ChiefsPlanet - Royals 2011 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread

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2011 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread (https://chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=240326)

I’m really looking forward to seeing the Royals young players in the next few years. Gordon, Cabrera (Cain), Hosmer, Butler, Moustakas, Perez (Pina), Francoeur (Myers), Giavotella (Colon), and Escobar with Navarro, Pena, and Maier as backups, looks real good. In years past you could find a couple of good things about the Royals and about 5 or 6 positions that had to be fixed.

The bullpen also looks solid with Soria, Holland, Laffey, Teaford, Crow, Herrera, Collins, Wood, and Coleman.

But as many writers and posters are saying, “The Royals need starting pitching”. Free agency looks pretty bare and teams don’t just trade their ace without a lot of good reasons like rebuilding and/or being offered a ton of talent.

The Royals need to re-sign Bruce Chen. He’s a decent left handed pitcher that fits in well with the team and the team needs. Montgomery and Dwyer seem to need a little more time and Chen can start until they are ready.

A trade for a quality right hander should be made. James Shields from Tampa Bay is supposed to be available for the right price. I’m not sure what KC would have to offer. Maybe some type of combination of Cain, Pina, Hererra, Montgomery, and/or others. Again not sure what a fair trade value could be made without taking away from KC’s core players.

Another trade possibility could be with the LA Angels. The Angels have a lot of talent with right handed starting pitchers. They have Jered Weaver, Dan Haren, Ervin Santana, Tyler Chatwood and minor league starters like Matt Shoemaker. They could use some young left handed pitching talent and the Royals have some they could offer in a trade.

A trade and the re-signing of Chen could give the starting rotation of…

Ervin Santana or James Shields

Luke Hochevar

Bruce Chen

Danny Duffey, Felipe Paulino, Luis Mendoza, Aaron Crow, and Evertt Teaford could compete for the 4th and 5th spots.

Sign Chen & trade for Shields. :thumb:

Has it been mentioned in this thread yet that the Royals could actually be pretty good if they went out and picked up a couple of front line pitchers for next year?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bowser (Post 7996971)

Has it been mentioned in this thread yet that the Royals could actually be pretty good if they went out and picked up a couple of front line pitchers for next year?

I haven't noticed if it has so good addition.

Good Analysis of what is out there for SP:

Quote:

'FREE' AGENCY IS AN OXYMORON

There’s big-market free agency. By the Sox’ own admission, that hasn’t been a particularly fruitful avenue for the team’s improvement, with Lackey serving as Exhibit A of that notion.

There will be appealing high-end options. Most notably, CC Sabathia -- who has the right to opt out of his seven-year, $161 million deal with the Yankees -- has been the most consistent pitcher in the majors over the last five years. This will likely mark his fifth straight year with a top-five finish in Cy Young voting, in a stretch in which he’s made 33-35 starts every year, won 17-21 games, logged at least 230 innings with at least 197 strikeouts every year.

However, Sabathia is almost certain to return to New York, and even if he wasn’t, at 31, he’s nearing the danger zone in which even elite pitchers tend to suffer a pronounced dropoff.

C.J. Wilson (31-15 with a 3.14 ERA in two years as a starter) and Yu Darvish (likely to be made available to MLB teams through the posting process following a season in which he’s gone 17-6 with a 1.49 ERA and 261 to 37 strikeout-to-walk ratio for the Nippon Ham Fighters this year) both loom as big-name starters.

In addition to his significant success on the mound since moving to the rotation, Wilson does represent an intriguing possibility given that he adheres to the straight-edge lifestyle of abstaining completely from drugs and alcohol. What player to more dramatically alter the perception of the team’s indifference to pitchers drinking in the clubhouse?

There are others who would be available on shorter-term and less-expensive commitments, including the well-traveled, durable 28-year-old Edwin Jackson and health risks such as Paul Maholm, Joel Pineiro and Rich Harden. But again, that's not a demographic in which the Sox have enjoyed significant success in recent years (see Penny, Brad and Smoltz, John), and would do little to present a stabilizing back-of-the-rotation option.

TRADES

Early indications are that the trade market for starters will feature few impact names. Unlike recent winters, which saw impact pitchers like Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Zack Greinke change teams, this offseason is expected to feature less premium talent on the move.

Indeed, according to multiple industry sources, the number and quality of available starters is expected to be so limited that those clubs that are in position to part with a potential rotation member are expected to ask for a prospect ransom that may be out of proportion with the value of the pitchers.

Nonetheless, given the limited market of quality free agent starters and the fact that the Sox will likely want to limit expensive, long-term commitments to arms, the most practical way to acquire an impact upgrade to the rotation (aside from a gamble on the conversion of someone like Bard) is likely through the trade market.

Based on conversations with multiple major league executives, the following starters are viewed as likely candidates to be available in trade conversations:

Gavin Floyd – With the White Sox likely looking to take a step back in hopes of positioning themselves to compete for the long term, the team might be willing to move starters who are young, talented and affordable. Floyd, a Red Sox killer (6-0, 3.47 in eight games against Boston), is one such arm.

His contract makes him appealing, given that he is owed $7.5 million in 2012 with a $9 million team option for 2013 – an eminently reasonable salary for a pitcher who has logged at least 185 innings in each of the last four years, a span in which he is 50-45 with a 4.08 ERA, 7.0 strikeouts and 2.7 walks per nine innings. Though his 4.37 ERA in 2011 was his worst in those four seasons, his 1.162 WHIP was the best of his career.

John Danks – The same sources expect that the White Sox might also make the 26-year-old Danks available. The left-hander remains under team control for two more seasons, and will be in line for a raise from the $6 million salary he earned in 2011.

Like Floyd, the left-handed Danks had his worst ERA (4.33, along with an 8-12 record) of the last four years in 2011. Of course, that could be related in no small part to a horrific White Sox defense that ranked second to last in the majors in defensive efficiency (the conversion rate of balls in play into outs).

Over the last four years, Danks is 48-43 with a 3.77 ERA, 7.0 strikeouts and 2.8 walks per nine innings. In 2011, he punched out 7.1 batters per nine innings while walking a career-low 2.4 per nine.

Jeremy Guthrie – The late-blooming Orioles right-hander posted initially unimpressive marks of a 9-17 record (the most losses in the AL) with a 4.33 ERA. However, like Danks and Floyd, could see far better numbers if not for the fact that he’s been pitching in front of an atrocious defensive team.

He has logged at least 200 innings in each of the last three years, and at least 175 in each of five seasons since joining the Orioles rotation in 2007. His 5.5 strikeouts per nine innings are modest, and his 2.9 walks per nine last year represented his highest mark as a starter. But he has spent his career pitching in the AL East, so he wouldn’t be intimidated by the challenge of moving within the division.

That said, because he currently pitches for a divisional rival, even if the Sox wanted to acquire him, they are unlikely to find common ground for a deal. In the past -- including this summer, when the O’s wanted an extra pound of flesh should they deal relievers Koji Uehara or Mike Gonzalez to the Sox -- Baltimore has only been willing to deal with the Sox at premium rates (a common practice for intradivision trades).

Guthrie is under team control for one more season before reaching free agency, having made $5.75 million in 2011.

Wandy Rodriguez – Rodriguez was widely available this summer, yet no one was interested in taking on the remaining guaranteed two years and $23 million on the left-hander’s contract that also includes a $13 million option and $2.5 million buyout for 2014.

Nonetheless, he has four straight seasons of sub-4.00 ERAs while pitching for a woeful Astros team, and for his career, he’s struck out 7.7 batters per nine innings while walking 3.2.

However, his strikeout rate has gone down in three straight seasons, and given that he will turn 33 in January and that he would be moving from a pitiful NL Central to the AL East, the remainder of his contract represents a not-insignificant risk, something that the Sox likely be leery of assuming given the commitments to their current starters.

Reds -- The Reds have something of a rotation surplus, particularly now that they are planning to have flame-throwing Aroldis Chapman prepare for life as a starter in 2012. While Cincinnati would probably love to move Bronson Arroyo, who is 34 and owed $23.5 million over the next two years, it’s unlikely they’d find many takers for their longtime rotation anchor, given that he allowed 46 homers last year en route to a 5.07 ERA. And so, perhaps, they could make available some of their starters whose raw talents have not yielded results, such as 25-year-old Homer Bailey (9-7, 4.43 in 2011) or 27-year-old Edinson Volquez (5-7, 5.71), the latter of whom has not regained his dominant potential since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2009.

Rays -- With the emergence of stud prospect Matt Moore, the Rays have six front-of-the-rotation starting candidates, with Moore joining a line that already includes David Price, James Shields, Jeremy Hellickson, Jeff Niemann and Wade Davis. Any of those pitchers would be appealing to the Sox, but it would be all but impossible for the Rays and Sox to consummate a trade given that they are direct competitors.

I just hope we can get at least one if not two quality starters without having to mortgage the farm (pun intended) to get them. This team can be really good if they can address that. If not they become the Texas Rangers (not last years and this years Rangers). Phenomenal offense, but nothing to really show for it because of a lack of solid starting pitchers.

Quote:

•Speier also lists a few trade candidates like Gavin Floyd and Wandy Rodriguez are mentioned but, "according to multiple industry sources, the number and quality of available starters is expected to be so limited that those clubs that are in position to part with a potential rotation member are expected to ask for a prospect ransom that may be out of proportion with the value of the pitchers."

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/1...youkilis-.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wilson8 (Post 7996420)

I think the point was a player that was in the majors for many years but didn’t have the stuff to be more than a mid level pitcher probably had to know more about the art of pitching and could share that with a pitching staff.

I think Orel could be a good pitching coach but he probably has too many other things going for him to consider being on the road for a long major league season and making less money. He has a son playing baseball at USC and he has his analyst job with ESPN.

Most guys that were star pitchers probably don't have the financial need to work as a pitching coach.

I agree with all that, I just listen to him doing games and I often think man that guy knows his stuff.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bowser (Post 7996971)

Has it been mentioned in this thread yet that the Royals could actually be pretty good if they went out and picked up a couple of front line pitchers for next year?

:hmmm:

Don't think so...

http://www.kansascity.com/2011/10/16...wn-on-the.html

Quote:

Posted on Mon, Oct. 17, 2011

Royals still rich down on the farm

By BOB DUTTON
The Kansas City Star

SURPRISE, Ariz. | It was just about a year ago when the Royals began reaping accolades for the depth and quality of their farm system. That praise reached such levels that, eventually, they became dubbed as the Baseball America champions.

It wasn’t just Baseball America, although that magazine and website — which prides itself on its coverage of the game’s prospects — certainly gained a first seat in the orchestra by handing out its highest-ever grade to the Royals’ collected talent.
That isn’t likely to happen again.
“Any team that graduates four of its top 10 prospects and eight of its top 20 is going to take a hit,” said J.J. Cooper, the magazine’s managing editor, who closely tracks the Royals. “Kansas City’s farm system isn’t as deep as last year, and it doesn’t have as many impact prospects at the upper levels as it did a year ago.”
The Royals won’t argue — up to a point.
“The sexy names are now in the big leagues,” assistant general manager J.J. Picollo conceded. “I think that’s why people might view our system a little differently. And it is different. You’re talking about first- and second-rounders who are up.
“Guys are up there who should be up there. So now the names that we’ve been hearing for two or three years … you’re not going to hear any more. They’re in the big leagues, but we still have a lot of depth.”
The Royals overhauled their lineup and their bullpen in 2012 when Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Danny Duffy, Aaron Crow, Tim Collins, Sal Perez, Johnny Giavotella and Louis Coleman were among 12 rookies who made their big-league debuts.
What stalled this season was the anticipated progression by what, a year ago, seemed a deep collection of rotation candidates. Duffy arrived, to mixed success, but Mike Montgomery, after a strong spring, labored through an inconsistent summer at Class AAA Omaha.
John Lamb typically vied with Montgomery in preseason assessments for designation as the system’s best rotation candidate, but he made just eight starts before the Royals determined his sore elbow required reconstructive surgery. Lamb is likely to miss most of next season.

Chris Dwyer and Will Smith got off to rocky starts, although both steadied in the second half. What successes the Royals enjoyed came mainly at the lower levels — most notably in Jake Odorizzi’s rise. Some club officials believe he could be ready at some point next season.

“Our higher-end pitchers,” Picollo agreed, “are still in the minor leagues, while our position players are in the major leagues. The positive for Montgomery and Dwyer is they made every start. They didn’t miss any time, and I think that’s a big part of development.
“It’s similar things for both. It comes down to fastball command and being in the zone a little bit more.”
Both figure to get a long look next spring, especially Montgomery, but general manager Dayton Moore will spend the offseason seeking a veteran arm and is already on record for his willingness to deal prospects to acquire it.
“We’re going to take the same course we’ve been taking,” Moore said. “I don’t think we’ll do much with free agents unless it makes really good sense. We explore trade possibilities and keep growing our own kids.”
The Royals, in fact, believe they already have a solid foundation in place for the next wave, led by a growing contingent of Latin American players.
“What we’re seeing,” Picollo said, “is the guys who were signed three or four years ago from Latin America are starting to rise to the levels we thought they could achieve. They’re becoming some of our better prospects.”
That list starts with third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert, an 18-year-old who ripped through the Class A Midwest League before a late-season fade. He offers power to all fields and projects as a middle-of-the-order bat.
“I had a lot of scouts tell me,” Picollo said, “that he was, hands down, the best hitting prospect in that league. The way he finished up, I don’t think the postseason stuff is going to say the same.”
Cuthbert draws comparisons to a young Miguel Cabrera — two of the club’s top minor-league instructors, Rusty Kuntz and Jack Maloof, were with the Marlins when Cabrera made his debut as a 20-year-old in 2003. The Royals also spent the last 16 months gathering sure-handed middle infielders: Orlando Calixte, Humberto Arteaga and Adalberto Mondesi from the Dominican Republic and Jack Lopez, a 16th-round overdraft in the June draft.
“That’s a good group,” Moore said. “Then you’ve got guys like (infielder Daniel) Mateo and (outfielder Jorge) Bonifacio, who no one even talks about. Those guys can flat hit.”
The Latin investment, under the direction of Rene Francisco, began making an impact this season at the big-league level through the arrival of Perez and reliever Kelvin Herrera, a pair of 2006 signings.
The best yet might be outfielder Elier Hernandez, a 16-year-old who got a $3 million bonus in July because the Royals view him as a first-round talent. Some club officials say his potential exceeds that of outfielder Bubba Starling, the fifth overall pick in the June draft.
“He’s a good-looking player,” Picollo said. “I told Rene, ‘I know you paid some money, and I know you probably paid more than you wanted to, but he’s worth every penny of it.’
“A lot of young Latin kids, they’ll swing through breaking balls, but I’ve seen him lay off breaking balls or hit curveballs to right center. I haven’t seen too many young Latin kids do that.”
Starling figures to be part of that next wave, too, along with outfielders Brett Eibner and Brian Fletcher, whom the Royals acquired in the 2010 draft.
“They’re going to represent the next group,” Picollo said, “whose timetable is going to be such that they’ll be ready for the major leagues when we have to make decisions on guys we have now on our major-league team.”
Between now and then?
The Royals expect outfielder Wil Myers, generally viewed as their top non-pitching prospect, to bounce back from an injury-marred season. Christian Colon, the fourth overall pick in 2010, is ticketed for increased duty at second base — although defense isn’t the issue; he needs to hit.
“What Wil went through this year, and Colon to an extent,” Picollo said, “is going to prepare them better for the major leagues. Both of those guys are ahead of their draft class, and I think they’ll be fine next year.”
Myers is still just 20, which means he could be ready for right field when Jeff Francoeur’s new contract expires after the 2013 season. Some club officials believe Colon, if he hits, could supplant Giavotella as the starting second baseman by the end of next season.

“The Royals are still likely a top 10 farm system heading into next season,” Cooper said. “That being said, they’ll need bounce-back years from a number of their top prospects.”
The Royals want to see a positive in those disappointments. They point to Hosmer and Moustakas struggling throughout 2009 and how Crow was demoted a year ago from Class AA Northwest Arkansas to Class A Wilmington before blossoming this season into an All-Star.
So whatever the forthcoming rankings say, the Royals believe the group that arrived this year was just the first splash from a well-primed pump.

Yeah, Cheslor Cuthbert is a future star. I've been really excited about him ever since his signing.

Bodes well for recent signings, too. Guys like Elier Hernandez were much more acclaimed. No guarantee they develop like Cuthbert, but the ceiling is just as high.

I think the system will bounce back in a big way next year, though graduation will probably hit with at least Montgomery and possibly Odorizzi.

Can't see Myers getting more than a September call-up unless he goes Hosmer on Omaha (which is possible, actually).

Quote:

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho (Post 8001495)

Yeah, Cheslor Cuthbert is a future star. I've been really excited about him ever since his signing.

Bodes well for recent signings, too. Guys like Elier Hernandez were much more acclaimed. No guarantee they develop like Cuthbert, but the ceiling is just as high.

I think the system will bounce back in a big way next year, though graduation will probably hit with at least Montgomery and possibly Odorizzi.

Can't see Myers getting more than a September call-up unless he goes Hosmer on Omaha (which is possible, actually).

That would be so sweet. Hopefully he gets called up relatively early that way he can adjust to Major League pitching during the summer and hopefully be playing better by fall.

Elier Hernandez is Alex Rodriguez with more pop

With all these prospects still to come, the Royals are gonna be raping for a long time. Just gotta get that pitching!

Conroy, Fregosi Jr. hired as special assistants
By Dick Kaegel / MLB.com | 10/18/11 5:12 PM ET

KANSAS CITY -- Tim Conroy and Jim Fregosi Jr. have joined the Royals as special assistants to general manager Dayton Moore.

Conroy had been with the Atlanta Braves since 2001, most recently as special assistant to the general manager and Major League scout. He worked in the St. Louis Cardinals' scouting department from 1994 to 2000.

A left-handed pitcher, Conroy was a first-round Draft pick -- selected 20th overall -- by Oakland in 1978, and owner Charlie Finley decided to start the 18-year-old's career in the Major Leagues. So on June 23 in Kansas City -- with 38,841 fans on hand for a doubleheader -- Conroy found himself facing the first-place Royals, matched against Dennis Leonard in the second game.

Despite being welcomed by Fred Patek's single, Conroy got through three scoreless innings. In the fourth, after Darrell Porter's single and two walks loaded the bases with one out, A's manager Jack McKeon lifted the rookie with a 5-0 lead. Conroy gave up just the two hits and was charged with one run, but walked five and hit a batter in his pro debut. He made one more start for the A's, and then went to the Minors and didn't get back to the Majors until 1982. In seven seasons for the A's and Cardinals, he had an 18-32 record.

Fregosi, son of former big league manager Jim Fregosi, spent the last 10 years in the Philadelphia Phillies' organization, the last three as a Major League scout. A former Minor League infielder, he also has scouted for the Colorado Rockies.

Conroy lives in Monroeville, Pa., and Fregosi in Murrieta, Calif.

"They'll be doing a variety of things for us," Moore said, "from scouting to evaluating the talent in our organization -- a combination of Major League work and special assignment-type stuff. We just felt we needed to move forward as an organization and enhance our presence at the Major League level as it pertains to our scouting efforts."

Brian Murphy, who was previously an assistant to the general manager, has left the Royals after serving in a scouting and advisory capacity since rejoining the club in 2000. This was his 50th year in professional baseball.

"Murph did a tremendous job for the organization for many years," Moore said.

Murphy had been a Minor League player and manager for the Royals before beginning his scouting career. He also was an assistant to Royals general managers Herk Robinson and Allard Baird. From 1997-2000 he was a special assistant to the Atlanta GM.