*** Official 2018 Royals Repository ***

[duncan_idaho]

The season is upon us, even if spring is not.

2018 MLB Draft Picks
#18
#33 - Compensation (Eric Hosmer)
#34 - Compensation (Lorenzo Cain)
#40 (Competitive Balance Round A)

018 Draft Names to Watch

RHP Kumar Rocker, N Oconnee HS, Georgia.

Spoiler!

Possibly goes top 10 but is a big, physical SP with ace potential. Moore and co. will be all over him if he slips a bit and could offer top 10 money at No. 16

OF Jarred Kelenic, Waukasha West HS, WI

Spoiler!

Kelenic is the top prep bat, toolsy OF. Royals would be ecstatic to have shot at him.

1B Triston Casas, American Heritage HS (FL).

Spoiler!

Tremendous raw power, best in HS bats. Royals typically like HS arms or HS bats with "special" tools. He qualifies.

RHP Carter Stewart, Eau de Gallie HS (Ga).

Spoiler!

Another big, physical specimen with huge upside. More likely to be available mid-first than Rocker.

ANY Any, Any (Any). Any current top projected pick who slides for injury concerns. Includes current top prospect prospect SP Brady Singer, U of Florida.

Current Prospects to Watch:

OF Seuly Matias - Huge tools. Hit 2 HR in Lexington (A) season opener.

1B Nick Pratto - Top pick in 17 has advanced approach and good glove; needs to start tapping into power in first full year in minors. Also at Lexington.

OF Michael Gigliotti - Good defender in CF, good OBP skills, plus baserunner. Next mainstay in CF for KC, IMO. Advanced college bat also starting at Lexington.

OF Khalil Lee - Probably has highest upside in Royals' system. Could hit 30 HR in majors, could steal 30 bases. Plus defensive ability in RF. Nice test at Wilmington this year.

3B Emmanuel Rivera - Really nice approach and good contact skills. Power is still developing. Also getting a good test at Wilmington.

SP Foster Griffin - Made nice strides in 2017. Needs to continue to progress in 2018. Could be a lefty version of Jakob Junis (good breaking ball that he can really manipulate, OK fastball, good command).

1B Samir Duenez - Duenez still is intriguing, hoping for a step forward in his power production this year at Northwest Arkansas, which would turn him into a legit prospect.

Others to keep an eye on:
SP Gerson Garabito (Wilmington), OF Marten Gasparini (Lexington), C MJ Melendez (Lexington), RP Tyler Zuber (lexington), RP Richard Lovelady (Omaha), SP Dan Tillo (Lexington), SS Nicky Lopez (NWA), SP Scott Blewett (NWA), OF Brewer Hicklen (Idaho Falls),

In general, Lexington and Wilmington are the most interesting spots to watch. Nice depth and a lot of interesting pieces at both.

[OKchiefs]

Danny Duffy COULD be one of if not THE best arms available with Happ and Hamels gone. But, the plan appears just to hold on to him for what reason exactly?

[Discuss Thrower]

Originally Posted by OKchiefs

Danny Duffy COULD be one of if not THE best arms available with Happ and Hamels gone. But, the plan appears just to hold on to him for what reason exactly?

To give you something to ceaselessly bitch about,

[Al Bundy]

I had to rewind the game and re-watch the Mondesi error. Yikes.. that was pitiful.

[OKchiefs]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

To give you something to ceaselessly bitch about,

Perhaps

[Titty Meat]

Forgot this season was still going on

[Al Bundy]

Alex Gordon with a "Let's just end the game" out.

[tk13]

They haven't even said what Hamels was traded for other than "low level prospects." That doesn't sound promising. I know he's a rental but you'd think a starting pitcher with his potential would get something.

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by tk13

They haven't even said what Hamels was traded for other than "low level prospects." That doesn't sound promising. I know he's a rental but you'd think a starting pitcher with his potential would get something.

You can't sell a pitcher on just his away splits.

The Yankees gave up Brandon Drury and Billy McKinney for JA Happ who has a FIP 1.5 runs lower than Hamels. Billy McKinney hasnt managed to progress any since being traded from the Cubs and Drury is a bench player at best.

Hamels was never going to return anything of substance.

[OKchiefs]

Originally Posted by tk13

They haven't even said what Hamels was traded for other than "low level prospects." That doesn't sound promising. I know he's a rental but you'd think a starting pitcher with his potential would get something.

Hamels has been horrible lately.

[jd1020]

The only thing that surprises me about the Hamels deal is that it sounded like they were trading him for salary relief and the Cubs are only picking up $4M, supposedly.

[tk13]

Originally Posted by jd1020

You can't sell a pitcher on just his away splits.

The Yankees gave up Brandon Drury and Billy McKinney for JA Happ who has a FIP 1.5 runs lower than Hamels. Billy McKinney hasnt managed to progress any since being traded from the Cubs and Drury is a bench player at best.

Hamels was never going to return anything of substance.

Yeah I get that, but it's amazing how far the concept of trading a rental has tanked. Feels like most of these trades for guys who are going to be free agents is a complete waste of time.

[OKchiefs]

Originally Posted by tk13

Yeah I get that, but it's amazing how far the concept of trading a rental has tanked. Feels like most of these trades for guys who are going to be free agents is a complete waste of time.

I feel like it has to do with so many teams being so bad. There are far too many sellers and not enough buyers.

[tk13]

Originally Posted by OKchiefs

Hamels has been horrible lately.

Yeah but this feels like the kind of trade where all of a sudden he's going to be not horrible and pitch well in the NL and for a contender.

[OKchiefs]

https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status...082050048?s=19

Yankees have considered Mike Moustakas. See the asking price as high for now.

[tk13]

Source: The Cubs are sending Class A pitcher Rollie Lacy and a player to be named later to the Rangers for Cole Hamels.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 27, 2018