*** 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.

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by KevB

So Astros sign two guys Royals would have liked to supplement an already solid offense in Reddick and Beltran. Lot of time left, but with Mellingers article, I don't have a good feeling about this offseason.

Everyone's going to get better /DM

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by KevB

So Astros sign two guys Royals would have liked to supplement an already solid offense in Reddick and Beltran. Lot of time left, but with Mellingers article, I don't have a good feeling about this offseason.

So Glass is really going cheap now?

[KevB]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

So Glass is really going cheap now?

Our payroll right now is relatively high, so it's hard to get too upset I suppose. Just wish we'd go hard at winning to close out this window.

[ChiefsCountry]

Winter meetings haven't started yet. Patience.

[tk13]

The good thing about the Beltran deal is that it was only one year. I don't think we'd go for $17 or 18 million though. The most depressing part of Mellinger's article was that projected opening day payroll is $148 million. I didn't realize it was quite that high.

That might very well be a top 10 payroll. I agree I just don't see Glass signing a guy like Beltran and pushing that to near $170 million. I'm not sure DM would do that either. I could see DM pulling off a Rios-type signing though and maybe getting it to $150-160 million. Since they play this "poor us" card every offseason though, who really knows.

[Chiefspants]

The payroll is why I'm fully expecting another James Shields type of trade. Dozier and another prospect piece for a #3 starter. In terms of a bat, Moore will likely need to look for the type of high risk, high reward type of player - so exactly what Morales was two years ago.

Morales was coming off a worse season than Butler. No one was enthusiastic about that signing. Moore will need to take a similar gamble here***

***Without resigning Billy plz.

[lewdog]

I totally think the Royals make a trade here.

[WhawhaWhat]

Some big news: Cabrillo graduate and @Royals star Danny Duffy has accepted offer to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.

— Joe Bailey (@JBaileySMSports) December 4, 2016

[duncan_idaho]

Good for Danny. Makes me a little nervous... WBC participation has not been great for pitchers in the recent past. Hopefullly, he gets light work similar to ST.

Winter Meetings open tonight. Should see some action soon. Way I see it, Royals have three options for 2017:

1) Blow out the payroll and add a free agent bat at DH like Matt Holliday, and a SP. I'd be interested to see where Tyson Ross ends up... fairly big risk with him, but he's a big strikeout guy who gets a ton of ground balls. Coming off thoracic outlet surgery, he could be a guy that signs a one-year "prove it" deal. And could make a ton of sense for KC if the bidding doesn't get crazy high.

2) make a trade (or two) that fill other holes from positions of strength. This would require moving someone like Wade Davis or Lorenzo Cain. I don't like the idea of moving both and don't believe you get enough value back from Cain to do it, but Davis, in this market for closers? Yeah.

3) sit pat. Hope that Cain/Hosmer/Moustakas bounce back and improve the offense enough that you're in it at the trade deadline and can add some reinforcements. Hope the fifth spot in the rotation can be answered well enough with Minor/Young/Stahm/Staumont/Zimmer/Junis/etc to follow the same plan.


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[duncan_idaho]

Angel Pagan is a name we haven't talked about but who holds some interest for me.

He's old and has had injury issues in the past, but when healthy, he's a quality leadoff option who also switch hits.

Would be an upgrade from Cuthbert as a rotating DH option, could play RF or LF, too. And offer a switch hitting option at the top of the lineup.

Vs RH
Pagan - DH
Moustakas - 3B
Cain - RF (or swap with Pagan once a week or twice a week)
Hosmer - 1B
Perez - C
Gordon - LF
2B - merrifield
CF - Dyson
SS - Escobar

Against lefties, Dyson sits for Orlando or Dozier.

I like that lineup better with a proven middle of he order guy like Holliday to protect Hosmer and improve the middle of the lineup, but this is a cheaper and more versatile option.

I'd KC does end up trading Cain, Pagan might be a good short-term filler for him.


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[Sure-Oz]

From Nick Cafardo

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/re...3MP/story.html

"15. The Royals could deal both closer*Wade Davis*and outfielder*Jarrod Dysonwithin a week. They are looking for controllable starting pitching. Davis will draw plenty of teams, including the Giants, Red Sox, and Blue Jays"

[Sure-Oz]

Red Sox also looking at Holliday

[tk13]

I wouldn't be surprised if they traded either of those guys but that article suggests a lot of trades that would end up moving some big contracts. Sure paints the Tigers as big sellers.

[duncan_idaho]

KC would have to get a pretty nice piece back to consider moving Dyson. He's cheap and high-value.

Crazy thought: Pair Dyson with a horrible contract you'd like to unload (cough, Soria, cough?).


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[Sure-Oz]

@Ken_Rosenthal: Teams looking for closers include NYY, SF, LAD, WAS, MIA. Five clubs, three top FAs. Trade market for #Royals’ Wade Davis should be strong.