*** Official 2017 Royals Offseason Repository

[duncan_idaho]

The reign is over. Time to begin the quest for the next one.

Interesting offseason opens for the Royals. Will they go all in for one last shot with this crew? Will they re-tool for 2018 and beyond? Will Dayton Moore actually decrease payroll this time?

Trades, free agent signings, rumors, plans, proposals... dump 'em all here, for this is... the offseason repository!

Royals Top Prospects, 2017

This is a list that’s going to seem a little bleak initially, as Raul Mondesi got enough ABs to age out of the prospect rankings (just barely – at 135 ABs, he is not rookie eligible). But that said, I like the talent and feel like this is a system that will actually be underrated by the prospect services.

Spoiler!

Format: POS/Name/2017 Projected Final Level

1) 3B/OF Hunter Dozier, MLB. Dozier bounced back from a disastrous 2015 campaign that had many wondering, myself included, if he was wrecked. His strong offensive performance in 2016 saw Dozier recapture the mature approach that many liked coming up, while also starting to tap into his above-average raw power for the first time.

In addition to his success at the plate, Dozier also proved he could at least HANDLE an OF spot, which could put him in the conversation for 2017 playing time at the major leagues. If the Royals DO end up trading Cheslor Cuthbert, Dozier could find a decent amount of MLB playing time sliding between RF and 3B. With Moustakas recovering from knee surgery, he likely will need more regular breaks from the field. And the streaky Paulo Orlando is just not an intriguing short-side platoon partner for Jarrod Dyson.

2) LHP Matt Strahm, MLB. Strahm just barely skates under the rookie eligibility rules for a pitcher, so he can be included here. Royals fans already got a taste of the lefty’s abilities, as he used his above-average fastball and slurve to dominate out of the pen in 2016. For him to translate that dominance to the rotation, Strahm will need to maintain his velocity (92-94) and continue to improve a changeup that flashed average at times.

If the changeup becomes a weapon he can lean on against righties, Strahm could be a very solid mid-rotation starter and fringe ToR/No. 2 type (think Danny Duffy-lite).

3) RHP Josh Staumont, AAA. This one could blow up on me and look really silly by this time next year, but I’m encouraged by what we saw from Staumont late last year. He showed significantly improved control down the stretch for Northwest Arkansas, including some impressive playoff starts, while maintaining the big-time K ability. That trend continued in the Arizona Fall League.

If Staumont’s control holds, the Royals have a guy with a plus fastball, plus-plus curve, and average change (with a slider that could develop into a real weapon as he matures). He’ll start next season at AAA and could be an addition to the MLB bullpen or even the rotation before the season ends.

4) RF Jorge Bonifacio, AAA. Boni, like Dozier, had a bounceback season in 2016 with the bat, and also played 15-20 pounds lighter than the year before, which added some nice defensive utility according to reports I’ve gotten. He now looks like a guy could provide solid/average RF production in the major leagues… Average defense paired with potential to put up a .275/.335/.450 line. While that’s not all-star level, it IS playable. Especially at pre-arbitration dollars. He’ll get another year in Omaha to refine his approach, and likely be in the mix of a 2018 mini-youth movement… unless moved for MLB reinforcements.

5) C Meibrys Viloria, Low-A (Lexington). I haven’t seen him in person, but I like the pedigree. You’ve got a lefthanded hitting catcher with the defensive ability to stick behind the plate. He was a big-bonus guy out of Colombia (nearly $500k). And his offensive performance has been highly impressive early, with a good combination of power, plate discipline, and contact skills.

He’s forever away from the majors, just now clearing rookie ball, but Viloria is the most exciting prospect KC has had at Idaho Falls since someone on this board was gushing about a 16-year-old SS tearing it up.

6) 1B Ryan O’Hearn, AAA. O’Hearn is a guy who has never gotten a lot of hype from scouts, but he continues to be a strong producer. He’s someone who likely will strikeout about 25 percent of the time at the big-league level, but has the ability to be a .500+ SLG guy. That plays. He also has shown good patience at the plate, posting above-average OBPs at every level.

Bold prediction: I won’t be shocked if O’Hearn takes over at 1B for KC in 2018/2019 and provides similar offensive production to Hosmer out of the gate. He’s probably never going to be a consistent plus average (.290+) hitter, but .270 with 25 HR is something within reach for him. He’ll get his first shot at AAA in 2017.

7) RHP AJ Puckett, A+. Puckett is a high floor, low-ceiling guy who performed about as you’d expect in 2016 after being the Royals’ first pick in the 2016 Rule IV Draft. He’s not flashy, but Puckett does profile as a solid potential back-end starter. Good fastball command and an above-average changeup are his calling cards. If Puckett finds a reliable breaking ball to put batters away, this could tick up. Great athlete, very similar to Jake Odorizzi in that regard.

8) RF Khalil Lee, Low-A (Lexington). Lee was a two-way player in HS and many viewed him as a pitcher first as a pro, but the Royals drafted him as an OF and were reward with a strong debut campaign. Lee is not a big guy, but he produced solid power numbers despite that. He’s a dynamic athlete who could contribute with power and speed.

9) C Chase Vallot, High-A (Wilmington). Vallot has an intriguing bat, with plus raw power. Got off to a great start in 16 before being sidelined and then sidetracked by injury. RH bat may be good enough to push him out from behind the plate, where he has good tools but a long way to go.

10) RHP Jake Junis and RHP Alec Mills (AAA). I'm copping out here and including both at No. 10 because they're so similar. Like Puckett, they each project as a serviceable back of rotation starter. Similar stuff and profiles, though Junis has shown a little better strikeout ability and may have a smidge more upside as a result.

Others of note:

SS/CF Marten Gasparini. Production has been bad for this toolsy player, but Gasparini has speed and pop that jump out at you. At only 19, need to be patient with him... this European signee was even less polished when signing at 16 than the typical Latin America prospect.

OF Seuly Matias. Loud, loud tools. Matias profiles as a classic RF... big-time power potential. He's a long ways from the majors but is one of the Royals' biggest bonus babies from LA.

RHP Ashe Russell. 2014 1st rounder saw his velocity disappear last year and was quickly shut down. He's intriguing one way or the other, even if he ends up as another notch in the belt of the TINSTAAPP saying.

2B Corey Toups. O'Hearn's HS teammate has been an above-average producer for an up-the-middle player. His small stature hides a surprising amount of pop. Could turn into a Mark Grudzielanek type of offensive second baseman at his peak - solid average, lots of 2Bs.

RHP Scott Blewett, LHP Foster Griffin, RHP Nolan Watson - all three have underwhelmed as pros but were drafted in the supplemental round. Stuff and projectability for each is a positive. Wouldn't be surprised to see one of them take a Cody Reed-like step forward this season and crack the 50-75 range on prospect lists. They all have the natural ability.

SS/2B Ricky Aracena - Jose Altuve-sized Aracena is a switch hitting middle infielder who can flat out run. Switch hitter with a good approach.

RHP Pedro Fernandez - I'm still a believer in his stuff, even if he is destined for the pen. Was having a nice 2016 start until injuries derailed him right after his promotion to AA.

Sirs not Appearing in this Prospect List:

RHP Kyle Zimmer. Same story, different year. The Royals are hopeful they FINALLY found the cause of Zimmer's achy shoulder. If they really did, and he can stay healthy, the talent/potential is exciting.

OF Bubba Starling. Never trust a guy named Derek.

[wazu]

"Leaving for Spring Training tomorrow, which means I only have one day left to walk around on the barn roof. YOLO!"

[Buehler445]

I think DJLN is fair and adds good discussion. I certainly don't have much to add, but I enjoy reading his takes. I don't get the troll vibe at all off him.

As far as what it's going to take to win, it's not going to come from SP. Defense has to steal some runs and the bats are going to have to get some.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Good news - Zimmer stood on the mound and threw a pitch.

Better news - he got on the mound and threw another pitch after that.

So he's at least 2 pitches better than our young Reyes looks like he's going to be this year, so you've got that going for ya.

Yeah, at this point he's got to show he's healthy. Maybe the thoracic outlet will finally fix the issue.

Sucks about Reyes. But might let me snap back around and grab him in my keeper league, so...


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[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Yeah, at this point he's got to show he's healthy. Maybe the thoracic outlet will finally fix the issue.

Sucks about Reyes. But might let me snap back around and grab him in my keeper league, so...

I made a run at him in mine; got a counter for the same package for Chris Archer and took it. I'm gonna say that one worked out alright for me.

Man oh man would I love to see Archer backed by some actual run support. I just hope he doesn't slider himself to death before he gets a shot on the big stage. His stuff and his fearless nature makes him fun as all hell to watch. My fantasy team looks forward to seeing him in Wrigley in 3 months...

Thoracic outlet surgery is just such an odd procedure with such a limited track record. And it tends to address acute problems which isn't really what has felled Zimmer over the years (Zimmer's mostly just made of glass). Being a younger pitcher, it may well help, but it seems like the issue(s) that it addresses aren't likely to yield some kind of holistic change that makes every part of Zimmer more sound. Its more likely that it will make him just healthy enough for another part to break.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I made a run at him in mine; got a counter for the same package for Chris Archer and took it. I'm gonna say that one worked out alright for me.

Man oh man would I love to see Archer backed by some actual run support. I just hope he doesn't slider himself to death before he gets a shot on the big stage. His stuff and his fearless nature makes him fun as all hell to watch. My fantasy team looks forward to seeing him in Wrigley in 3 months...

Thoracic outlet surgery is just such an odd procedure with such a limited track record. And it tends to address acute problems which isn't really what has felled Zimmer over the years (Zimmer's mostly just made of glass). Being a younger pitcher, it may well help, but it seems like the issue(s) that it addresses aren't likely to yield some kind of holistic change that makes every part of Zimmer more sound. Its more likely that it will make him just healthy enough for another part to break.

Yeah, Archer in a different division could be a lot of fun. That's a better bet that Reyes, though there are fewer strings for him in my big league - it's a keeper/auction, and you can keep 9 a year. So the guy who has him has to decide if he can carry him a whole year for $4 ($300 pot) and then keep him for $8 again in 18, hoping he's healthy.

Re: Zimmer and thoracic outlet, the most frustrating thing with him has always been that the injuries have been minor/nagging pain. He's never blown his elbow or torn a cuff or anything like that. It's always "my arm hurts" or "my shoulder is sore" or "I can't feel my fingers."

Medical scans have never shown a structural problem (and the team has generally been baffled at the issue).

In 2014, they debrided his shoulder blade because they thought the bone was scraping against his nerves and causing the issues.

Because of the history, I can place some faint hope that maybe this FINALLY fixes him.

I'm not counting on it. But it wouldn't shock me if he's finally fine now... and if he's not, he's never going to be.


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[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Re: Zimmer and thoracic outlet, the most frustrating thing with him has always been that the injuries have been minor/nagging pain. He's never blown his elbow or torn a cuff or anything like that. It's always "my arm hurts" or "my shoulder is sore" or "I can't feel my fingers."

Medical scans have never shown a structural problem (and the team has generally been baffled at the issue).

In 2014, they debrided his shoulder blade because they thought the bone was scraping against his nerves and causing the issues.

Because of the history, I can place some faint hope that maybe this FINALLY fixes him.

I'm not counting on it. But it wouldn't shock me if he's finally fine now... and if he's not, he's never going to be.

Well every couple of years you get the old "X player needs to recognize the difference between hurt and injured..." and some guys, pitchers in particular, just never do.

You're asking your body to do an extremely unnatural thing several thousand times over the course of a few months - your arm is GOING to hurt. Sorry hoss, them's the breaks. And for some pitchers, they can go like gangbusters until that soreness that is always going to set in shows up on the scene. Then they just psyche themselves out and convince themselves that they can't function at less than 100%.

If you're a pitcher, the last time you were at 100% was in the 9th grade. Every pitch you throw is one step, no matter how small, away from physically perfect. The best pitchers simply know how to work within those parameters. Others simply never adjust.

It's possible that Zimmer keeps having under the radar maladies that just aren't being diagnosed. It's also possible that he just can't tell the difference between hurt and injured (though 'I can't feel my fingers' probably qualifies as the latter...)

[Prison Bitch]

The only trolls on the royals thread were Hootie and Saul, both who have passed away, and Pasta Meathhead who rarely comes over.


Since Hootie left the # of arguments dropped 93.8%

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

The only trolls on the royals thread were Hootie and Saul, both who have passed away, and Pasta Meathhead who rarely comes over.


Since Hootie left the # of arguments dropped 93.8%

Like the Prince that was Promised, Hootie has returned.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

Like the Prince that was Promised, Hootie has returned.

Where?

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Where?

He was born of salt and smoke.

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Well every couple of years you get the old "X player needs to recognize the difference between hurt and injured..." and some guys, pitchers in particular, just never do.

You're asking your body to do an extremely unnatural thing several thousand times over the course of a few months - your arm is GOING to hurt. Sorry hoss, them's the breaks. And for some pitchers, they can go like gangbusters until that soreness that is always going to set in shows up on the scene. Then they just psyche themselves out and convince themselves that they can't function at less than 100%.

If you're a pitcher, the last time you were at 100% was in the 9th grade. Every pitch you throw is one step, no matter how small, away from physically perfect. The best pitchers simply know how to work within those parameters. Others simply never adjust.

It's possible that Zimmer keeps having under the radar maladies that just aren't being diagnosed. It's also possible that he just can't tell the difference between hurt and injured (though 'I can't feel my fingers' probably qualifies as the latter...)

Fair points, and it is possible that was the issue.

Don't think he would have had major surgery like TOS if they didn't find evidence to support it, though.

It's a fine line to walk, though... between knowing you're mostly Ok and need to tough it out and knowing you're actually hurt.


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[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S

Brian Flynn fell through the roof of his barn in days before camp, Ned Yost said. Suffered broken rib and some other injuries. Out 8 weeks.

— Rustin Dodd (@rustindodd) February 14, 2017

Is it going to be one of those years?



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[jimidollar]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

Is it going to be one of those years?



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That's it? He didn't fall into a tanning bed or a snake pit?

[tk13]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

Is it going to be one of those years?

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Not if Dayton bans the team from walking on barn roofs.

[C3HIEF3S]

Originally Posted by tk13

Not if Dayton bans the team from walking on barn roofs.

If only this were 2012 and then we could have bans for fraternizing on the basepaths and walking on roofs of barns.

[Great Expectations]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

The only trolls on the royals thread were Hootie and Saul, both who have passed away, and Pasta Meathhead who rarely comes over.


Since Hootie left the # of arguments dropped 93.8%

You are right, DJ isn't trolling. I just get annoyed with his style of communication. If we were face to face we'd probably be friends. I just get annoyed by people who talk in such absolutes, especially when said person has probably never even seen a 90 mph fastball, tried to turn two, or knows how to drop step to catch a fly ball over his head.

When said person is a fan of the other team, very rarely complimentary of our team, and contradictory of our resident expert (Duncan) I lose respect for them. He does know baseball, especially on an analytical level like PB. I'm just not sure why he is always over here. The positive posts are limited in characters and the negative ones are paragraphs.