*** 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.

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

Dodgers are interested in Cain per McCullough

Dodgers might need Davis as well. Major blockbuster with Cain/Davis to Dodgers for what.....

[Sure-Oz]

@Ken_Rosenthal: Among CFers in whom #STLCards are expressing interest, per sources: #Royals’ Jarrod Dyson. Potential FA, lower acquisition cost than Cain.

[Sure-Oz]

@FlannyMLB: Dayton Moore reiterated that #Royals may make a trade or two here but that this is not a garage sale. Expects team to compete for title

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

It does seem a little shy but the elbow woes may scare some teams.



The Cubs got Chapman for Gleybar Torres and I'd imagine Torres and Soler have roughly equal value. Torres seems to have the brighter future but Soler's a major league DH at worst right now.



And I wouldn't get way down on Soler just yet either; he made some nice progress with his walk rate last year and did so while maintaining an ISO around .200. If he can keep that walk rate around 10-11% and get the K rate to around 23%, if you combine that with a .200 ISO you've got a damn dangerous player.



If you could get 4 years of what Morales gave you guys last year for the cost of 1 year of Davis, would you take it? With a little more upside than that?



And before you say no - do me a favor and take a look at Wil Myers numbers. There would be something strangely satisfying about trading Myers for Shields and Davis, then dealing Davis for a guy that has a very VERY similar hitting profile to Wil Myers. About the only thing that separated those two offensively last year was PAs and some BABIP luck.



You might be right - Davis is damn good and perhaps you could do a bit better. But I don't think this is the puke-worthy kind of return some of you do either. Soler has a chance to be a hell of an offensive weapon.

You make good points on Soler, but that deal still feels awfully light compared to the Chapman deadline deal.

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

@FlannyMLB: Dayton Moore reiterated that #Royals may make a trade or two here but that this is not a garage sale. Expects team to compete for title

Well, that's good to hear. There's a path to moving Cain and Davis that still leads to success in 2017, but only if you net a SP and a 2B/RF in those trades who can upgrade you in 2017, and only if the salary savings are reinvested into some FA support for the bullpen (Luke Hochevar?) and lineup (DH - though all my targets are off the board).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Prison Bitch]

Fangraphs: "The Royals Last Ride"

[Deberg_1990]

Glass showing his true colors. Deep down he's a POS

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

It does seem a little shy but the elbow woes may scare some teams.

The Cubs got Chapman for Gleybar Torres and I'd imagine Torres and Soler have roughly equal value. Torres seems to have the brighter future but Soler's a major league DH at worst right now.

And I wouldn't get way down on Soler just yet either; he made some nice progress with his walk rate last year and did so while maintaining an ISO around .200. If he can keep that walk rate around 10-11% and get the K rate to around 23%, if you combine that with a .200 ISO you've got a damn dangerous player.

If you could get 4 years of what Morales gave you guys last year for the cost of 1 year of Davis, would you take it? With a little more upside than that?

And before you say no - do me a favor and take a look at Wil Myers numbers. There would be something strangely satisfying about trading Myers for Shields and Davis, then dealing Davis for a guy that has a very VERY similar hitting profile to Wil Myers. About the only thing that separated those two offensively last year was PAs and some BABIP luck.

You might be right - Davis is damn good and perhaps you could do a bit better. But I don't think this is the puke-worthy kind of return some of you do either. Soler has a chance to be a hell of an offensive weapon.

First off, I can't see what resemblance whatsoever Soler has to Myers, other than some raw power and high K rates. Which you could compare to dozens of RH hitters.


Soler is a league AVG hitter wRC+. That's not going to cut it at DH in the AL. He hit .224 vs RH so he's possibly worthless vs. the majority of pitchers we'd face. To me he's a 7 slot hitter on a crappy team, like the As or the Twins.

[duncan_idaho]

Even with his huge potential, think I'd rather see Ian Happ from the Cubs than Soler. Seeing some buzz that Chicago might offer both, but that seems high (either as The centerpiece works, but both?).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

What about Almora? He's a very good defender in the Outfield.. Hasn't quite developed the last couple of years in the higher levels like folks thought he would, but still has a lot of potential.

[keg in kc]

Perfect time to trade both in my opinion. Their value is only going down from this point.

[Jerm]

Ok....

@MaxWildstein: #Royals, #STLCards have discussed package that'd send Lorenzo Cain and Wade Davis to STL, Kolten Wong and prospects to KC, per @JPerrotto.

[Mr. Laz]

Wong isn't that good


Cain is crucial to Royals' offense

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

Their value is only going down from this point.

You can say that about several players.

[Jerm]

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

Wong isn't that good


Cain is crucial to Royals' offense

I would think it'd have to be a helluva haul prospect wise for the Royals to even consider that.

[TomBarndtsTwin]

Originally Posted by Jerm

Ok....

Terrible trade idea. Wong is garbage and prospects don't exactly help for 2017.

I guess if the Royals make this trade, they've officially thrown up the white flag on the 2017 season.

(They better get one hell of a prospect haul to do this . . . . . )