*** Official 2018-2019 Royals Offseason Repository ***
 

As the season comes to a close after an awful season, there is a possibility of some hope since the team played better in late August to the end of the season.

Here are all the important dates you need to know for the 2018-19 MLB offseason. Some of them do involve the Royals, such as:

Oct. 29: As of 9 a.m. ET on Monday, all eligible players are free agents (Escobar - good riddance).

Oct. 31: Most contract option decisions are due on this date (Hammel should be declined, resulting $2 million buyout and Peralta should be accepted, resulting $3 million increase to the payroll, and could be future flip for additional minor leaguers if he performs well).


Nov. 2: Deadline for teams to tender their eligible FA the qualifying offer.


Nov. 3: Free agency begins.

Nov. 4: Gold Glove winners announced (Gordon & Perez).


Nov. 6-8: General manager meetings in Carlsbad, California.

Nov. 12: Deadline for free agents to accept or reject the qualifying offer.

Nov. 14-15: Owners meetings in Atlanta (possible future CBA discussions).

Nov. 20: Deadline for teams to add eligible minor leaguers to the 40-man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft.



Nov. 26-29: MLB Players Association executive board meeting in Dallas (possible future CBA discussions).

Nov. 30: Non-tender deadline.

Dec. 9-13: Winter Meetings in Las Vegas. This is typically when all offseason hell breaks loose.

Dec. 13: Rule 5 Draft (could see the Royals taking a stab here).

Jan. 11: Deadline for teams and arbitration-eligible players to submit 2019 salary figures (I believe KC has some arb-eligible players).

Feb. 1-20: Arbitration hearings. You win some, you lose some.

Mid-Feb. : SPRING TRAINING!

As usual, let's have a good off-season discussion on ways that the Royals can/should/would do to improve. I will try to update the OP as the off-season goes along. And Duncan, you're more than welcome to provide us some information that I can add onto the OP. Just let me know.

To see the 2018 Royals thread, go here.

Fiord!

I wonder what relievers the Royals are going after this year.

In for year 2 of the rebuild.

I doubt we see much action.

Woot woot! Fully behind you, Coach!

Rule 5 - reliever candidates
FA - if we're active at all...reliever candidates
25 man roster additions...reliever candidates

Ride with what we have for everything else unless we get the kind of value that can be flipped at the deadline for additional re-stocking.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We have declined our mutual option with RHP Jason Hammel for 2019 making him a free agent.</p>&mdash; Kansas City Royals (@Royals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Royals/status/1057357361126559744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Yeah !!!

Royals will have a 2003 run this year

Just marking my territory on the 1st page

IN!

In it to win it!

In....!

And in.

In for 2019 and in for a playoff run . . . . . . . .
















In 2022.

Where’s Duncan?! Go Royals!!!

Thank you for 2014!!!

Here I am!

Helluuuuuuurrrrrrr

Bold prediction:

67-95

I'll try to watch more this coming year.

I am sorry everyone.

Alex Gordon wins Fielding Bible award.

http://www.fieldingbible.com/


Gold Glove soon to follow . . . . .

2nd page, shit!

Royals 90 wins bank on it.

In it to win it!



Sometime this next decade.

THANK YOU JESUS!

God I hate this guy. He looks like a six foot tall garden gnome. Good Riddance.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">In corresponding roster moves, Jerry Vasto has been claimed by the Cubs and Nate Karns has been sent outright to Omaha. Karns will elect free agency in lieu of accepting the assignment.</p>&mdash; Kansas City Royals (@Royals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Royals/status/1057729462329073665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Karns sure was a great trade.

**** that guy.

So I assume that option was either torn up or picked up/adjusted due to this new contract.....?

Edited: Found what I'm looking for. https://www.royalsreview.com/2018/10...n-wily-peralta

I'll wait until ST is done before making any win/lost projections.

Go front office and Go Royals!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Brandon Maurer, Ramon Torres, Paulo Orlando taken off the roster. <a href="https://t.co/RpVovCeuTk">https://t.co/RpVovCeuTk</a></p>&mdash; Royals Review (@royalsreview) <a href="https://twitter.com/royalsreview/status/1058415433362083840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="tl" dir="ltr">Worst ERA, franchise history (min. 50 innings)<br>Brandon Maurer 7.89<br>Jonathan Sanchez 7.76<br>Miguel Batista 7.74<br>Sidney Ponson 7.36<br>Yasuhiko Yabuta 7.14</p>&mdash; Royals Review (@royalsreview) <a href="https://twitter.com/royalsreview/status/1058416437084217344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Final results of Royals/Padres trade<br><br>Royals got<br><br>Cahill: 8.22 ERA, 10.24 FIP in 23 IP<br><br>Maurer: 7.89 ERA, 6.08 FIP in 51 IP<br><br>Buchter: 2.67 ERA, 4.49 FIP in 27 IP<br><br>Padres got<br><br>Strahm: 2.05 ERA, 3.36 FIP in 61 IP, five more years control <br><br>Ruiz: 49 SB, 12 HR in Low-A, still only 19</p>&mdash; Patrick Brennan (@paintingcorner) <a href="https://twitter.com/paintingcorner/status/1058418815745380352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
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damn it paulo was good!

Losing Buchter is worth at least 6 maybe 7 wins right there. That’s the guy you wanna say “**** that guy”. **** him all the way to hell!!

Rest In Peace sweet prince. You will always be Paulo homo in my book. Thanks Rex hudler.

I'm kind of surprised the Indians aren't putting QO for Brantley

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Indians don’t have a lot of payroll flexibility and didn’t issue any qualifying offers. Brantley, Allen, and Miller are probably all gone.

Their window is probably closed.

I’m glad the Maurer insanity is finally over.

That trade made sense at the time it was made and was universally reviewed well. Hindsight 20/20 on it, obviously.

But trading Buchter to facilitate dumping some salary made it worse.

At the time of the deal, you could at least look at the deal and say you’re getting similar control over Buchter, who you could expect to be a good reliever, too.

The salary dump-related deals of Soria, Buchter, and Alexander are just awful, like most deals where you move valuable assets just to save money.

The White Sox got a former first round pick for Soria (who pitched well in AA Biloxi after the deal).

Buchter and Alexander could have been moved, too.

Probably the worst misfires of Moore’s career, other than the Kennedy contract. And obviously we’re at the time of the deals, too.

The salary dumping deals really illustrated how expensive the "all-in" pushes in 2016 and 2017 were for the Royals.

No regrets.

#6

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rawlings?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Rawlings</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoldGlove?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoldGlove</a> Award WINNER – AL LF – <a href="https://twitter.com/Royals?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Royals</a> Alex Gordon <a href="https://t.co/8Eni9Y3iWD">pic.twitter.com/8Eni9Y3iWD</a></p>&mdash; Rawlings Sports (@RawlingsSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/RawlingsSports/status/1059271165104001024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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And literally just as I posted that they announced that Salvy won #5. Beat Martin Maldonado, who beat him last year.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Catchers with 5 Gold Glove Awards – Ivan Rodriguez 13, Johnny Bench 10, Yadier Molina 9, Bob Boone 7, Jim Sundberg 6, Bill Freehan 5, Salvador Pérez 5</p>&mdash; Mark Simon (@MarkASimonSays) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkASimonSays/status/1059276789137244160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Thought Cain might get one now in the NL but I guess I was wrong.

Happy for Salvy and Gordo.

It’s a freaking crime that Cain has still not won one . . . . .

I'm unreasonably PISSED about Cain not getting the gold.

Steamer proj just released. Says we are the identical team as last year: 12 wins for position players, 5 for pitchers (0 coming from the pen), and 65.7 wins. (You cannot simply add war to get win totals, but this is close)

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mike Matheny is a candidate for advisory role with the royals. <a href="https://twitter.com/dgoold?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dgoold</a> 1st mentioned</p>&mdash; Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/1059561636082536448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Advise them on what exactly?

Bible Study.

lol. This guy will take over for Yost...:/

@JonHeyman: Royals goals: 1. Improve bullpen 2. Rebuild 3. Cut payroll #GMmeetings

Start collecting for the banner now.

SaveOurRoyals.COM

Sources are connecting the Padres to the Machado sweepstakes.

You have to wonder how Hos would handle that in the clubhouse.

Oh man they'll have two monster contracts underperforming

If Mike Matheny is hired I and many other Royals fans will turn on Dayton. I give him a big leash with the back to back WS appearances and one championship, but this would shorten it drastically.

Owners meetings is occurring at the moment. Some news.

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/2...nfred-contract

I'm finding it hard to be very excited for this year. I hope Lopez shows enough to force Moore's hand and make Merrifield expendable. Beyond that I'm looking for Mondesi to walk more and the low minors players to show another year of progress, and hopefully better plate discipline. The 2019 draft and #2 pick should be interesting. Should we be expecting another competitive balance pick?

Why the Matheny hate? Just curious, other than the obvious Cards hate... I’m a little at a loss. Can you fill me in? It reminds me of when we brought Ned in with Hillman as manager.

If you're looking for someone who makes Ned look like a genius for bullpen management, Matheny is your guy.

If you want someone to play favorites in the clubhouse based off of their devotion to the club bible study, Matheny is also your man.

Yes, people were skeptical when Ned came aboard. But the word was that Ned's players genuinely loved him.

Matheny was not on speaking terms with multiple players in his clubhouse last year, and the team was immediately boosted by his firing (and Pham soared the moment he was traded away). Unlike Ned being too stubborn with his bullpen, Matheny is also known to run his pitchers into the ground (aka, pitch bullpen guys 3-4 days in a row, which Ned always tries to avoid).

I want nothing to do with Matheny - he makes Jason Kendall seem like a slam dunk addition.

Because he’s a terrible tactician. Measurably one of the worst.

Because he’s horrible with young players.

Because he plays favorites with veteran players who happen to attend his bible study group.

He’s pretty much the worst kind of guy to bring in to manage a young team.

good to know. I never paid any attention to his managing with the cards, he was just a guy.

People spewing the "bible study" charge need to back it up with evidence, or admit they're full of shit.


That exact line was used against DM for years. Then he won the WS. And suddenly it disappeared.

You know a ton of people still think Moore is a dipshit for some of his views right, like the porn thing is ****ing stupid.

But hey Moore and Matheny are probably 2 peas in a pod on a personal level, Jesus Freaks unite.

How bout dem other charges?

It's pretty obvious Matheny is a terrible manager.

Oh. My. God. There may be someone out there worst than Ned Yost. Yost sucks as a tactician, but at least Ned is good at team building.

Are you tryin' ta say that Jesus Christ can't hit a curveball?

I don't know a thing about Matheny so I'll stipulate everything you and Duncan said.


But not the "bible study" thing. Not without evidence.

Jobu definitely can!

Totally fair. To my knowledge the Cardinals posters were on a consensus about that so I believed them - maybe one of them (DJ?) can comment more.

What evidence do you want? It’s a rumor I’ve heard a few different places on the internet.

Do you want a Cardinals beat writer expounding on it? That doesn’t exist. No reporter is going to write about it.

It’s pretty clear he played favorites for veteran players, continuing to run them out through extreme struggles at the expense of PT for bright young talent (see Oscar Taveras and Allen Craig for one example). Wong and Grichuk also have lost PT to uninspiring veterans and were given little rope.

I didn’t connect that to his bible study group until reading rumors about that on forums I visit. Don’t remember if DJ and this crew have talked about it, but I’ve seen it in other places. Maybe he just likes shitty veterans... but its awfully convenient that guys known to attend his study group get huge amounts of leeway from him on performance.

It’s a rumor and I’ll fully admit that.

Whatever the reason, his track record with veterans and young players is atrocious and not the type of leadership KC will need moving forward.

Then it's settled. It's an unsubstantiated, and almost assuredly false, innuendo.


It's pretty un-American to go after a man's character. I'm guessing his job tactics have a lot of room to criticize, but there isn't one among us who'd like our character being attacked. Esp without proof.

I agree. The next time Matheny signs onto Chiefs Planet and sees these attacks against him, he's going to be pretty pissed!

Good comeback. Except I'm not talking to Matheny. I'm talking to Duncan and Pants. Now scram.

It's presidential these days.

It’s not attacking his character to point out fact A:

Matheny hosted a bible study group with his players

Fact b:
Matheny was overly loyal to many of his veterans, playing them despite horrible performance levels, usually at the expense of talented young players

Fact c:
Those vets were know to be members of the Bible study group.

Now, maybe it’s just a coincidence. Draw what conclusions you want from that cluster.

It's absolutely an attack on his character to suggest he's throwing games. That's what you're doing to Matheny if you make this charge: he intentionally lost games by playing inferior players. That's the cardinal sin of sport.

"Draw your own conclusions" is shorthand for: "I can't prove something"

So the record after he was rightly fired is meaningless?

Every manager who makes bad strategic decisions is not trying to throw games. That’s a big leap from just making dumb choices out of misplaced loyalty.

Go check the Cards thread. General consensus there is that Matheny was definitely overly loyal to underperforming players who were part of his bible study club.

I can’t PROVE it. I’m not Mike Matheny. I’m not one of the players in the clubhouse. I don’t cover the team.

But I don’t need to prove it. Just sharing conjecture.

The reason he was too loyal to underperforming players doesn’t matter, anyway. Just that he was.

Derp.

No, the 12-15 record in Sept isn't meaningless. The Cards weren't a playoff contender with or without Matheny. But here's the good news: now they have to win the division to justify his firing. No more Bible Study = playoffs.


If not, then we will find out Bible Study wasn't the problem.

But I didn't ask you what reeruns on a chat board once heard. Simply what evidence there was for it. And "Everyone knows that...." or "It is common knowledge" do not qualify.

That's really all there is to this nonstory: the alleged perp hasn't even been accused, nor has he even been asked about it.


There's no evidence on that front either. Deez mentioned some writer named "Strauss". I googled Strauss-Matheny and the first story that pops up? "Matheny Should Win Manager of the Year" (2015). Conclusion: his Bible Studies were working awesome back then.


You're right. I have higher standards for you and Pants than the BFIBs.


You don't believe that. Discriminating in race or religion is something we have Fed laws against. People don't like it. And we should be judicious accusing people of it too.