*** 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.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

That's the one closer they traded away. They got a ton of good prospects out of the deal and got him back. Sounds pretty good deal for the Yankees.

Huh. I thought Miller came from the yanks. All that shot happened all at once and I forgot. Yeah if you can rent him out for half a season and rape the renter that is a pretty good deal. I had forgot Chapman came from the spankees.

[tk13]

Not sure I've ever seen an athlete put a no-trade for an entire state into his contract.

Details of Aroldis Chapman deal: no-trade for 3 years, and cannot be to a team located in California

— Marly Rivera (@MarlyRiveraESPN) December 8, 2016

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

That's the one closer they traded away. They got a ton of good prospects out of the deal and got him back. Sounds pretty good deal for the Yankees.

It was a good deal for both teams. Yankees were rebuilding and scored a nice package for a 2 month rental and the Cubs traded prospects for a World Series. Winning was the only thing that made sense for the Cubs in that deal and they did, so I can't complain.

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

Huh. I thought Miller came from the yanks. All that shot happened all at once and I forgot. Yeah if you can rent him out for half a season and rape the renter that is a pretty good deal. I had forgot Chapman came from the spankees.

Cubs didn't get raped lol. They traded guys that had absolutely no shot at ever seeing MLB in Wrigley. Torres was 19 and years away from a shot even if he had a future on the team. Would I rather have seen him packaged for a young starter from the Rays or some other team with a surplus of good arms? Sure. But if you were guaranteed to win a WS and all you had to do was trade a couple prospects that were years away and blocked would you do it? I would hope the answer is 100%.

[Al Bundy]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/1...om-royals.html

Before Boston acquired reliever Tyler Thornburg from Milwaukee on Tuesday, the Red Sox made a run at then-Kansas City closer Wade Davis, reports Rob Bradford of WEEI. Corner infielder Travis Shaw was the major league headliner the Red Sox surrendered for Thornburg, but he wasn’t enticing enough to the Royals in a Davis deal, a source told Bradford. The Royals instead preferred now-former Cubs outfielder Jorge Soler, whom they acquired for Davis in a one-for-one swap on Wednesday.

Landing Davis would have given the Red Sox two of the majors’ most proven closers in him and Craig Kimbrel, though the former has more setup experience and likely would have served in that role in Boston. Davis has been dominant since 2014, his first year as a full-time reliever, but picking up him instead of Thornburg would have put a greater dent in the payroll of a Red Sox franchise that’s trying to stay under the $195MM luxury-tax threshold. The 31-year-old Davis would have cost the team $10MM in 2017, the last season of his contract, while Thornburg is set to rake in a much more modest salary (an estimated $2.2MM, per MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz) in his age-28 campaign. Thornburg is controllable through 2019 via arbitration and could potentially give the Red Sox a top-caliber setup man over the next three seasons. While he doesn’t have Davis’ track record, Thornburg is nonetheless coming off a breakout year, having recorded a 2.15 ERA, 12.09 K/9 and 3.36 BB/9 across a career-high 67 innings.

As is often the cases with pitchers, both relievers carry health risks: Davis was on the disabled twice last season because of forearm and flexor strains, and the Brewers shut down Thornburg early in 2014 on account of a UCL injury that nearly led to Tommy John surgery.

Meanwhile, that the Royals went for the upside play in Soler over Shaw is understandable. The soon-to-be 25-year-old Soler’s also younger (2017 will be Shaw’s age-27 season), though he comes with less control. Shaw won’t be a free agent until after the 2021 season, and he has two pre-arbitration years remaining, whereas Soler can hit the open market at the end of the 2020 campaign. He can also opt into arbitration beginning next winter, which seems likely if he comes closer to realizing his vast potential. For now, though, the Cuba native is due a modest $15MM over the remainder of the nine-year, $30MM contract he signed with the Cubs in 2012.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by jd1020

Cubs didn't get raped lol. They traded guys that had absolutely no shot at ever seeing MLB in Wrigley. Torres was 19 and years away from a shot even if he had a future on the team. Would I rather have seen him packaged for a young starter from the Rays or some other team with a surplus of good arms? Sure. But if you were guaranteed to win a WS and all you had to do was trade a couple prospects that were years away and blocked would you do it? I would hope the answer is 100%.

Nobody is ever guaranteed a WS win. The orioles and angels thought they were guaranteed one when when they were swept by a WC team with junk pitching and garbage offense (in the regular season) in 14. And Cleveland almost took it from them with what? 2 starting pitchers on the roster?

I get your point but it looked like a good deal because they won. What about if they'd lost in the divisionals or something.

[Great Expectations]

Originally Posted by tk13

Not sure I've ever seen an athlete put a no-trade for an entire state into his contract.

Details of Aroldis Chapman deal: no-trade for 3 years, and cannot be to a team located in California

— Marly Rivera (@MarlyRiveraESPN) December 8, 2016

The women of the state filed a restraining order against him....

[Prison Bitch]

As I've mentioned before, Duffy is about 18 months away from the expected 2nd TJ surgery. It's impossible to know whether one specific player will fit into a pattern but it's a pattern for a reason. You get about 6 years in between.

Duffy is the perfect player to let ride one more year and then dump. Or even better, trade at the deadline. Let him go max effort for 20-30 starts and wish him well.

[Rooster]

Originally Posted by tk13

Not sure I've ever seen an athlete put a no-trade for an entire state into his contract.

Details of Aroldis Chapman deal: no-trade for 3 years, and cannot be to a team located in California

— Marly Rivera (@MarlyRiveraESPN) December 8, 2016

They steal so much in taxes I assume that would be the reason.

[Sure-Oz]

@JonHeyman: As of this moment, royals haven't felt overwhelmed by offers for dyson. They could hold. Cain's a free agent after '17

[nychief]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

@JonHeyman: As of this moment, royals haven't felt overwhelmed by offers for dyson. They could hold. Cain's a free agent after '17

Cain, Dyson, Orlando, Gordon, Burns, Soler.

Burns has an option, I believe. Cain wants BIG MONEY and years, people are saying.

One of those guys will be in DH often.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by nychief

Cain wants BIG MONEY and years, people are saying.
.

That's surprising. Most players want small money and few years.

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by nychief

Cain, Dyson, Orlando, Gordon, Burns, Soler.

Burns has an option, I believe. Cain wants BIG MONEY and years, people are saying.

One of those guys will be in DH often.

No, Burns is out of options

[Mother****erJones]

Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S

Duffy should be extended, and I think he will before March without a problem.
Of Moose/Cain/Hosmer:
Moose is by far my go-to of these three, put whatever we can into keeping him here.
Cain is too old and has had far too many injuries to throw money at long-term.

This is entirely my opinion, but Hosmer can walk right the hell to New York or LA for all I care. Whatever any team pays him is going to be too much. Not because he is a bad guy, not because he isn't a key part of the clubhouse, he just isn't that great of a Major League first baseman. He can be great, but we've been thinking that for four years now. Luckily for KC, Hosmer decides to shine at the most-convenient of times. From April to September, however, it's just you average streaky ball player.

My $0.02.

EDIT: And to add, I don't care about Hosmer's 25 home runs last year. The entire ****ing league hit a stupid amount of home runs last year.

Posted this a while back, but just look at this bullshit and try to convince me that there hasn't been something up since Manfred took over:

Ya it sure seems like Hos will go get paid big time. I agree on Cain. I feel like he's going to be worn down and start to be injured a lot.

As for home runs, watching the white sox it's hard to notice because you can sneeze and hit it out in Chicago.

[Mother****erJones]

What is Dyson's value?

As for the Astros and Duffy, those ****ers are playing the cheap drum. They're doing it with Quintana. Not sure what the Sox are asking for him but Jeff Passan said they were getting offers of about 95% of what they got for Sale.