*** 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.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Moose? Great clubhouse guy. Above average defense, has some pop. Grew up in the LA suburbs. Solid player.

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Good defender with a plus arm, very steady and excellent hands.

As an offensive player, again, great hands and good raw power. Started trusting his hands again before he 2015 season and simplified his swing/stopped trying to pull EVERYTHING.

He's a 3-4 win player if he comes back from the ACL surgery (which there is no reason to Not expect), I think. With potential to be a 5-6 win guy if he has a breakthrough power season (like he was trending towards before last year's freak injury).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks.

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Well there's a lot of stuff out there on the internet. He's also been on TV a lot the past couple years, over 30 playoff games and the AS Game too.

Go **** yourself.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Soler will play every day in RF/Dh for KC and offers an upgrade to the offense from that position. Potentially a very sizable one. That's the strategy, first and foremost. KC got better in the OF by trading Davis. Secondary strategy is extending the window beyond 2017.

If they were trying to dump salary, they would have just taken the best prospect package available. They didn't. Instead, they took a guy with less control and a higher cost - about to hit arbitration eligibility.

That's not a salary dump. It's a reshuffle of assets.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hope you're correct but i doubt it. This reeks of one of Dayton's Halfway moves.

Partially dumps salary, pickups a JAG who can play right now.

ultimately nets us nothing:

Guy we pick up isn't good enough to make a difference
Don't dump enough salary to sign a guy who would make a difference

All it really does is keep us from totally sucking while Dayton hopes our farm guys are developing. Standard Moore stall tactic.

Hopefully Soros is a stud though

I think this also leads to us trading another outfielder like Cain or Dyson.

Can't trade Gordon because that would be selling really,really low. Who would want him at his current salary?

I had hoped we would be selling high at least when trading Davis but we didn't.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

I had hoped we would be selling high at least when trading Davis but we didn't.

By all accounts Moore tried to do exactly that in July. He was looking for Giolito or Turner from the Nats and Urias or Pederson from the Dodgers. The thought at the time was that he was going to cost more than what the Cubs gave up for Chapman because of the extra year of control.

But the second forearm injury put the kibosh on that. I can't recall what it was at the time but my memory is they were closing in on some nice packages with the Nats and/or Dodgers.

You really can't fault Moore for that one. Davis got hurt at the exact worst possible time. It kept him from getting traded at the deadline or significantly re-establishing his health after it.

Just some fairly shitty luck.

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

All it really does is keep us from totally sucking while Dayton hopes our farm guys are developing. Standard Moore stall tactic.

Aren't you the guy who thinks Moose, Hosmer and Gordon have all been disappointments?

[Mama Hip Rockets]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

Soler is basically Wil Myers a year ago - 25-yo RF with 4 years of club control. Dayton traded Wil, got him back, won a title in between. 👍🏻

— Rany Jazayerli (@jazayerli) December 7, 2016

Myers MiL career: .299/ .389/ .521
Soler MiL career: .295/ .379/ .519

Myers ML career: .257/ .331/ .429
Soler ML career: .258/ .328/ .434

They are both shitty outfielders, too.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Obviously the Chiefs thought Matt Cassel could throw or they wouldn't have traded for him.

What the **** does that have to do with anything?

I'm honestly not convinced Bubba can even see. It's hard for premier athlete to hit .180 and strike out 10 times for every walk in AAA. Michael Jordan was a better player in his only season in AA than Bubba Starling was last season and Michael had to do it in the Southern League. Bubba got to take aim at the Texas League and still couldn't figure it out.

Bubba wouldn't be a good hitter for a pitcher at this point. Damn shame because the tools are off the charts.

I laughed pretty hard at this.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Halfwit, bwillie, laz, and cosmo hate it. Sounds like Dayton did alright then.

Soler could very well turn into an All-Star someday. But, if we are going to trade away pieces and not compete next year. I'd rather blow the whole ****ing thing up and get as many prospects as we can.

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by thurman merman

They are both shitty outfielders, too.

Which is why one of them is now a 1B.

[Discuss Thrower]

Originally Posted by BWillie

Soler could very well turn into an All-Star someday. But, if we are going to trade away pieces and not compete next year. I'd rather blow the whole ****ing thing up and get as many prospects as we can.

So move Hosmer, Moose, Cain...?

What type of return would ever justify those trades?

[Sure-Oz]

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt...119443603.html

Someone post this article

[siberian khatru]

WOW

Source confirms: #Nationals, if deal is completed, will send Lucas Giolito, Dane Dunning and Reynaldo Lopez to #WhiteSox for Eaton.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 7, 2016

[KevB]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

WOW

Source confirms: #Nationals, if deal is completed, will send Lucas Giolito, Dane Dunning and Reynaldo Lopez to #WhiteSox for Eaton.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 7, 2016

That's crazy. Oh, and that's how you rebuild. Sox still have Frazier and Quintana that should bring back value. Maybe Abreu if they can find a taker.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt...119443603.html

Someone post this article

No. It's a good article, give the dude some pageviews.

That said, he's right. It's reality for small and mid-market teams. You don't get to be great every year for a decade. You don't usually even get a full 5 years. Small and mid-market teams are going to ebb and flow.

The key is to be the Royals and not the Rays. The Rays are going to be shitty for awhile because they didn't get value when they could've on guys like Price and Longoria. Worse still, they didn't actually win the prize and the Royals did.

Or you can try to get lucky like the Pirates have done and when McCutchen gets a little older you have Polanco behind him. When you can't hold onto Volquez, you have Taillon and that 9 foot tall mother****er that can't throw strikes who's name escapes me (edit: Glasnow - I have no idea how anyone ever touches that guy). That allows you to force the window back open for another few years.

But those don't come out of nowhere - you have them when you need them or you don't. A view of the Royals farm system says they don't have them. Ventura is probably not going to be that ace and Duffy burned through too much service time to be the cheap reinforcement you needed. Zimmer's arm is hamburger and while Cuthbert is a nice player, he's not a cornerstone type that they needed to replace Hosmer as the Pirates have done with Polanco.

It's a hell of a lot harder to keep things going in modest markets. So Moore's going to have to keep doing stuff like this. It's not fair, but it's reality.

[KevB]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

By all accounts Moore tried to do exactly that in July. He was looking for Giolito or Turner from the Nats and Urias or Pederson from the Dodgers. The thought at the time was that he was going to cost more than what the Cubs gave up for Chapman because of the extra year of control.

But the second forearm injury put the kibosh on that. I can't recall what it was at the time but my memory is they were closing in on some nice packages with the Nats and/or Dodgers.

You really can't fault Moore for that one. Davis got hurt at the exact worst possible time. It kept him from getting traded at the deadline or significantly re-establishing his health after it.

Just some fairly shitty luck.

He and Hoch getting hurt near/around trade deadline really blew up the sell high from the pen strategy.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

WOW

Source confirms: #Nationals, if deal is completed, will send Lucas Giolito, Dane Dunning and Reynaldo Lopez to #WhiteSox for Eaton.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 7, 2016

Holy balls.