Quote:
Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins
While their starting pitching isn't as deep as it was overall (although it was mostly crap past Bumgarner) the Giants are much, much better on offense, have a better #2, and the Royals lost the season series to the Cardinals 4-2.
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Both teams (Royals and Giants) have improved a lot offensively, and they are both top 10* in OPS and runs after being middle-of-the-pack in those areas a season ago. The offensive profiles are actually really, really similar this season. *The Royals are technically 11th in R while the Giants are 7th, but just 7 runs separate them.
I think both teams have actually improved since a season ago. KC's rotation does have the potential now to set up much better than a season ago heading into the playoffs, if recent signs from Duffy and Ventura develop into a trend over the rest of the season. Having Duffy replace Vargas, Ventura pitching like his 2014 vintage, Cueto replace Shields and Volquez replace Guthrie looks like an upgrade at 3 of 4 spots.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud
It's interesting how Heyman has a much more positive view of the Royals pieces to this trade than anyone here...
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I have a very positive view of Reed and think Lamb and Finnegan both have value. It's just that Reed is the No. 4 guy in the Royals prospect SP depth chart (Behind Almonte, Zimmer and Manaea). So even though he's got a ton of potential, he's not as painful to lose as those guys. I'm actually really surprised the Reds did not try to insist on Miguel Almonte, who is closer to the show, rather than Reed.
The Royals have a lot of SP depth and quality... but this is more of a quantity/depth hit than anything else.
Here's a 2016 SP depth chart (before the trade):
Volquez
Ventura
Duffy
Medlen
Lamb (maybe - if Zimmer, say, were ready to roll in spring training and performed well, they'd jump him in front of Lamb)
Zimmer (these three in a somewhat random order)
Manaea
Almonte
Finnegan
Reed
So you're losing guys 5, 9 and 10 out of your depth chart (and this assumes the Royals wouldn't have spent money on a FA guy to fill the 5th rotation spot).
2017 only looks slightly different.
2017
Volquez
Ventura
Duffy
Vargas
Medlen* (mutual option)
Zimmer
Manaea
Almonte
Lamb (at this point, the more highly regarded guys have probably developed past Lamb)
Reed (probably will have passed Finny at this point)
Finnegan
Beyond that, you're too far out to project much, but the Royals have a high number of guys who could be factoring into the equation (Scott Blewett, Foster Griffin, Pedro Fernandez, Ashe Russell, Nolan Watson) that are at lower levels currently.
It's not that the Royals didn't give up quality. They did. It just wasn't as much as some feared Cueto might cost, and it doesn't hurt the overall depth chart that much.