*** 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.

[C3HIEF3S]

#Royals demoted Miguel Almonte with hopes of rebooting his season. Take a step back to eventually go forward. They still regard him highly

— Jeffrey Flanagan (@FlannyMLB) August 1, 2016

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Colin is the only one of those who wasn't viewed as a logical/good pick at the time, and the MLB draft is probably the toughest one to judge with hindsight.

It's frustrating that the Royals first round picks other than Moustakas and Hosmer have not turned into core players/stars for the team, but that's not atypical around MLB, either.

The Colon one is the one that's most frustrating, because they were planning to take Sale until right before the pick, reportedly. That was the only "reach" pick, and it was seemingly made because the org had a hole at SS in its system and a plethora of LH pitching prospects.

Zimmer is just bad luck. Team hasn't done anything wrong there.

Starling looks like a bad pick and is also frustrating, but was justified at the time.

The other thing that I really think back to other is finishing a 1/2 game worse than Baltimore rather than a 1/2 game better that year. KC takes Machado in that case, and the whole landscape probably changes. Including the Greinke trade.


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The Starling pick, really?

I remember the day he was drafted and following the coverage, and I got the distinct impression that him being a hometown kid factored in a lot more than it should have for where he got selected?

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

No way shields is enough for Puig

Puig ****ing blows

[Al Bundy]

Marlins sent back Rea to Padres but are keeping Cashner.

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

Marlins sent back Rea to Padres but are keeping Cashner.

Odd...they got Luis Castillo back.

[Al Bundy]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

Odd...they got Luis Castillo back.

Rea arrived injured....

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

Rea arrived injured....

Shipping insurance is only like $50. They probably should have paid for that.

[Lex Luthor]

Originally Posted by Anyong Bluth

The Starling pick, really?

I remember the day he was drafted and following the coverage, and I got the distinct impression that him being a hometown kid factored in a lot more than it should have for where he got selected?

As I recall, this was during Albert Pujols' glory years in St. Louis, and a lot of people criticized the Royals for letting a local talent slip away like that. Pujols grew up in the KC area.

Not saying that justifies the draft pick, but I can't help but think that it had some influence over the decision. Plus, Bubba Starling appeared to be a very good prospect. I don't think anybody thought he'd turn out to be a complete bust.

[sedated]

Originally Posted by Lex Luthor

I don't think anybody thought he'd turn out to be a complete bust.

IIRC, Starling was clearly behind the pitching prospects (top 4 picks) but clearly ahead of the rest of the field. There was speculation that one of the top 4 teams could take him (and that the Royals hoped they would to not be faced with having the local guy).

The entire time he was viewed as extreme boom or bust, depending entirely on his ability to learn to hit; all his other tools were practically major league ready even in HS.

In fact, I think he was clearly the #5 prospect even given the question about him going to play football at Nebraska.

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by Lex Luthor

As I recall, this was during Albert Pujols' glory years in St. Louis, and a lot of people criticized the Royals for letting a local talent slip away like that. Pujols grew up in the KC area.

Not saying that justifies the draft pick, but I can't help but think that it had some influence over the decision. Plus, Bubba Starling appeared to be a very good prospect. I don't think anybody thought he'd turn out to be a complete bust.

Yeah, that I remember. What I had forgotten about was we were standing on the doorstep at 5 and the 4 pitchers everyone knew were going 1-4.

[Sure-Oz]

@Ken_Rosenthal: Source: Beltran to #Rangers close.

That would eliminate Morales as a trade target

[siberian khatru]

JUST IN: the #Indians announce they've acquired OF Brandon Guyer from the #Rays pic.twitter.com/0CdiBqU1W7

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 1, 2016

[Jerok]

Waiting eagerly for royals news. Looks like we are standing pat?

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

@Ken_Rosenthal: Source: Beltran to #Rangers close.

That would eliminate Morales as a trade target

But also simplifies the market. Possible he gets moved now that Beltran has found a home.

Or not, considering he's sucked for three of the season's four months.

[ChiefsCountry]

Royals players might be more attractive in the waiver wire trades.