*** 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.

[Prison Bitch]

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.

Not to rehash that but Fowler has more upside than Cain. He's a year younger at FA and has twice as many HR. Fly ball distance, a proxy for power, has Fowler comfortably ahead of Cain every year save 2015 which was Cains aberration. They're both corner OF now so Cain doesn't bring that much incremental fielding.

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.

If he gets 80M at age 31 after hitting 12HR as a corner OF, which he's going to play at least some this year and will in the future, I'll eat my hat.

[tk13]

Originally Posted by dlphg9

Do you not agree?

Hosmer? I don't know if his final stats were amazing, I'd have to look them up, but:

Against Houston
-The tying run during the huge game 4 comeback
-The monster HR in the 9th that put game 4 away
-The first RBI of the comeback in game 5

Against Toronto
-The first RBI single of the comeback rally in game 2
-Obviously, the big hit in game 6 to give KC the lead and break the tie

Against New York
-The sac fly that won game 1
-The 2 RBI hit that broke the tie in game 2
-Hit the ground ball error that opened up the floodgates in game 4
-Scored the go-ahead run in game 4
-The double that knocked Harvey out in game 5
-And the dash for home that we'll all remember for the rest of our lives

That's a pretty solid list. He wasn't on fire the whole playoffs or anything, but he had a hand in just about every single big moment.

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by tk13

Hosmer? I don't know if his final stats were amazing, I'd have to look them up, but:

Against Houston
-The tying run during the huge game 4 comeback
-The monster HR in the 9th that put game 4 away
-The first RBI of the comeback in game 5

Against Toronto
-The first RBI single of the comeback rally in game 2
-Obviously, the big hit in game 6 to give KC the lead and break the tie

Against New York
-The sac fly that won game 1
-The 2 RBI hit that broke the tie in game 2
-Hit the ground ball error that opened up the floodgates in game 4
-Scored the go-ahead run in game 4
-The double that knocked Harvey out in game 5
-And the dash for home that we'll all remember for the rest of our lives

That's a pretty solid list. He wasn't on fire the whole playoffs or anything, but he had a hand in just about every single big moment.

Hosmer seems like one of those players who comes up big in the big game.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Not to rehash that but Fowler has more upside than Cain. He's a year younger at FA and has twice as many HR. Fly ball distance, a proxy for power, has Fowler comfortably ahead of Cain every year save 2015 which was Cains aberration. They're both corner OF now so Cain doesn't bring that much incremental fielding.











If he gets 80M at age 31 after hitting 12HR as a corner OF, which he's going to play at least some this year and will in the future, I'll eat my hat.

Cain will spend all of this season playing CF and surely will market himself as such in free agency, just like Fowler did.

I don't know if he will get quite the deal Fowler got, but 90 percent of it seems easily within reach if he has a healthy season.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Why Not?]

I've gone on record saying that Hosmer isn't worth what some team will over pay him for, but I'll be damned if he isn't at the heart of almost every big moment in the golden years of '14/'15. The guy is a clear leader and seems to feed off of the energy of the city in key spots. Is he worth a 10 year, $20 mill per type deal? **** no! But would I love to have him back on a deal that makes some sense? Sure. I'd love to keep as many of these guys around be as possible, just for nostalgic factor, if nothing else. This particular group of players has been very enjoyable to cheer for. The inevitable break up has begun(Davis, Dyson, Ventura for a much sadder reason). I'd be cool to keep some of these other guys around.

[Prison Bitch]

McCullers 13.0%
Danny Duffy 12.9%
Corey Kluber, Yu Darvish 12.6%


Any guesses?

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

McCullers 13.0%
Danny Duffy 12.9%
Corey Kluber, Yu Darvish 12.6%


Any guesses?

Swinging Strike rate?

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

Swinging Strike rate?

That was quick!

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

That was quick!

Hahaha, I was just looking at the Duffman's projections last night.

[Prison Bitch]

FG has been online since 2002. In that time, only 4 players outdid their entire team in fWAR. Two were Royals. Can you name them?


1. Mccutcheon 2010 Pirates
2. Thome 2007 Sux
3. Royal 1
4. Royal 2

[Bowser]

Beltran has to be one of them

Wild guess on #2 - Wade Davis

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by Bowser

Beltran has to be one of them

Wild guess on #2 - Wade Davis

Both offensive players. Not Beltran, he did 6.9 wins in 2003 while team did 12.5. He would have in 2004 at 2.4 when team did 1.0, but he was traded mid season and hence didn't qualify (69 games for KC).


So there's a hint: our 2004 lineup was worth 1.0 win. ONE. We had a player who outdid that. By comparison 2015 was worth 24

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Both offensive players. Not Beltran, he did 6.9 wins in 2003 while team did 12.5. He would have in 2004 at 2.4 when team did 1.0, but he was traded mid season and hence didn't qualify (69 games for KC).


So there's a hint: our 2004 lineup was worth 1.0 win. ONE. We had a player who outdid that. By comparison 2015 was worth 24

Taking a shot in the dark that this was somewhat of a trick question..

1. Zack Greinke (2004)
2. Zack Greinke (2009)

EDIT Crap, missed your above post about it being offensive players.

Uh. Dejesus and Sweeney? I'm drawing a blank.

[TomBarndtsTwin]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Both offensive players. Not Beltran, he did 6.9 wins in 2003 while team did 12.5. He would have in 2004 at 2.4 when team did 1.0, but he was traded mid season and hence didn't qualify (69 games for KC).


So there's a hint: our 2004 lineup was worth 1.0 win. ONE. We had a player who outdid that. By comparison 2015 was worth 24

David Dejesus, maybe?

For the other, I would guess Alex Gordon, probably in either 2011 or 2012 when the overall team wasn't as strong as last few years.

[Bowser]

Good lord, lol.

Of the 2004 team? All I can think of would be Mike Sweeney or David DeJesus. Absolutely no idea on who the other could be. Watch it be an Aaron Guiel or Mark Grudzilanek kind of guy....