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.

[alnorth]

I think I mentioned it before, but I'm planning on starting the opening day game thread at 12:01, everyone cool with that? (in other words, I can ignore it if someone else jumps the gun?)

[Coach]

Originally Posted by alnorth

I think I mentioned it before, but I'm planning on starting the opening day game thread at 12:01, everyone cool with that? (in other words, I can ignore it if someone else jumps the gun?)

You put together a hell of a stats, information, all that relevant information. You deserve the honors. I approve.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by alnorth

I think I mentioned it before, but I'm planning on starting the opening day game thread at 12:01, everyone cool with that? (in other words, I can ignore it if someone else jumps the gun?)

Go for it!

We could have duncan start game 2. Maybe? We need to get our game starting rotation set.

[KCUnited]

Boner has achieved Raging status.

[BlackHelicopters]

Nice read

[C3HIEF3S]

Originally Posted by alnorth

I think I mentioned it before, but I'm planning on starting the opening day game thread at 12:01, everyone cool with that? (in other words, I can ignore it if someone else jumps the gun?)

All you man!

Agreed on our game thread rotation

1. Alnorth
2. Duncan
3. ???????
4. ???????
5. ???????

[BlackHelicopters]

Originally Posted by alnorth

I think I mentioned it before, but I'm planning on starting the opening day game thread at 12:01, everyone cool with that? (in other words, I can ignore it if someone else jumps the gun?)

You deserve it.

[TambaBerry]

God I'm so pumped for baseball to start.

[BlackHelicopters]

Rock hard. Just waiting for release.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S

All you man!

Agreed on our game thread rotation

1. Alnorth
2. Duncan
3. ???????
4. ???????
5. ???????

Deez in the coveted three hole for Ventura's virgin voyage. Love it.

Sucks that duncan is Yost's traditional slappy who "handles the bat." You shall overcome, dude.

[alnorth]

Here's our roster, I'm assuming Coleman will be on the 15-day and Hoch will be on the 60-day DL. Carlos Peguero will either be claimed by another team or outrighted to Omaha soon, either way he's off our 40-man.

Our active roster has 25, but our 40-man roster only has 38 players right now, 39 if you want to count Hoch. (Players on the 60-day DL don't count on the 40-man roster) Option info is not updated yet, the option isn't actually used until you spend 20 days in the minors.

[KChiefs1]

http://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/3/3...s-team-preview

DETROIT PERSPECTIVE:

2014 Team Preview: The Kansas City Royals need more pitching to contend in the AL Central

By Rob Rogacki

With the Royals in town tomorrow, we shuffled the order a bit to conclude our team preview series.

Under the reign of general manager Dayton Moore, the Kansas City Royals have evolved into perennial media darlings only to see their hopes dashed with a horrible stretch during the regular season. Last year, this entire narrative was magnified due to the arrival of James Shields in the most derided trade in baseball history. The Royals were 43-27 in the second half, won the season series against the Tigers, and got excellent contributions from one of the best pitching staffs in the league. However, an 8-20 record in May stalled their playoff hopes, and they finished 86-76, five games out of the final Wild Card spot. The offseason roster turnover seems to be a wash at first glance, so natural progression from the team's young core will determine how far the Royals go in 2014.

Manager: Ned Yost (5th year)

2013 record: 86-76, 3rd in AL Central


First series vs. Tigers: March 31 - April 3 @ Comerica Park

Lineup

If you include his team option for the 2018 season, former Tiger Omar Infante was the biggest free agent acquisition of the Royals' offseason. Infante hit .318/.345/.450 last season, and his 3.1 fWAR represents a huge upgrade over the comedy of errors that the Royals trotted out to the keystone in 2013. Chris Getz, Elliot Johnson, and Johnny Giavotella combined for -0.3 fWAR in 458 combined plate appearances. Getz and Johnson are gone, while Giavotella is in Triple-A. If Infante is not ready to go tomorrow -- he has been dealing with a shoulder issue -- Pedro Ciriaco will likely step in. At short, Alcides Escobar's awesome glove outweighed his awful bat for a modest 1.1 fWAR in 2013. He was able to swipe 22 bases without getting caught despite a .258 on-base percentage, making his dysmal 3.0% walk rate that much more frustrating. Well, that and the fact that Ned Yost batted him second for half of the year.

At the corners, Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas are at very different points after being in similar positions prior to the 2013 season. Hosmer got off to a very slow start, but exploded once George Brett took over as interim hitting coach. From June 1st to the end of the season, Hosmer hit a scorching .318/.367/.494 with 26 doubles and 16 home runs. He had an impressive .797 OPS against left-handed pitchers in 2013, a major improvement over his career .670 mark. Meanwhile, Moustakas never got going, ending the year with a dismal .651 OPS in 514 plate appearances. His strong glove resulted in 1.1 fWAR, but he won't have too many more chances if his bat doesn't get going soon. The Royals will use Danny Valencia and his career .879 OPS against left-handers in a platoon role with Moustakas. Designated hitter Billy Butler had a down year by his excellent standards in 2013, falling below an .800 OPS for the first time since 2008. Despite the lower numbers, he drew walks in a career high 11.8% of plate appearances.

The Royals parted with a potentially dominant left-handed reliever in Will Smith in order to bolster their outfield, sending Smith to the Brewers for Japanese import Norichika Aoki. Aoki posted an excellent .344 wOBA and 114 wRC+ in 2012, but fell back somewhat to a .326 wOBA and 104 wRC+ in 2013. The declines were largely power-related, as Aoki upped his walk rate and posted a nearly identical on-base percentage in 86 more plate appearances. In the other corner, Alex Gordon won his third consecutive Gold Glove and made his first All-Star team in 2013 thanks to a .772 first half OPS. His 39 point drop in batting average was largely due to a substantial drop in his line drive rate, and a slight dip in walk rate didn't help. Lorenzo Cain was the best defensive center fielder in the American League in nearly every statistical category last year, and ranked second to teammate Jarrod Dyson with a 23.9 UZR/150. Cain's bat is decidedly below average, though I imagine not running out ground balls played a role in his .291 wOBA.


Catcher Salvador Perez ranked third in the American League with 3.7 fWAR last season and was the best defensive backstop in the league according to both Defensive Runs Saved and Fangraphs' defensive rating scale. That distinction earned him his first career All-Star berth and Gold Glove, as well as a top-25 MVP finish. His .757 OPS was particularly impressive considering he walked just 21 times all season long. On the rare day that Perez doesn't start behind the dish -- he did so 137 times in 2013 -- Brett Hayes will be the backup. The 30 year old Hayes appeared in five games for the Royals last season after spending eight years in the Marlins' organization.

Rotation

Earlier this week, Royals Review affectionately referred to their team's rotation as "James Shields and a bunch of other guys," a distinction that makes a lot of sense on paper. Shields did his part to anchor the rotation in 2013, allowing a 3.15 ERA and 3.47 FIP in a league-leading 228 2/3 innings. He was able to weather the highest walk rate of his career, in part due to an 8.6% home run per fly ball rate. This wasn't a matter of home cooking either: Shields went 10-3 with a 2.07 ERA and 3.07 FIP away from Kauffman Stadium, holding opposing hitters to a .592 OPS.

One of the most puzzling free agent signings of the offseason was the decision to hand left-hander Jason Vargas a four-year contract despite three consecutive seasons with an ERA below league average. A fly ball pitcher that has not been successful in pitcher-friendly environments, Vargas allowed a 4.02 ERA and 4.09 FIP in 150 innings last season. His 2.37 strikeout-to-walk ratio wasn't bad, but he allowed the highest WHIP of his career in part due to a .310 BABIP. In the same mold as Vargas is Jeremy Guthrie, who allowed a 4.04 ERA in 211 2/3 innings. He gave up a league-high 236 hits, including 30 home runs, and struck out fewer than five batters per nine innings. A 78.2% strand rate may be the only thing that saved Guthrie from an ERA closer to his 4.79 FIP. He will eat innings again in 2014 -- he has pitched at least 175 innings in each of the past seven years -- but don't expect much more.

The offseason roster turnover seems to be a wash at first glance, so natural progression from the team's young core will determine how far the Royals go in 2014.
The bottom of the rotation is where things start to get interesting. Crafty lefty Bruce Chen will return to the rotation after a 2013 season spent in swingman limbo. He had a 3.61 ERA in 15 starts from mid-July to the end of the year, but a 4.93 xFIP in the second half isn't exactly awe-inspiring. If Chen falters, Danny Duffy will likely be the first starter called up from the minors. Duffy underwent a brief experiment as a bullpen arm during the latter half of Spring Training, but the organization made the right decision and optioned him to their rotation in Triple-A. The real intrigue here rests with Yordano Ventura, a 22 year old Dominican right-hander with a triple-digit fastball. Ventura racked up 155 strikeouts in 134 2/3 productive minor league innings last season, earning him a September cameo with a still-in-contention big league club. He held his own in three starts, allowing six runs in 15 1/3 innings. This season, Ventura is the wild card. If he puts up numbers approaching those that Jose Fernandez tallied in 2013, the Royals could be serious contenders.

With three days off scheduled in the first two weeks of the season, the Royals are starting the season with a six-man bullpen. Greg Holland will be the team's closer for the third consecutive season, but it will be difficult for him to replicate his spectacular 2013 campaign. Holland allowed a 1.21 ERA and 1.36 FIP in 67 innings, saving 47 of his 50 opportunities. His season was highlighted by a near-flawless month of July when he saved 11 games in 11 appearances, allowing just one run. Right-handers Kelvin Herrera and Aaron Crow will head north with the club, but it was Luke Hochevar who thrived in a high leverage role in 2013. Hochevar, who will begin the season on the disabled list, allowed a 1.82 ERA in 70 1/3 innings. The move to the bullpen was particularly fruitful for him, as evident by a stellar 4.82 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Player to watch: Norichika Aoki

Both Aoki and Omar Infante have the luxury of coming into positions that were laughably bad in 2013, making it possible for them to sleepwalk their way to being significant upgrades. Where Aoki's presence may be felt the most, however, is at the top of the lineup. Royals leadoff batters hit an abysmal .246/.309/.381 last season, while Aoki got on base at a 35% clip for the second consecutive year. Putting a legitimate on-base threat in front of Billy Butler, Eric Hosmer, and Alex Gordon changes the entire dynamic of this offense, and could ultimately result in them making the leap back into the top half of the American League.

Outlook

No matter how much they do, it seems that the Royals just can't "put it all together," despite the desperate pleas of national sportswriters for them to do so. They had a great pitching staff in 2013, but the offense could not keep up. This season, it seems that the opposite will be true. The bullpen is still excellent, but the rotation is essentially depending on a 22 year old to replace the best season of Ervin Santana's career without any regression from anyone else. Young position players like Lorenzo Cain and Mike Moustakas need to take steps forward offensively, and it would help if Billy Butler became Billy Butler again. All in all, there are too many ifs for this team to keep up with the Tigers, but another run at a wild card slot isn't out of the question.

[BlackHelicopters]

Lewdog for the 5 spot

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by alnorth

I think I mentioned it before, but I'm planning on starting the opening day game thread at 12:01, everyone cool with that? (in other words, I can ignore it if someone else jumps the gun?)

The honor is all yours man.

[C3HIEF3S]

1. Alnorth
2. Duncan
3. Deez
4. ???????
5. Lewdog

Looks like a powerhouse rotation, one more spot to fill.