*** 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.

[nychief]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

Charlie Morton gets $14M, 2 yrs plus incentives with astros. 1st evidence of nuttiness of SP market. Insane!

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 16, 2016

Barf

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Jerm

http://interact.stltoday.com/forums/...f=11&t=1197956



It's discussed throughout this thread....

Pretty hilarious valuations on both sides there.

Yeah, Jaime Garcia has some value and so does Adams, but those guys are greatly overvaluing them.

Lorenzo Cain has produced more fWAR over the past three years than any full-or-part time CF not named Trout or Betts (yes, more than McCutchen). They're greatly undervaluing them.


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[O.city]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Pretty hilarious valuations on both sides there.

Yeah, Jaime Garcia has some value and so does Adams, but those guys are greatly overvaluing them.

Lorenzo Cain has produced more fWAR over the past three years than any full-or-part time CF not named Trout or Betts (yes, more than McCutchen). They're greatly undervaluing them.


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If the Cards plan on moving those two, it would take that plus to get a player like Cain. Even then, no smart GM is making that move when Adams is a lazy ass and Jaime is damaged goods.

But most Cards fans are insistent that they have to build IMMEDIATELY to compete with Chicago, when they should be looking at the long haul.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by O.city

If the Cards plan on moving those two, it would take that plus to get a player like Cain. Even then, no smart GM is making that move when Adams is a lazy ass and Jaime is damaged goods.



But most Cards fans are insistent that they have to build IMMEDIATELY to compete with Chicago, when they should be looking at the long haul.

Adams and Garcia would be acceptable secondary pieces (maybe not together, necessarily)... what would you view as a reasonable offer from St Louis' side of things for Cain?


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[O.city]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Adams and Garcia would be acceptable secondary pieces (maybe not together, necessarily)... what would you view as a reasonable offer from St Louis' side of things for Cain?


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From the little I know about Cain as an outsider, he's getting up there in age, has some injury concerns and I worry he won't age well because so much value comes from his speed.

So I'm not sure I'd really be interested in moving for him, but I'd imagine it would take atleast one of those two guys, a b plus prospect and a throw in.

I'm not totally sure. If I were the cardinals general manager (I'm not, applied, over qualified apparently) I would either stand pat and wait for my next wave (they're a ways off, the pitching isn't but the bats are) or look to move some of my plus pitching for a legit young everyday player.

Someone I could pair with Piscotty, grichuk in the outfield and build around.

I admittedly have no clue who that would be.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by O.city

From the little I know about Cain as an outsider, he's getting up there in age, has some injury concerns and I worry he won't age well because so much value comes from his speed.



So I'm not sure I'd really be interested in moving for him, but I'd imagine it would take atleast one of those two guys, a b plus prospect and a throw in.



I'm not totally sure. If I were the cardinals general manager (I'm not, applied, over qualified apparently) I would either stand pat and wait for my next wave (they're a ways off, the pitching isn't but the bats are) or look to move some of my plus pitching for a legit young everyday player.



Someone I could pair with Piscotty, grichuk in the outfield and build around.



I admittedly have no clue who that would be.

All fair comments. He will be 31 in April or March, so he's at the end of his prime years, probably has one-two years left of top production.

Honestly, I think he has more value for KC than they're going to receive back in trade because of his age, service time, and the injury concern.

If he gives you 140 games, you're likely getting a 4-5 win player who impacts the game with his bat and legs and defense. That was the profile in 2014 and 2015.

There's also the possibility he pops a lower leg injury and misses two months, like he did this year. That's the part that makes a trade most unlikely, IMO.

Garcia + a B+ prospect + a lotto ticket seems about right. That prospect would need to be someone who can contribute in 2017, though. Hard for me to imagine KC moving him for that return and only having a helpful Garcia in 2017.


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[O.city]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

All fair comments. He will be 31 in April or March, so he's at the end of his prime years, probably has one-two years left of top production.

Honestly, I think he has more value for KC than they're going to receive back in trade because of his age, service time, and the injury concern.

If he gives you 140 games, you're likely getting a 4-5 win player who impacts the game with his bat and legs and defense. That was the profile in 2014 and 2015.

There's also the possibility he pops a lower leg injury and misses two months, like he did this year. That's the part that makes a trade most unlikely, IMO.

Garcia + a B+ prospect + a lotto ticket seems about right. That prospect would need to be someone who can contribute in 2017, though. Hard for me to imagine KC moving him for that return and only having a helpful Garcia in 2017.


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Yeah, I just don't think he fits in stl timeframe. If this were the 2013 team? Sure.

At this point, id rather see the cards possibly move peralta and put a package together for a ss, moving diaz to 3rd.

I read something about Simmons but I'd imagine that's a pipe dream.

[Prison Bitch]

Cain doesn't have much trade value given his injuries and his pending FA and his age. That said, who even wants Garcia or Adams? You can get 150 IP of 4.50 FIP from Jason Vargas next year probably, and Adams has no value even as a DH. Garcia has major injury red flags anyway, much worse than Cain. I'll bet he misses more time this year, and he costs 12M anyway.

[O.city]

Peralta could DH for the royals I suppose.

Frankly, the cards don't have much to trade in terms of vets worth a shit

[Prison Bitch]

Most likely, both teams are going to rebuild in 2018. And hoping they can win 85 or so games this year before they do.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Cain doesn't have much trade value given his injuries and his pending FA and his age. That said, who even wants Garcia or Adams? You can get 150 IP of 4.50 FIP from Jason Vargas next year probably, and Adams has no value even as a DH. Garcia has major injury red flags anyway, much worse than Cain. I'll bet he misses more time this year, and he costs 12M anyway.

I don't think I'd say he doesn't have much... I'd say he doesn't have enough to make it viable for the Royals to trade him.

They're likely to get more for him at the trade deadline than they would in the offseason, if he's healthy and having a good year. I don't think that will happeneither, but we'll see.

The thread that spawned this discussion reads like an almost-Orioles fan-esque trade scenario... packaging broke dicks/spare parts for good players.

Mozeliak made a mistake in holding on to guys like Adams, Wacha, Wong... flawed products of that farm system who played over their heads initially and spiked their value, but who have fallen back to earth.

At one time, Wacha+Wong would have been almost enough to get Carlos Gonzalez from the Rockies. Now, not so much.


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[O.city]

Eh, Adams sure.

Wacha has been burdened with injuries and Wong has been ****ed around with by an incompetent boob

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by O.city

Eh, Adams sure.

Wacha has been burdened with injuries and Wong has been ****ed around with by an incompetent boob

Can't wait to see Wong finally master that home run stroke of his.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

I don't think I'd say he doesn't have much... I'd say he doesn't have enough to make it viable for the Royals to trade him.

They're likely to get more for him at the trade deadline than they would in the offseason, if he's healthy and having a good year. I don't think that will happeneither, but we'll see.

The thread that spawned this discussion reads like an almost-Orioles fan-esque trade scenario... packaging broke dicks/spare parts for good players.

Mozeliak made a mistake in holding on to guys like Adams, Wacha, Wong... flawed products of that farm system who played over their heads initially and spiked their value, but who have fallen back to earth.

At one time, Wacha+Wong would have been almost enough to get Carlos Gonzalez from the Rockies. Now, not so much.


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Cain has quite a bit of value to a team expecting to win now. Like the Rangers, Orioles, Mets, Nats, someone like that. But 1/2 the teams probably wouldn't be all that interested in a one-year guy making some good money (8M or so?). He wouldn't bring back a top-25 prospect, altho some teams might overpay.


At any rate he will have more value to us anyway since we expect to compete next year.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Cain has quite a bit of value to a team expecting to win now. Like the Rangers, Orioles, Mets, Nats, someone like that. But 1/2 the teams probably wouldn't be all that interested in a one-year guy making some good money (8M or so?). He wouldn't bring back a top-25 prospect, altho some teams might overpay.


At any rate he will have more value to us anyway since we expect to compete next year.

Yeah. His appeal would be pretty limited in terms of the number of teams, as it is limited to a team that is motivated to make an over-the-top deal before a window closes. His value to those types of teams would be really high, though.

The Nationals and Mets are probably the two biggest matches for KC. I don't think the Cardinals actually match up well at all.

It's conceivable KC and Washington could make a deal happen with Cain and Wade Davis that improves both teams in 2017.

KC would need to get something like Reynaldo Lopez, Erick Fedde, Austin Voth/AJ Cole and Andrew Stevenson back to make that deal, though. And just not sure Washington is willing to pay that sort of price.

Minor update:

It seems like all the Beltran noise is leaning away from KC... Red Sox, Blue Jays, Yankees and Astros are the currently reported leaders for his services. The reunion would be cool, and I think he still has a few great offensive years left in the tank (especially with consistent rest for his legs).

Pretty quiet for KC in general, which isn't a surprise. Most of Moore's moves have either happened in the first few days after the WS or around the Winter Meetings.