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.

[KCUnited]

KC needs Hoss Gload to figure it out, I just don't see them making any substantial move for a bat next month.

[Three7s]

Originally Posted by Big Smoke

All of this.

An everyday RF with some pop would be a godsend right now. Keep Dyson as a 4th outfielder and send Aoki packing. Adding another SP does virtually nothing for us this season.

This.

I wish we had gotten Morales and sent Hosmer to AAA. I'd have loved to see his deflating ego if the Royals had made that move.

If we're looking to make a move for a rent-a-player at the trade deadline, I think our best bet would be to go for a guy like Marlon Byrd or Martin Prado. Both would fill gaping holes where bigger production is needed and shouldn't be too hefty in prospects. Of course, I have no idea who we'd give up.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

Forward thinking is the key phrase there. Hosmer isn't Moose, and pretending that their careers have taken similar trajectories is nothing short of disingenuous. With where he is this year, it's likely that Hos' asking price is never going to be lower than it is now.

Small market teams have to take calculated risks when making extensions. Hosmer has shown he has to talent to be an excellent hitter over two full seasons, if there's a time to take a gamble, it'd be now.

Arguing with you is a pointless exercise, in this season alone you have claimed that Cain, Alex, Hos, Moose, Butler, Esky, Dyson, and Infante were all worthless at one point or another. Considering that this composes almost the entirety of our offense, I'm having a difficult time taking the validity of your opinion seriously (I won't even get into your belief that we should platoon Salvy last year).

In your opinion, what sort of yrs/$'s do you think it would take to get Hosmer signed?

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

Forward thinking is the key phrase there. Hosmer isn't Moose, and pretending that their careers have taken similar trajectories is nothing short of disingenuous. With where he is this year, it's likely that Hos' asking price is never going to be lower than it is now.

Small market teams have to take calculated risks when making extensions. Hosmer has shown he has to talent to be an excellent hitter over two full seasons, if there's a time to take a gamble, it'd be now.

Arguing with you is a pointless exercise, in this season alone you have claimed that Cain, Alex, Hos, Moose, Butler, Esky, Dyson, and Infante were all worthless at one point or another. Considering that this composes almost the entirety of our offense, I'm having a difficult time taking the validity of your opinion seriously (I won't even get into your belief that we should platoon Salvy last year).

Go ahead and cite me bashing all the players you listed this year. Back it up or shut it up. Butler, Moose, Hoz and Infante get bashed but they suck balls no? In any other city real fans would be all over them.

Lol on Perez, the conversation was limiting his playin time and of course I'd sit him more vs RH than LH given his career splits. There is no Kottaras this year so the point is moot anyway. Nobody ever said make him just a 1/2 time player. Besides Brett "1-32" Hayes doesn't even allow an alternative


Finally, i believe Your idea on Hoz is terrible IMO but it could possibly work out, nobody knows the future.

[DeepSouth]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Go ahead and cite me bashing all the players you listed this year. Back it up or shut it up. Butler, Moose, Hoz and Infante get bashed but they suck balls no? In any other city real fans would be all over them.

Lol on Perez, the conversation was limiting his playin time and of course I'd sit him more vs RH than LH given his career splits. There is no Kottaras this year so the point is moot anyway. Nobody ever said make him just a 1/2 time player. Besides Brett "1-32" Hayes doesn't even allow an alternative


Finally, i believe Your idea on Hoz is terrible IMO but it could possibly work out, nobody knows the future.

I don't know about Perez's career splits, but for this year, he's batting .308 against RHP and ..211 against LHP. He's one of six Royals that have a substantially better average against RHP vs LHP. That's why they have a much better chance of losing to a good LHP.

[Kidd Lex]

Originally Posted by Brainiac

You are apparently not aware that Hosmer's agent is Scott Boras. His contract will NOT be a bargain. It would be a franchise killer.

I am, and you must have missed the "relative" part of my comment.

[AndChiefs]

Originally Posted by DeepSouth

I don't know about Perez's career splits, but for this year, he's batting .308 against RHP and ..211 against LHP. He's one of six Royals that have a substantially better average against RHP vs LHP. That's why they have a much better chance of losing to a good LHP.

Career .325 vs. LHP, .289 vs. RHP.

[WhawhaWhat]

Bruce Chen has been activated. Tim Collins is going to Omaha. And Donnie Joseph was DFA'd.

— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) June 24, 2014

[DeepSouth]

Originally Posted by AndChiefs

Career .325 vs. LHP, .289 vs. RHP.

May I ask where you found his career splits? I can't find them.

[C3HIEF3S]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

Bruce Chen has been activated. Tim Collins is going to Omaha. And Donnie Joseph was DFA'd.

— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) June 24, 2014

Awesome.
At least now we have a guy who can make a spot start if needed.

[DeepSouth]

Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S

Awesome.
At least now we have a guy who can make a spot start if needed.

And long relief if someone (god forbid) gets hurt during their turn.

[AndChiefs]

Originally Posted by DeepSouth

May I ask where you found his career splits? I can't find them.

http://www.fangraphs.com/statsplits....ion=C&season=0

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

Bruce Chen has been activated. Tim Collins is going to Omaha. And Donnie Joseph was DFA'd.

— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) June 24, 2014

Guess the Broxton trade now is a bust with Joseph being DFA.

[Archie F. Swin]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

The question is if swapping in Samardzija for either Duffy or Ventura really helps the team make the playoffs this year (I broke that down last week in this thread, it is a marginal gain at best, assuming all stay on current track).

I thought you didn't trade an arm for an arm or a bat for a bat. I thought it was one of the other (especially starters)

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by Archie F. Swin

I thought you didn't trade an arm for an arm or a bat for a bat. I thought it was one of the other (especially starters)

My philosophy for baseball trades is pitching prospects are baseball currency. I would load the farm up with pitchers and trade them for proven bats.