*** Official 2016 Royals Repository, Version 1 ***

[duncan_idaho]

And so it begins: The Royals' second straight attempt to repeat as AL Champions, and first attempt to repeat as World Series champions.

In this thread, we'll track all non-gameday action. Roster moves, prospect news, etc.

I'll start the thread as usual, with division rivals thoughts. I still like KC to repeat as AL Central champs. Here's how I see the rest of it shaking out:

2) Indians - they have the pitching (and seem to have at least semi-Kluber-ed Cody Anderson, who added 3 mph to his fastball in the offseason). Will the offense hold up? I think this is a team that ends up looking a lot like the 2014 Royals. Francisco Lindor will solidify their IF defense over the full season, and is a help with the bat. I think this club is still a year away from really breaking through - the offense still has a lot of question marks - but I like them to nab a wildcard spot.

Key Player(s): Michael Brantley. When Brantley returns - and how he hits when he does - will be critical to the Indians' ability to be good enough on offense.

Jason Kipnis. Kipnis has been an enigmatic offensive performer for the past several years. If he finally has a good offensive campaign from start to finish, Cleveland could make real noise.

Something of interest to me: For all the acclaim the Twins' farm system gets, I look at the Indians young players, and would much rather have them. Brad Zimmer is going to be a very good all-around CF. Clint Frazier has huge power potential and should arrive soon (2017). Lindor is a young stud.

3) Tigers - Old and dependent on a few stars. If Verlander and Sanchez are healthy and effective, they will be playoff contenders. I'm sure JD Martinez will continue to hit roid-aided bombs. I'm also pretty sure Victor Martinez's days as a huge power threat are gone.

Key player: Justin Verlander. Detroit people would have you believe he figured out how to succeed without his big fastball in September of last year. If that's true, and he returns to dominant form, Detroit will likely contend again.

Something of interest to me: Will Jose Iglesias stay healthy and not try to kill teammates in the dugout? His defense makes the whole group much better.

4) Twins - They won't lead the division or be in playoff contention for as long this year, but Minnesota will avoid the cellar.

Key Player: Miguel Sano. Huge power, huge K rate. Can he continue to drive the ball and be a plus offensive player? Probably needs to cut that 35 percent K percentage to do so.

Something of interest to me: Will teams challenge Sano inside with hard stuff? Working away, away, just lets his power play up. Also - will Mike Berardino continue to be the biggest beat writer homer in MLB?

5) White Sox - still managed by a shitty manager who can't control his clubhouse (The blame for the LaRoche thing really should fall on him, not the GM). Still have a shitty overall defense and a lot of douchebags on the team. They will once again look better on paper than they actually perform.

Key player: Carlos Rodon. The White Sox need Rodon to take a big step forward to make an actual move this season. He's got the talent...

And, as always, here are the prospects.

Duncan’s Top 20 for 2016:

Spoiler!

1. Raul Adalberto Mondesi, SS, BOTH: Tools, tools, tools. RA has tools galore. At his best, he’s an All-Star SS who plays elite D, hits 15-20 HR, swipes 40 bags, and is an ideal 1, 2 or 3 hitter. At his worst, I think he looks a lot like Alcides Escobar. Plate discipline is his biggest challenge at this point, but evaluators are confident that will come with time. Clear No. 1
2. Kyle Zimmer, RHP: He’s pitching again and staying healthy, which is nice. He’s pitcing out of the bullpen to build back his arm strength, which is less nice. But still has that high upside, just a lower floor now. Ideally, the team will use him as a bullpen weapon in September (because he has earned it) and then give him a chance to transition back to starting for 2016.
3. Bubba Starling, CF, RH: Starling has been up and down this year but put himself back on the map by greatly improving his K rate while also improving across the slash line as a hitter. His defense and baserunning are MLB ready; if Starling can work himself into a league average hitter, he can be a solid MLB regular who plays great D in CF while hitting 15 HR and swiping 20 bags.
4. Miguel Almonte, RHP: Still love the body, FB/CH combo. Results aren’t eye popping, but he’s still low enough and early enough in the development to prize those things over performance. Still a solid No. 3 starter upside, and just a year and some change away from potentially being ready to contribute at the MLB level.
5. Jorge Bonifacio, RF, RH: Emilio’s little brother got off to a horrible start in 2015 but has heated up as the season went on. He also is translating BP power to game power for the first time, with 15 HR just past the mid-way point of his season. Despite his disappointing 2014, he has a chance to build his way back into legit prospect status – and still is only 22. Next challenge for him should be Omaha, but that may wait for the start of the 2014 season.
6. Scott Blewett, RHP: Blewett has a nice two –pitch mix already and is off to a strong start. With his size (6-6) and a good fastball/curveball combo, Blewett could eventually turn into a good No. 3 starter, with a MLB-average changeup.
7. Nolan Watson, RHP: The Royals’ 2015 sandwich pick is a polished prep arm who is adding velocity and explosiveness to a good, polished base. Likely to move quickly.
8. Ashe Russell, RHP: The 2015 top pick probably needs more work than Watson, but the upside is really nice. Again, advanced two-pitch mix that will depend on him adding a changeup. Could be a very good NO. 2 if it all adds up.
9. Balbino Fuenmayor, 1B/DH, RH: The Balbino came out of basically nowhere in 2015 to earn a Futures Game spot. Big power and an improved two-strike approach have turned the late bloomer into a legit prospect. He’s blocked at the MLB level currently by Eric Hosmer and Kendrys Morales, but Fuenmayor’s combination of power hitting and good average/strike zone control makes him intriguing.
10. Cheslor Cuthbert, 3B, RH: Cheslor probably is not going to be the star KC was hoping for when signing him out of Nicaragua, but he does look like he can be a solid reserve for an MLB club. Good defense at 3B paired with a solid plate approach and some gap power plays fine off the bench. He becomes a lot more interesting if they think he can stick as a 2B, which they have experimented with.

Spoiler!

11. Chase Vallot, C/DH/1B: I really like Vallot’s power and plate discipline combo. His bat will probably force him from behind the plate, but he’s held his own despite being extremely young for every level he has faced.
12. Alfredo Escalera-Maldonado, OF, RH: Escalera-Maldonado earned a promotion to Wilmington at age 20, which is pretty advanced movement for that age. He’s an athletic outfielder who has shown some plate discipline at an early age, which is encouraging. Doesn’t sound like he can stick in CF long term for KC, but his bat has become one to watch.
13. Pedro Fernandez, RHP: I haven’t seen much of him, but like the reports I’ve heard on his fastball and general makeup. Could become the next Almonte/Mondesi, though he’s more likely to land in the pen than either of them.
14. Elier Hernandez, OF, RH: Elier Hernanez teamed with Escalera-Maldonado in breaking out at Low-A and earning a promotion to Wilmington. It’s still early for this guy – he is just 20 years old – but he doesn’t take walks and hasn’t developed the prodigious power many thought he had the potential for. Still worth watching.
15. Hunter Dozier, 3B, RH: Dozier is reworking his swing mid-season, which generally will cause production to do what his has done: Nose dive. The changes he made entering the season (seemingly geared towards increasing his power production) were a disaster, and now he’s trying to get back to what he used to be. Still looks great and checks most of the scouting boxes, but the performance hasn’t matched, and it almost knocked him out of the list.
16. Christian Binford, RHP: After a breakthrough 2014, Binford struggled mightily at AAA and suffered a demotion. His upside remains similar – a back-end starter who can eat innings – but Binford’s lack of velocity and reliance on command have caught up to him so far.
17. Marten Gasparini, OF, SH: Gasparini is intriguing because of his speed and athleticism. He’s a LOOOOONG ways from the majors and young for his level, but reports on his bat speed, swing, and speed remain positive enough to keep him on the bubble.
18. Eric Skoglund, LHP: Skoglund had a nice year at Wilmington. I'm skeptical because his K rate is lower than I like to see for a guy at A+ - just 7/9, and usually guys lose a strikeout or two/9 as they move up the chain from there - but he has excellent control, walking 1.17 batters/9. 6-7 lefties with great control who get lots of ground balls - like Skoglund - have a chance to overcome bad K rates.
19. Ryan O'Hearn, 1B/LF: A lefty stick with power, O'Hearn was a savings signing as an 8th round pick, but a change in his approach increased his power - while increasing his K rate. After Vallot, probably the best pure power prospect in the Royals system.
20. Josh Staumont, RHP: I was terrified of this guy's control problems, and he walked nearly a batter an inning in his pro debut (32 BB in 40 1/3 IP). Staumont's nasty, nasty stuff (plus-plus fastball, plus slider) could make him a very good late-inning reliever who strikes out more than a batter an inning, if he can develop average or slightly below-average control. If he really masters the control, you're talking about a potential Greg Holland type, but that's a TALL task.

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by lewdog

Ability? Ability as a starting pitcher is determined about how you can change your style, locate pitches and confuse hitters, not just on what shows up on the radar gun.

He lacks a consistent secondary pitch, has fluctuated his velocity to become less effective, and has a $.10 brain.

At some point after a lot of work, it still might not happen. And no, you can't looks at the past 2 starts in this argument. If he doesn't figure it out through the entire second half, you have to think about alternatives.

I disagree, unless he keeps headhunting, I think he deserves until the end of 2017 to figure it out.

The dude was flat out fantastic in 2014 and in the entire second half of 2015. Plus he's put together some balla-*** starts in the 2014-2015 postseasons.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

So, you criticize him yet are unhappy that he's not traded for a bounty?

Wha?

What?

I was originally just responding to Pitt Gorilla who said he didn't like the option of moving him to the pen or trading him. Which leaves you continuing to trot him out as a starting pitcher when he's been not great (outside of past few starts). At some point you cut your loses and move him to the pen or trade him for something. Trotting out a bad starting pitcher does nothing for anyone.

[C3HIEF3S]

Originally Posted by lewdog

Ability? Ability as a starting pitcher is determined about how you can change your style, locate pitches and confuse hitters, not just on what shows up on the radar gun.

He lacks a consistent secondary pitch, has fluctuated his velocity to become less effective, and has a $.10 brain.

At some point after a lot of work, it still might not happen. And no, you can't looks at the past 2 starts in this argument. If he doesn't figure it out through the entire second half, you have to think about alternatives.

Very generous tonight, Lewdog.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

I disagree, unless he keeps headhunting, I think he deserves until the end of 2017 to figure it out.

The dude was flat out fantastic in 2014 and in the entire second half of 2015. Plus he's put together some balla-*** starts in the 2014-2015 postseason.

Not sure what your leash length is but if he has a disastrous second half, I don't see trotting him out there all 2017. I think we will learn the fate of Ventura through the rest of this season. He's looked good past two starts, which is good.

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by lewdog

Not sure what your leash length is but if he has a disastrous second half, I don't see trotting him out there all 2017. I think we will learn the fate of Ventura through the rest of this season. He's looked good past two starts, which is good.

For sure, I'm talking about if he keeps his 2014-2015 numbers. He's pitched at around a 4.30 ERA since 2014, since 1985, we've never had a host of available pitchers who can best that.

Now if he completely regresses to 2015 Jeremy Guthrie numbers, then it's time to entertain a move to the pen.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by lewdog

What?

I was originally just responding to Pitt Gorilla who said he didn't like the option of moving him to the pen or trading him. Which leaves you continuing to trot him out as a starting pitcher when he's been not great (outside of past few starts). At some point you cut your loses and move him to the pen or trade him for something. Trotting out a bad starting pitcher does nothing for anyone.

The money move is to allow him to settle down, put in quality starts, then possibly move him.

Moving him at his lowest point is folly.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

The money move is to allow him to settle down, put in quality starts, then possibly move him.

Moving him at his lowest point is folly.

I agree. I just think the leash length on that needs to be a bit shorter than what others are suggesting. And at what point does him pitching well mean you keep him, or trade him while he looks good? It's a tough call.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by lewdog

I agree. I just think the leash length on that needs to be a bit shorter than what others are suggesting. And at what point does him pitching well mean you keep him, or trade him while he looks good? It's a tough call.

Well, he can't be traded before the AS break. The return would be minimal.

Closer to the deadline would be best, IMO.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Well, he can't be traded before the AS break. The return would be minimal.

Closer to the deadline would be best, IMO.

Agreed.

Easily your best take of the night.

I have to go to bed now before you anger me further and I can't sleep tonight because of your posting in the other thread.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by lewdog

Agreed.

Easily your best take of the night.

I have to go to bed now before you anger me further and I can't sleep tonight because of your posting in the other thread.

Oh, don't be coy, Lew, I'll always haunt your dreams.

Be careful.

[Chiefspants]

Interestingly, Beane did throw Moore some professional shade by saying something to the tune of "You don't expect players as talented as Manaea to be available for a half-season rental."

For a gentleman that traded away Addison Russell for Jeff SAMARDIAJIZZA and Jason Hammel, it was a heel thing to say.

Kiss the ring, Beane.

[Coach]

Too soon to be talking about getting rid of Morales. He had some good AB's, just rotten luck.

Hopefully last night's game gets him going.

[Demonpenz]

Any chance he just hits right handed full time. His left handed swing is dogcrap

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Demonpenz

Any chance he just hits right handed full time. His left handed swing is dogcrap

I'd be surprised.

For his career, he's been a very even performer from both sides. More likely this is just a blip for him (or a sign that he's done, overall).

Re: trading Ventura, if he continues to pitch well, I doubt they move him. Would be unlikely to get the combination of upside and control they have with him in return.

IMO, he only gets moved if continues to be a roller coaster, or in the offseason if someone blows KC away with an offer.


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[nychief]

Originally Posted by Coach

Too soon to be talking about getting rid of Morales. He had some good AB's, just rotten luck.

Hopefully last night's game gets him going.

More concerned with Escobar. He is lucky Mondesi screwed up... there might have been a controversy later this year.