2014 Royals Repository

[duncan_idaho]

With my 6,000th post on ChiefsPlanet (it only took me 12 years to get here), I bring you: The 2014 Kansas City Royals Repository.

To be discussed here: All things Royals, as they attempt to post another winning season and make it back to the playoffs for the first time since 1985.

25-man RosterAvailable HERE

AL Central Standings:

Link

Duncan's Top 20 Royals Prospects

Spoiler!

1) 3B Hunter Dozier ETA: 2015
Dozier started slowly at A+ Wilmington but caught fire in May and June, earning a mid-season promotion to AA Northwest Arkansas. Big, strong kid with good plate discipline skills and solid power who projects to be an above-average glove at 3B with solid power.

2) SS Raul (Adalberto) Mondesi ETA: 2017
Mondesis is the opposite of Dozier…. Started red-hot at Wilmington before back spasms derailed him for a few weeks and hasn’t gotten it going since coming back. Scouting reports have been great – defense and speed both improved over the offseason. Still a chance to be an elite SS, with 40 SB speed, plus glove, .300 average and some pop.

3) LHP Sean Manaea | ETA: 2015
Scouting reports outperform the stat line so far. Missing a ton of bats at A+ but not preventing runs like you’d expect to see. Needs to work deeper into games (gradually working about an inning deeper/month so far this year) and improve control. Walks are biggest concern right now, but could be elevated due to work on extra off-speed offerings. Still has No. 2 starter potential, could be higher if the great control he exhibited before his hip surgery eventually comes back.

4) RHP Kyle Zimmer| ETA: 2015
Should be NO. 1 on the list and is probably the Royals most VALUABLE current prospect, but he hasn’t thrown a ball in 4-5 weeks and had only been throwing for 2-3 weeks when he was shut down then.

5) LHP Brandon Finnegan| ETA: 2015
Top 2014 draft choice is an undersized lefty who will start at A+ Wilmington after anchoring CWS run for TCU. Good fastball, better slider, change that needs work to stick as a starter, but if he sticks, No. 2/No. 3 starter upside. Likely a top 10 or even top 5 pick if he doesn’t miss 1 start in the middle of the college season as a precautionary move.

6) RHP Miguel Almonte| ETA: 2016
Have heard some say Almonte is more advanced as a pitcher at A+ than Yordano Ventura was (comparison because both were cheap signs out of Latin America). Really advanced changeup and a curve that is working out well (where the ‘more advanced’ comment comes from). Fastball velo is good but not great – 92-94. Like Manaea, working on his second-best offspeed pitch and leaning less on his bread-and butter (changeup), which has hurt his numbers a bit.

7) RHP Christian Binford 2017
Reverse case of “don’t just scout stat lines.” Based on his stats at A+, you’d think he was an elite prospect, but there are questions about Binford’s stuff playing up at higher levels. Tall righty with great command of fastball, slider and a good and still developing changeup. None of those pitches profiles as better than average, though, limiting his likely upside to back-end rotation guy.

8) SS Orlando Calixte| ETA: 2016
I still like him more than many. Good combination of SS/MI skills and power. Started hot at NWA but in a slump at moment.

9)LHP Foster Griffin | ETA: 2019
Tall, projectable lefty taken in 2014 draft. Viewed as a great value in the sandwich round and probably would have been KC’s pick at No. 17 if Finnegan hadn’t fallen. High school arm who is going to take a while to develop.

10) RF Jorge Bonifacio| ETA: 2016
Hasn’t hit as well as expected in his second go-round at AA NWA. Power still sapped, and average skills have dipped. Once looked like he might be an option in RF at some point in 2015, now looks like 2016 is optimistic. Still young for his level.

11) 3B/2B Cheslor Cuthbert| ETA: 2016
Cuthbert has had better luck at NWA than Boni and is also extremely young for level. HE’s been moved to 2B since Dozier was promoted, which could put a new spin on Cuthbert’s prospects. If he sticks at 2B, bat plays up much better. Good OBP/plate discipline and solid power, but needs to continue improving contact skills

12) C Chase Vallot| ETA: 2020
Young (just 17) C with tremendous power. One of the top prep bats and a great value for KC where it got him. If he sticks at C, expect him to move slowly, but the bat may force the issue (or force him to another position).

13) C Zane Evans| ETA: 2017
GA Tech product has handled Wilmington better than most RH bats and probably is in line for a promotion to NWA sometime soon. Decent pop, decent skills behind the plate. Could be a nice reserve catcher.

14) RHP Scott Blewett| ETA: 2020
Tall, projectable righty with a fresh arm but some injury concerns on his shoulder that slipped him out of Round 1 of MLB draft. Big time potential.

15) CF Bubba Starling | ETA:
Bubba Starling has great tools. Bubba Starling (still) can’t hit. That’s all I have to say about that.

16) 1B Samir Duenez| ETA:
I still like him, even though the attempt to run him through full season ball at 17 did not go well.

17)LF/RF Elier Hernandez| ETA:
Hernandez still pops up in scouting reports but still is very raw and toolsy.

18) RHP Pedro Fernandez| ETA:
Pop-up player on the same track as Ventura and Almonte. Similar signing, similar profile. One to watch over next few years.

19) SS Marten Gasparini| ETA:
Royals’ most expensive international signing likely moves to CF eventually, but his speed and athleticism are intriguing abilities. Early reports from complex ball are very positive on him.

20) RHP Niklas Stephenson| ETA:
Interesting pop-up candidate who found 10 more MPH on his fastball by using a weighted ball during workouts over the winter. Now sits mid-90s with fastball and is dominating at rookie ball (after having an ERA over 8 there a year ago). Likely promoted to a higher challenge soon.

[ChiefsCountry]

Speaking of the A's, the dumbasses just renewed their lease for the Coliseum for 10 more years. When the lease is up, it will be 57 years I think they have played in that shithole.

[Prison Bitch]

Lincecum hits today: 2
Lincecum hits allowed today: 0

[C3HIEF3S]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Speaking of the A's, the dumbasses just renewed their lease for the Coliseum for 10 more years. When the lease is up, it will be 57 years I think they have played in that shithole.

Jesus, I hate that shithole with a passion.

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S

Jesus, I hate that shithole with a passion.

If I had the money, and couldn't get the Royals, I would buy that team and move it Nashville just to get it out of that shithole.

[teedubya]

It's a shame we couldn't have saved a few runs from that Detroit series... win 10, lose 6 of 7. #murica

[Prison Bitch]

No hitters thrown by San Diego, entire 45 year history: 0
No hitters thrown against San Diego by same guy, last 2 years: 2

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

The Royals definitely have the prospects to pull Samardzija if they want him.

The question is if swapping in Samardzija for either Duffy or Ventura really helps the team make the playoffs this year (I broke that down last week in this thread, it is a marginal gain at best, assuming all stay on current track).

if the Royals could pull a trade for Samardzija without sacrificing Ventura, Duffy or Zimmer, I think it makes a lot more sense. If not... sit tight and use your bullets to get a bat.

Look at this scenario:

www.pinetarpress.com

Royals Should Creatively Trade James Shields
by: David Lesky Posted date: June 25, 2014

And then I’m proposing that they turn around and trade for David Price.

You might be asking yourself what I first asked myself when the idea popped into my head and it’s why a team would trade for Shields and let the Royals acquire Price when the original team could just go out and get David Price. That’s a great question and a fair one, but can actually be answered realistically. James Shields is going to be far less expensive in terms of both prospects and dollars than David Price will be. Shields is a free agent in three months. Any team acquiring James Shields is renting him for that time and potentially getting an opportunity to negotiate with him if they think they can sign him to the deal he wants. Of course, Shields has also never gone through free agency, so that might not be possible for even the richest of teams. The other reason a team might trade for Shields instead of just trading for Price is that the Rays may not want to trade with certain teams in need of pitching (*cough Orioles, Yankees, Red Sox and Blue Jays cough cough*). Or if they do, they’d require far more in return than they would of a team trading for Price outside of their division.

So my next question to myself was if this would be a three team trade or if it would be two separate trades. I think it would have to be a three team deal, which might make it harder to consummate, but could still work out for both sides. For example, if the Royals were to strike up a conversation with the Yankees and the Rays, something could be worked out on all fronts that would make everybody happy. The Yankees are desperately in need of starting pitching. Masahiro Tanaka can’t do it all. With C.C. Sabathia hurt, Ivan Nova out for the year and Hiroki Kuroda up and down, they’re in a bad way. They could really use James Shields. The Rays don’t have any young catching and would want some young pitching to come back their way in any deal for David Price. Enter Gary Sanchez, one of the Yankees top prospects. He happens to be blocked by Brian McCann who the Yankees just signed to a long-term deal. Trade Sanchez and another part for James Shields, ship Sanchez, two of Almonte, Zimmer, Manaea and another piece like a Cheslor Cuthbert, Jason Adam or Jorge Bonifacio to Tampa Bay and bring back David Price. Maybe even ask for Ben Zobrist too. It never hurts to ask, right?

This move, and just about every other potential move that has piqued my interest takes both 2014 and 2015 into consideration. From the Royals perspective, by trading away James Shields and picking up David Price, it actually helps to keep their window open a little bit longer. Some might argue that their window in 2015 would still be open with or without James Shields because of the development of Yordano Ventura and Danny Duffy, but it never hurts to have a legitimate, Cy Young candidate ace to put at the front of your rotation. While Price isn’t having his best season this year, he is a workhorse who gets a ton of strikeouts and doesn’t walk batters. In his last five starts, he’s back to David Price from throwing 38.1 innings with 49 strikeouts and five walks. Those aren’t typos. He has a 2.58 ERA in those five starts.

Yes, it would hurt to give up two of their top pitching prospects, but that’s where that development of Ventura and Duffy comes into play for the future. Plus, if you’re going to acquire a guy like David Price, the trade is going to hurt on some levels I’ll never say the Royals don’t need pitching prospects, but to have two young starters who seem to be picking it up quickly certainly helps right that ship. Add in Jason Vargas and the Royals can stand to trade a couple of their future potential studs in an effort to acquire someone who has already reached that status.

Trading Shields helps to limit the burden on payroll this year and to limit the burden on prospect cost as the Royals can turn and flip one of the prospects acquired from trading away James Shields. Looking forward to next year, David Price is probably worth $18 million to $19 million in arbitration. That’s an addition of about $5 million on this year’s payroll in replacing Shields, but if Price can help lead the Royals to the playoffs, that money is very much worth it. For this season, they’re effectively the same cost. Even if the Royals decide they don’t want to/can’t pay that price, Price could be traded in the off-season, which would recoup at least some of what was lost when they traded for him. If Ventura and Duffy keep progressing, that might even be the best option of all of them.

So no, the Royals probably aren’t going to do anything like this, but a little creativity could go a long way toward the Royals improving their roster to make a playoff push in 2014. I think they have a chance to compete in future seasons, but I also think that this has a chance to be their best chance to make the playoffs.

While they don’t need Price, anywhere you can make an upgrade is important, and it’s hard to argue that Price isn’t an upgrade over James Shields, as good as Shields is. I mentioned Zobrist above, and he’d be a nice get in a deal like with the intention of him slotting in as the right fielder for now and maybe be the super utility guy who plays every day in 2015. It’s that time of year, the time to talk trades and just throw ideas against a wall to see what sticks. This idea, though, could benefit the Royals, Rays and whoever would end up with James Shields.

[Why Not?]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

Look at this scenario:

Trade our number 2 in aces clothing for a real ace? In

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

Look at this scenario:

I saw that. Seems pretty complicated and I doubt it could happen in reality, but the trade values he suggests match up pretty well.

[Three7s]

Originally Posted by Why Not?

Trade our number 2 in aces clothing for a real ace? In

#2? His numbers suggest a #4 at the moment.

[Why Not?]

Originally Posted by Three7s

#2? His numbers suggest a #4 at the moment.

Yeah. I was being super homer best case optomistic

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Speaking of the A's, the dumbasses just renewed their lease for the Coliseum for 10 more years. When the lease is up, it will be 57 years I think they have played in that shithole.

Why the hell did they do that? I know the San Jose thing has hit a serious snag, but they really want to commit to that horrible dump for another decade?

The only thing I can think of is maybe The A's knew they were not going to be able to go anywhere before their current lease ran out, and maybe the Coliseum folks knew they had to stay and took advantage of it by playing hardball, saying "if you want to stay, you must sign up for at least 10 years. If you wont do that, then get out of our building" (knowing that they couldn't leave the year after the lease ends so they had no choice)

[sedated]

Shields has hurt both us (trade value, if we have to go that way) and himself ($$$) with this performance this year. Hopefully he turns it around.

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by sedated

Shields has hurt both us (trade value, if we have to go that way) and himself ($$$) with this performance this year. Hopefully he turns it around.

They were talking on the radio the other day, 810 morning show with Buster Olney as a guest, about Shields not throwing his changeup near as often as he used to. I wonder if he has an injury or something that he is fighting through that is leaving his pitches up in the zone and preventing him from throwing his best pitch.

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Why the hell did they do that? I know the San Jose thing has hit a serious snag, but they really want to commit to that horrible dump for another decade?

The only thing I can think of is maybe The A's knew they were not going to be able to go anywhere before their current lease ran out, and maybe the Coliseum folks knew they had to stay and took advantage of it by playing hardball, saying "if you want to stay, you must sign up for at least 10 years. If you wont do that, then get out of our building" (knowing that they couldn't leave the year after the lease ends so they had no choice)

What I have read is the A's are sort of banking on the Raiders to move again, or if not develop a sports complex at the current coliseum site with development like a Power & Light in it. A's owner is a hotel developer so that would be their angle in a deal. It's also worth noting that the Giants plan to switch their AAA team to Sacramento, which has been with the A's. Another nail in a place where the A's could have moved to.