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.

[gblowfish]

Well, at least they got Hoz settled for the time being. Gotta get Mr. Holland next.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by Brianfo

Bonifacio gets 3.5 million avoiding arbitration.

slightly higher than expected (3.3).

Holland is the most expensive one still outstanding, mlbtraderumors predicted 4.9 for him.

[duncan_idaho]

Nice to see them avoiding arbitration in some of these cases.

Hochevar amount sucks, but like al said... he was getting about that one way or another.

It's kind of ludicrous that a team with a payroll of $92 million or so is going to spend 17 percent of that payroll on its closer, an 8th inning guy that still can't be 100 percent trusted with men on base (Hochevar), and a 6th/7th inning/swing starter type (Wade Davis).

They really should look at moving one of Hochevar or Davis for a piece that can help either this year or somewhere down the road. The bullpen could withstand losing either of those guys without missing a beat, IMO.

[Deberg_1990]

The Royals just can't seem to quit Hochevar. He was better the 2nd half of last year though. hopefully they are not thinking of moving him back to starter?
Posted via Mobile Device

[BlackHelicopters]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

The Royals just can't seem to quit Hochevar. He was better the 2nd half of last year though. hopefully they are not thinking of moving him back to starter?
Posted via Mobile Device

Blasphemy!

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

The Royals just can't seem to quit Hochevar. He was better the 2nd half of last year though. hopefully they are not thinking of moving him back to starter?
Posted via Mobile Device

Hopefully not, but I'm sure they'll consider it in Spring Training.

It doesn't make much sense for a sub-$100 million payroll team that's up against its budget to spend $15 million on 3 RH relief pitchers.

If there's a team/front office/manager stubborn enough to believe Hochevar deserves another shot as a starter, despite all the eyeball evidence to the contrary, it's this one.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Thats just how arbitration works. As much as I despised Hoch (I wanted his ass non-tendered last year) he was a dominating setup man last season, and that has value. At this point we probably have to keep him if we want to have a decent chance in 2014 with this rotation.

I don't know if he would have gotten 5 million in free agency, probably he would, but if we didn't want to pay what arbitration was going to force on us, then our only alternative was to cut him.

5 million for Hochevar, who is still a liability, is unacceptable. For whatever reason, there is a love affair with him by GMDM or someone in the front office\coaching staff. His performance last season was NOT the norm - It was the exception. Did no one pay attention to the Career year then signing of Frenchy? It's a bad deal. 5 million for a reliever that has never performed until last year, then spend that type of money again with a limited payroll and a bunch of money already tied up in your bullpen? You non-tender him or trade him... That would be the good baseball move.

But he has a little value (certainly not 5 mil for a small market team as a reliever) and is one of the boys, so he's given the golden boot to drink from.

I can't agree with this at all... Hochevar will most assuredly not put up the same numbers as last year. If he does, then you start having a track record for paying him a few million dollars... but 5 mil as a lottery ticket\reclamation project is not good baseball business.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Nice to see them avoiding arbitration in some of these cases.

DM may be the most arbitration-averse GM in baseball. He has never allowed it to go to the arbitrator, he always settles with the player.

[BlackHelicopters]

Originally Posted by Zeke

5 million for Hochevar, who is still a liability, is unacceptable. For whatever reason, there is a love affair with him by GMDM or someone in the front office\coaching staff. His performance last season was NOT the norm - It was the exception. Did no one pay attention to the Career year then signing of Frenchy? It's a bad deal. 5 million for a reliever that has never performed until last year, then spend that type of money again with a limited payroll and a bunch of money already tied up in your bullpen? You non-tender him or trade him... That would be the good baseball move.

But he has a little value (certainly not 5 mil for a small market team as a reliever) and is one of the boys, so he's given the golden boot to drink from.

I can't agree with this at all... Hochevar will most assuredly not put up the same numbers as last year. If he does, then you start having a track record for paying him a few million dollars... but 5 mil as a lottery ticket\reclamation project is not good baseball business.

Hoch must have really good pictures of GMDM with a farm animal.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Zeke

5 million for Hochevar, who is still a liability, is unacceptable. For whatever reason, there is a love affair with him by GMDM or someone in the front office\coaching staff. His performance last season was NOT the norm - It was the exception. Did no one pay attention to the Career year then signing of Frenchy? It's a bad deal. 5 million for a reliever that has never performed until last year, then spend that type of money again with a limited payroll and a bunch of money already tied up in your bullpen? You non-tender him or trade him... That would be the good baseball move.

But he has a little value (certainly not 5 mil for a small market team as a reliever) and is one of the boys, so he's given the golden boot to drink from.

I can't agree with this at all... Hochevar will most assuredly not put up the same numbers as last year. If he does, then you start having a track record for paying him a few million dollars... but 5 mil as a lottery ticket\reclamation project is not good baseball business.

I was upset they didn't non-tender him a year ago. That would have been a good time to walk away from him. But this year? You can't non-tender a guy coming off that season and be taken seriously. By tendering him a contract and coming to an agreement, Hochevar is at least somebody they can get some value out of. This continues the clock to try to trade him, which I agree completely is what they should be doing.

They should be trying like crazy to trade him or Davis, though. Likely Hochevar. Small market teams can't pay that type of salary to a setup man who still isn't trustworthy with inherited runners.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by Zeke

5 million for Hochevar, who is still a liability, is unacceptable. For whatever reason, there is a love affair with him by GMDM or someone in the front office\coaching staff. His performance last season was NOT the norm - It was the exception. Did no one pay attention to the Career year then signing of Frenchy? It's a bad deal. 5 million for a reliever that has never performed until last year, then spend that type of money again with a limited payroll and a bunch of money already tied up in your bullpen? You non-tender him or trade him... That would be the good baseball move.

But he has a little value (certainly not 5 mil for a small market team as a reliever) and is one of the boys, so he's given the golden boot to drink from.

I can't agree with this at all... Hochevar will most assuredly not put up the same numbers as last year. If he does, then you start having a track record for paying him a few million dollars... but 5 mil as a lottery ticket\reclamation project is not good baseball business.

Well first, regarding regression and him being a liability: he isn't. Not unless he starts again. Last season was the first season as a relief pitcher, and his numbers were terrific. Is he that good as a reliever? Probably not, but it would take one hell of a regression for him to be a bad relief pitcher.

5 million is high for a reliever who only played the setup role for one season, so it may have been difficult to trade him, but if there's any chance he could come close to 2013 then we do need him so cutting him doesn't make sense either. I'm fine with just reluctantly paying what the arbitrator probably would have given him.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

I was upset they didn't non-tender him a year ago. That would have been a good time to walk away from him. But this year? You can't non-tender a guy coming off that season and be taken seriously. By tendering him a contract and coming to an agreement, Hochevar is at least somebody they can get some value out of. This continues the clock to try to trade him, which I agree completely is what they should be doing.

They should be trying like crazy to trade him or Davis, though. Likely Hochevar. Small market teams can't pay that type of salary to a setup man who still isn't trustworthy with inherited runners.

I wanted to non-tender him last year too, and I still think it needs to be done. The track record, the small market franchise, the current roster, and the position he plays.

Yes he had a good year, but 5 mil for a reliever with two-thirds of a season with success (As a middle reliever mind you) out of 5 is NOT good business. No matter which way you try to look at it.

[BlackHelicopters]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I wanted to non-tender him last year too, and I still think it needs to be done. The track record, the small market franchise, the current roster, and the position he plays.

Yes he had a good year, but 5 mil for a reliever with two-thirds of a season with success (As a middle reliever mind you) out of 5 is NOT good business. No matter which way you try to look at it.

It is not good baseball business. Maybe there is more to this love affair than we know. Maybe GMDM is doing all he can to trade Hoch, and has had no nibbles. I don't know?

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I wanted to non-tender him last year too, and I still think it needs to be done. The track record, the small market franchise, the current roster, and the position he plays.

Yes he had a good year, but 5 mil for a reliever with two-thirds of a season with success (As a middle reliever mind you) out of 5 is NOT good business. No matter which way you try to look at it.

I think they would have a real perception problem if they non-tendered a guy coming off that season. It goes beyond just payroll this year... agents and the union would really squawk about it... they wouldn't have a case for a grievance or anything, but the Royals would pay for it several times over down the road (in other salary negotiations). Scott Boras doesn't forget things like that.

He still has a trade market, IMO, if they're trying that. Considering that average joe closers like Jim Johnson are making $10 million/year, Hochevar would have some appeal to a team in need of a closer on a budget. Not sure that team exists, but you probably can find it between now and the trade deadline.

[alnorth]

Also keep in mind he's a free agent in 2015, he'll get whatever his market value is then. We're not committed to him beyond this season, and he's not keeping us from signing some huge free agent SP, so this argument about small markets can't afford to pay relievers this much money just doesn't apply in this case. I also don't see how any team is going to trade us something we need in 2014 for Hoch.