***The Royals 2014 Post Season - 2015 Off Season Repository***

[Archie F. Swin]

What a season, what a team... what a relief!

[tk13]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

Photo of our new C:

Very adept at blocking pitches, but not very athletic on pop-ups.

[ChiefsCountry]

For the outfield/DH spot:
Michael Cuddyer
Alex Rios
Colby Rasmus
Torri Hunter
Johny Gomes

That's the free agent market. Really depends on how you view Dyson IMO. Do you want him starting - because if you do you need somebody to platoon or do you want him as your 4th outfielder?

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

For the outfield/DH spot:
Michael Cuddyer
Alex Rios
Colby Rasmus
Torri Hunter
Johny Gomes

That's the free agent market. Really depends on how you view Dyson IMO. Do you want him starting - because if you do you need somebody to platoon or do you want him as your 4th outfielder?

I'd throw Melky Cabrera in that mix too but he may have too high of a price tag.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Mike Morse for bench/OF/DH.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

For the outfield/DH spot:
Michael Cuddyer
Alex Rios
Colby Rasmus
Torri Hunter
Johny Gomes

That's the free agent market. Really depends on how you view Dyson IMO. Do you want him starting - because if you do you need somebody to platoon or do you want him as your 4th outfielder?

In order of my preference/ranking:

Melky Cabrera (if you're going to list the others as RF, Melky can fit, too. Best OF bat on the market)

Cuddyer (he's getting up there in years but is crazily versatile. I also think he'd be a very solid .750ish OPS type for KC)

Hunter (Yeah, he's old, but he still can hit and is a dangerous RH)

Rasmus (intriguing power, but you'd HAVE to carry a 5th OF who was RH with how helpless both Rasmus and Dyson are vs. lefties)

Rios (expensive and his massive drop in power is terrifying, but he's a player who has been seen phoning it in when his team is out of contention in the past. It seems a playoff push would get you an above-average RH bat)

Gomes (RF is a big stretch for him, and the Royals were strongly considering grabbing him in trade this year to help in RF, but he probably could swing 20-30 games out there if necessary as part of a platoon/DH situation).

It would SEEM that you could get crazy production from Gomez and Rasmus in a platoon situation, where Rasmus is the usual DH against righties, Dyson and Cain start in CF and RF against righties, Gomes plays RF or DH against lefties.

That would be a creative way to approach it. Hunter/Rasmus in that pairing would be even better (since Hunter could play RF against lefties and hits RH well enough to DH against righties)

[cmh6476]

isn't it also a reasonable expectation our entire team won't stay as healthy as they did all this year?

[duncan_idaho]

Side note:

Heard a name I've been touting (kennedy - due to his connection to Eiland) over lunch from my best source.

I also heard one I hadn't thought about... Ervin Santana.

The Braves will almost certainly give him the qualifying tag, but the Royals might be willing to sacrifice that first round pick this year (much easier to do with No. 29) if the price/years are right.

[Why Not?]

Originally Posted by cmh6476

isn't it also a reasonable expectation our entire team won't stay as healthy as they did all this year?

Tougher to predict in baseball than in football. An injury to Perez at some point is probably inevitable if he catches 150 games a year and you always have to know it could come to a power arm, but most everyday players should be counted on most seasons.

[Why Not?]

Starting to think the reason I'm sad today is less that we lost and more that the most fun month of my baseball life is over. No more games until April.

[jimidollar]

This loss had me all ****ed up right now, but I'm gonna be ****ing pumped for next season. Bring it!

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Why Not?

Tougher to predict in baseball than in football. An injury to Perez at some point is probably inevitable if he catches 150 games a year and you always have to know it could come to a power arm, but most everyday players should be counted on most seasons.

I don't think we'll see Perez behind the plate nearly as much next year.

I think he starts 120 games at C and about 30 at DH.

[Why Not?]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

I don't think we'll see Perez behind the plate nearly as much next year.

I think he starts 120 games at C and about 30 at DH.

That would be ideal

[Hootie]

I really hope Sal spends the entire offseason figuring out how to take a more patient approach at the plate. Because the book is out on him now.

[Discuss Thrower]

Got into the DH argument with a few Cards fans last night.


I didn't win.

[58kcfan89]

Still bummed from last night. I can't help but wonder what happens if Aoki's line drive down the LF line with a runner on drops or if Sal gets a hit in the last AB. Gunna kill myself going through those scenarios all offseason.

Is it hyperbole to say this is the most important winter in franchise history? Certainly the biggest I can remember.

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

Got into the DH argument with a few Cards fans last night.


I didn't win.

I just drop the "I pay to watch pitchers pitch and hitters hit" line and that's generally the end of it. Having to watch all those pitchers at the plate during those 3 games in SF was awful. I get the idea of "that's how it's supposed to be played" but the idea that this game can't evolve annoys me. Personal choice I suppose...