting a 10 year deal to Hos working out the actual deal he deserves (somewhere between Belt and Myers' deals).

I will be miffed if we opt to overpay him with a contract we can't afford over someone who projects to age much better (Moose) or making an effort to maintain a cyborg in the bullpen (Herrera).

[KChiefs1]

Off topic but still interesting to watch...the MLB film of the 1973 ASG @ Royals Stadium.

https://youtu.be/gDl5iKLItfU










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[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

And while he was very good in '14, the way Bumgarner tortured him the 9th of Game 7 is what nightmares are made of.



The problem with guys with wide splits in the post-season is the aggression of the opposing manager. From the 5th inning on, you could see a specialist come in at any second. If the tying run is on 2nd in the 6th or later, out comes the LOOGY and those guys give him fits.



Hosmer's a streaky hitter and he can hit anyone when he's on, but that's what you'd be counting on - that he catches a hot streak at the right time. Because if he's just 'fair to middlin', aggressive post-season managers will match him up to death.



Moose and Cain have better post-season skill-sets, IMO. I think the changes Moustakas made to his swing a couple of years ago make better equipped to handle lefties and righties, thus making him less matchup prone. Cain's strength at the plate is that he does a nice job staying inside the ball so while righties give him some grief, he's actually surprisingly adept at dealing with the power pitching you see more of in the post-season. I'm not sure how - he has a shockingly long swing for a relatively small player, but he makes it work for him. Guys really do struggle to get inside his kitchen. And even if he's struggling, his defense in CF is more valuable than Hosmer's at 1b.

Agree with everything. Well, except for calling Cain relatively small.

He's 6-2, 210. More "average" than small.

Originally Posted by mikeyis4dcats.

chalk me up as another Moose over Hos vote

And me, too. I think Moustakas' skillset will age much better.

Hosmer's swing is just so long and complicated... I worry it's going to slip in a hurry when his athleticism erodes.


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[TomBarndtsTwin]

For whatever reason (maybe his young age, post season exploits, clubhouse leader, etc.), I still think Hoz will get a huge multi year deal for a shit ton of money thanks partly to the things mentioned above and the fact that Boras is his agent. I mean, look at the deal Hayward got.

All that being said, I pray the Royals are not the one to give it to them. It would be endlessly stupid for a number of reasons (most having already been mentioned in this thread). The Royals should look at the Joe Mauer deal that the Twins gave him as a cautionary tale. It basically closed their competitive window. It was stupid.

As others have said, Moose is the much better bet between the three, but I fear Boras will price the Royals out on him too. But if the Royals (rather, Glass and his money) are goin to give out a crazy deal to someone, it should be Moose. Just my .02.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Agree with everything. Well, except for calling Cain relatively small.

He's 6-2, 210. More "average" than small.

Yeah; small isn't fair, I was thinking more along the lines of slight. He isn't someone that is big enough to be generating power through strength; he'll do it with quickness and precision.

And the way he swings seems to make both of those things more difficult. I still don't know how he'll be able to keep it up and I'm sure he'd make me look like an idiot because I see a swing that should definitely get him beat up inside by hard-throwing righties. Yet he seems to manage it pretty well. If I were a pitcher I'd be the guy that just says "eh, **** that; the last guy he hit wasn't me" and I'd try to throw it 94 at his hands....then he'd smoke it.

I do feel like age will hit him pretty hard as well. I just don't see how that swing of his will be repeatable enough when age starts to slow him a bit. He has a tendency to do the ol' chopping wood bit as well but he just does such a nice job of getting his hips/shoulders turned so he can pull his hands inside. As his body slows down just a little, any stiffness in his hips will keep him from being able to open up on time and you'll see those balls that he's lacing into LC right now end up fisted to shortstop as his hands will come in before his body clears out and he'll just lock up. He'll know what he needs to do, his body just won't be quite quick enough to let him do it.

[Prison Bitch]

I used to just assume Cain would rob someone in FA, but the past winter showed teams are backing away from these red flags a bit and deciding to try and spend more on locking their own up. I guess you could say even Gordon scared teams off which reduced his expected price and that 5th year he wanted to grab from some GM

I could see Cain - if he has a good healthy year - getting only 3 years on his FA deal.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

I used to just assume Cain would rob someone in FA, but the past winter showed teams are backing away from these red flags a bit and deciding to try and spend more on locking their own up. I guess you could say even Gordon scared teams off which reduced his expected price and that 5th year he wanted to grab from some GM

I could see Cain - if he has a good healthy year - getting only 3 years on his FA deal.

It just depends on what teams are after. Look at that dumb-shit deal that Desmond got; Fowler's was only a little better.

1-trick ponies weren't getting a damn thing in FA, especially if that trick was power, but all-around players (even supposed all-around players that aren't, like Desmond), were still getting deals for way too much and way too long.

If Cain can manage 550 ABs, someone's gonna offer him $80 million+ provided that he still plays superlative defense and can get in the 12-15 HR range with 20ish SBs.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

It just depends on what teams are after. Look at that dumb-shit deal that Desmond got; Fowler's was only a little better.



1-trick ponies weren't getting a damn thing in FA, especially if that trick was power, but all-around players (even supposed all-around players that aren't, like Desmond), were still getting deals for way too much and way too long.



If Cain can manage 550 ABs, someone's gonna offer him $80 million+ provided that he still plays superlative defense and can get in the 12-15 HR range with 20ish SBs.

Agree.

If he stays healthy and is a good all-around player along the lines of 2013-16 Cain, he's going to get a big deal (and KC will get a comp pick).

If he plays 120 games or less again, his best bet might be coming back to KC on an incentive-laden deal.


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[lewdog]

I don't see a reason we can't sign Moose and Hosmer.

I love me some LoCain but he's the most expendable and I'd let him go if the other two will sign. There's more "ifs" with Cain.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by WilliamTheIrish

At the risk of some wrath, I'll just say I'm not terribly surprised that his personal life was such a nightmare.

You're not the only one. I had my suspicions that was a strong possibility.

[dlphg9]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

Do you not agree?