*** 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.

[C3HIEF3S]

I did watch game 5 of the 2015 ALDS the other day. Game 6 of the ALCS will follow soon, along with the World Series games I am sure.

Special times those were.

[Al Bundy]

BTW Wil Myers very close to signing an extension with the Padres.

[WilliamTheIrish]

Originally Posted by suzzer99

What the ****? I just watched the 2014 World Series Film on mlb network - which should have been called "The 2014 SF Giants entire postseason run and requisite MadBum fellatio." Royals barely existed in the film. Maybe a half-dozen quick interviews. Deep coverage of every Giants series and no coverage whatsoever of the Royals run to the WS. Bochy, Sabean, Pence, MadBum, Morse and a bunch others got minutes of interview time. Not even one second of the Royals in the playoffs.

So now I'm watching the 2015 film, thinking cool at least I'll get to relive the Houston Series. NOPE. Starts with game 1 of the World Series. So far I think they've shown more Mets interviews than Royals. I can already tell Matt Harvey is going to dominate this entire film.

HEY MLB - GO FIST YOUSELVES

****ing bullshit

The MLB Films shots from ground level are pretty cool

Esky's homer and now it's basically the Mets season highlight film. @#_)$*@)_#48!@)_#$*U!@()#U& {!@)(#$& !(*#$&#*($y7

Haha! Your perspective is all skewed. I will forever regale my children and (one day) grandchildren of that 2014 run. And in that bedtime story of a season I'll tell them how we were once the A's. But Charlie Finley that SOB, took them away to Oakland just as he was signing and developing the talent that would land the A's 3 consecutive WS championships.

And how AO, Cookie Rojas, Joe Foy, and Wally Bunker and Steve Busby became our new boys of summer. The decade of incredible championship level baseball that was maintained culminating in "NO OUTS TO GO"!!!

And then some low years, and a few more. And then the slow turnaround, followed by the elusive wild card berth. Then "SALVATION". And vanquishing the ghost of the A's.

Then carving up the Angels with late inning and extra inning heroics and incredible defense and shutdown pitching.

To Baltimore and the poor cute girl who became our own internet meme and just play after play after play. And to hear "29 years, worth the wait" from Ernie Johnson.

Yea, in the end, that was the one that got away. But it's a beautiful story that I'll tell until I breathe last.

Yea man, to me... it's a great story. I just tell it differently than MLB.

[cabletech94]

Originally Posted by WilliamTheIrish

Haha! Your perspective is all skewed. I will forever regale my children and (one day) grandchildren of that 2014 run. And in that bedtime story of a season I'll tell them how we were once the A's. But Charlie Finley that SOB, took them away to Oakland just as he was signing and developing the talent that would land the A's 3 consecutive WS championships.

And how AO, Cookie Rojas, Joe Foy, and Wally Bunker and Steve Busby became our new boys of summer. The decade of incredible championship level baseball that was maintained culminating in "NO OUTS TO GO"!!!

And then some low years, and a few more. And then the slow turnaround, followed by the elusive wild card berth. Then "SALVATION". And vanquishing the ghost of the A's.

Then carving up the Angels with late inning and extra inning heroics and incredible defense and shutdown pitching.

To Baltimore and the poor cute girl who became our own internet meme and just play after play after play. And to hear "29 years, worth the wait" from Ernie Johnson.

Yea, in the end, that was the one that got away. But it's a beautiful story that I'll tell until I breathe last.

Yea man, to me... it's a great story. I just tell it differently than MLB.

fan - effing - tastic!!! this is some beautiful reading!!! REP.

[KCCHIEFS27]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

BTW Wil Myers very close to signing an extension with the Padres.

6 years/80+...also, I saw the Tribe was going after Joey Bats. Good grief.

[SAUTO]

Myers getting 80 million?

[Wilson8]

A few Kansas City Royals thoughts –

Left Handed Bat

With the loss of Jarrod Dyson and Kendrys Morales, Kansas City is in need of an additional bat from the left side.

The Royals currently have Eric Hosmer, Alex Gordon, Mike Moustakas, and switch hitters Billy Burns and Raul Mondesi that can bat left handed.

LHB free agents include, outfielders OF/1B Brandon Moss (.225 AVG, 28 HR, $8M last year), IF Luis Valbuena (.260 AVG, 13 HR, $6M last year), OF Michael Saunders (.253 AVG, 24 HR, $2.8M last year), IF Daniel Descalso (.264 AVG, 8 HR, $2.1M last year), IF Stephen Drew (.266 AVG, 8 HR, $3 M last year), and IF switch hitter Erick Aybar (.243 AVG, 3 HR, $8.5 M last year).

Signing Moss or Saunders would add to an already large number of outfielders the Royals have on their roster. Drew and Aybar can play SS as well as other infield spots. Valbuena and Descalso, as-well-as Drew and Aybar, could be paired with Whit Merrifield to give KC a left handed bat when they need it.

A possible trade for the Royals might be switch hitting IF/Of Nick Franklin with Tampa Bay. The Rays currently have Matt Duffy, Tim Beckham, and Logan Forsythe in the infield. Last season they started playing Franklin in the outfield where they already have Corey Dickerson, Kevin Kiermaier, Steven Souza, Mikie Mahtook, and they traded for Mallex Smith, signed Colby Rasmus, and picked up Jason Coates recently.

The Ray’s depth charts shows Nick way down on the list for outfielders and as a backup for 2B and 3B.

25 year old Franklin batted .285 and had 6 HR last season as a left handed batter against right handed pitching. He actually only played 60 games at the major league level and 64 games in AAA.

Tampa Bay is playing a numbers game with their roster where they might be willing to trade Nick.


Good pitching is still a need of the Royals.

Another interesting aspect of trading with Tampa Bay Rays, GM Erik Neander has just said that the team has an open mind about moving starting pitchers. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/0...blue-jays.html

Maybe Kansas City could swing a trade for Jake Odorizzi with Nick Franklin thrown in?

What would the Royals have that they could part with for such a trade?

If not a trade, which affordable free agent would be best for KC?

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by Wilson8

Good pitching is still a need of the Royals.

Another interesting aspect of trading with Tampa Bay Rays, GM Erik Neander has just said that the team has an open mind about moving starting pitchers. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/0...blue-jays.html

Maybe Kansas City could swing a trade for Jake Odorizzi with Nick Franklin thrown in?

What would the Royals have that they could part with for such a trade?

If not a trade, which affordable free agent would be best for KC?

I dont know much about each teams wish list but just giving a quick glance at the Royals prospect list and the Rays constant need of building for the future, I highly doubt there's a match between the Royals and Rays for a pitcher who's been as good as Odorizzi with 3 years of control left.

1 year of control for an inferior pitcher in Matt Moore cost the Giants the runner up for RoY from the previous year and 2 prospects which slot in at 7 and 30 for the Rays.

[KChiefs1]

ESPN having an entire special about the World Series winner at the White House?

Royals didn't get that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Why Not?]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

ESPN having an entire special about the World Series winner at the White House?

Royals didn't get that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

KC teams don't move the needle. It's not personal. The Indians don't get that special either, had they won. We really just have each other to celebrate our championships with. Our teams are a national after thought which is part of what makes it so cool when the Royals give em all a shit burger to eat every once in a great while. Something the Chiefs will never do

[C3HIEF3S]

Sources: Danny Duffy and the Kansas City Royals have agreed on a five-year, $65 million contract extension.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 16, 2017

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S

Sources: Danny Duffy and the Kansas City Royals have agreed on a five-year, $65 million contract extension.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 16, 2017

Yes!!!!

[C3HIEF3S]

Danny Duffy always said: "Bury me a Royal." Though he's far from the grave, his new five-year deal will take him through his age-32 season.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 16, 2017

[Shawny2X4]

Noice!!!

[RealSNR]

Thank God. I needed some good news