*** 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.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

I would make Duffy the 5th starter but looks good.

I'd make him the 1 starter. Or the 3. Maybe the 5. Not sure.

[suzzer99]

Medlen and Young placed on DL: http://www.royalsreview.com/2016/5/1...-disabled-list

[siberian khatru]

Very interesting it was Alexander and Moylan called up, and not Brian Duensing.

Duensing has a May 15 opt-out if he's not in the Major Leagues. He's got a 3.44 ERA at Omaha in 18.1 IP, with 16 hits, 4 BB and 17 K. (Plus, rumor has it he was Gordo's roommate at Nebraska.)

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

Very interesting it was Alexander and Moylan called up, and not Brian Duensing.

Duensing has a May 15 opt-out if he's not in the Major Leagues. He's got a 3.44 ERA at Omaha in 18.1 IP, with 16 hits, 4 BB and 17 K. (Plus, rumor has it he was Gordo's roommate at Nebraska.)

and they were in each other's weddings. Link.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

Miggy Almonte?

Has been Jekyll and Hyde at Omaha this year: three awesome starts, three awful starts.

May be headed for the pen eventually, if he can't be more consistent getting deep into games.

[KevB]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Has been Jekyll and Hyde at Omaha this year: three awesome starts, three awful starts.

May be headed for the pen eventually, if he can't be more consistent getting deep into games.

He's only 23, I'd have to think they'll leave him in the rotation on the farm for as long as they can. With the trades last year, our minor league starting depth is razor thin.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by KevB

He's only 23, I'd have to think they'll leave him in the rotation on the farm for as long as they can. With the trades last year, our minor league starting depth is razor thin.

Just at the high levels. It's pretty good at AA and below (Strahm, Mills, Griffin, Pedro Fernandez, Russell, Watson, Blewett, few others I'm probably forgetting).

They'll leave him in the rotation, I'm sure, but Almonte's ups-and-downs at that level are tarting to make it look like he'll have a hard time improving enough to be a starter.

[eDave]

1986 Royals: 76-86.

[Cheater5]

Originally Posted by eDave

1986 Royals: 76-86.

If future truly reflects the past, I'll be dead and gone the next time the Royals are relevant.

[ChiTown]

Let's hope we win today and shake off some of the stank from last night. That was a regrettable effort all the way around. I was impressed with Gee. To ask him to be that productive for much more than 5 innings was probably a bit much.

Also,I have seen enough of Chien-Ming Wang and his 1.86 WHIP. He's awful.

[duncan_idaho]

Yeah, I think we've seen enough of Wang. Problems now are what they were when he bounced out of the league:

He gives up too much contact, period, and too much hard contact to boot.

This team is in a malaise, there's no doubt. Gordon and Cain have shown enough life of late for me to hope the return of Moustakas can solidify the lineup and get the offense producing again, even if Morales continues to make weak contact.

Side note on Morales' deal: Even if he's this bad all year, it was worth it considering what he did a season ago. Flags fly Forever.

They're two games under .500 36 games into the season. Win today to win this series, win the next series, and you're at 20-20 at the 1/4 mark of the season. That's position you can strike from... one really hot stretch gets you right back to the top of the league standings (even if it doesn't quite catch the White Sox).

In news that will surely thrill the ChiefsPlanet faithful, I heard last night that they'll consider Cuthbert at 2B if he continues to hit, and take a small hit defensively for his bat.

Defensively, I'm not convinced he would have less range at 2B than Infante does in his current state, and because he has the big-time arm, Cuthbert could play a step or two deeper than Infante and make up for it with his arm (Jon Schoop in Baltimore is a good example, I think, of a big 2B who plays a little deeper and makes up for it with his cannon arm). If he can get the footwork down, Cuthbert should be an improvement on the turn.

All will depend on how he hits this week. If he sticks at 2B, I could see a .270/.300/.425 or so line, with 12-15 HR. That would play pretty nicely at that spot.

Cuthbert seems to finally be putting together all the tools that made him such a big-time prospect for so long. Perhaps getting that taste of the World Series/playoff run last year gave him the extra focus/motivation needed to put them together.

[duncan_idaho]

Oh, and here's my hypothetical lineup, if Cuthbert sticks at 2B:

Gordon (don't care that it won't happen. His on-base ability is strong even when he doesn't hit)
Cain (really starting to heat up now and return to being the bat he was a year ago)
Moustakas (Hopefully comes back from the broken thumb with no lingering trouble, need to get him more ABs with men on base, which hitting Gordon and Cain in front of him accomplishes)
Hosmer (Yeah, lefty-lefty, but Moustakas and Hosmer both have very respectable OPS marks against lefties since the start of the 2014 season)
Morales (I am starting to worry that his bat is a little dead - wonder if perhaps he got a little lazy in the offseason and isn't in great shape... but he can stay here for a little while longer)
Cuthbert (I appreciate his ability to take a good at-bat in almost all situations in this spot... think he would be a reliable producer here)
Perez (He's really idealized in this spot. Guys with good power but poor OBP skills are good fits in this spot)
Dyson (Not sure how long he can stick in RF... of course, I finally come around on the idea of him playing every day, and he proceeds to show why I was always leery of it in the past)
Escobar (this is where he really belongs in the order... his empty average and speed can still be an asset here when he does hit, and you're not killed by his lack of OBP)

What the lineup actually would be:

Escobar
Moustakas
Cain
Hosmer
Morales
Gordon
Perez
Cuthbert (which I think is about the worst spot in the order for a guy with good plate discipline like Cuthbert, but whatever)
Dyson

And Moustakas continues to get a lot of hits and XBH with the bases empty.

[duncan_idaho]

Minor league happenings of note:

1) Pedro Fernandez was promoted to Northwest Arkansas, which makes that rotation Strahm, Mills, Fernandez, Mike Minor, and one of Eric Skoglund or Jake Junis. Pretty interesting group that should be fun to watch. He hasn't pitched since his promotion... last start was May 7 for AA NWA.

2) Mike Minor should be on the bump either today or tomorrow. He was sharp through 2 innings in his first rehab start and ran out of gas in the third inning. He has 25 days left on his rehab stint, and probably will need most of it to get to 90-100 pitches.

[KevB]

At what point does Eibner or Bonifacio get a shot at RF? Orlando and Dyson are fine 4th OF's, but neither are more than that (and Fuentes is probably in the same boat). Eibner especially is hitting with power, controlling the strike zone (20 BB, 29 K) and is solid defensively. And that's coming off a very good year last season.

Put Cheslor at 2B, Eibner in right and Colon as your backup in the infield. Sprinkle in a couple of the younger guys and hope that youth and enthusiasm jump starts things.

[Prison Bitch]

I'm having more fun watching the trivia questions, guests, and even the car ads which are the only ads I watch. In fact that 99/mo lease on the Kia Optima from Lawrence Kia (where if you bring home 1500 a month your credits approved guaranteed!) looks tantalizing