Royals *** Official 2016 Royals Offseason Repository *** - Page 105

duncan_idaho · 09:49 AM

Well, folks, it has happened. The Royals stand triumphant, atop the heap of MLB.

In this thread, we'll track the action as Dayton Moore continues The Process and attempts to defend the long-awaited title.

Before we get to the meet of it, let's take a minute to reflect ... and say "I'm Sorry" to Dayton Moore.

We gave you hell. Many of us called for your head. But you were right. You got it done. Congratulations. Mea culpa.

Now, let's talk about the offseason:

LINK TO 2016-18 PAYROLL INFO COURTESY OF ROYALS REVIEW

The Royals will have a few priorities: Corner OF (x2) and 1 SP, IMO. The rest of the core is solid and will need little tweaking. Looking at the increase in ticket sales, merchandising, concessions, parking, etc., I think it's fair to assume the Royals GROSSED $100 million more this season, or close to it. That gives Glass and Dayton Moore much more flexibility on payroll for 2016 (hopefully).

First order of business will be gauging the Alex Gordon market. If he can be resigned for 4-5 years at around $75-80 million total, it would be hard for KC to pass on that. He's still an above-average corner OF bat, and the Royals will need to bring in at least one proven guy to play in a corner if Gordon walks... and the whole market looks a lot like Alex - guys in their early 30s looking for huge, final contracts.

Second order of business: Make a decision on Zobrist. It sounds like KC will pursue him aggressively. At 34, he's at risk of declining in a big way after a few years. If they could find someone to take on Omar Infante for eating 1/2 of his deal, that would be a great start to things.

If they decide not to spend on Zobrist, KC will need to cobble together some sort of plan for 2B/RF that involves some cheaper options like Orlando, Colon, Dyson, etc.

I could see them deciding his ability to provide great insurance at either 2B or in RF is worth the risk.

Third order of business: Add depth to the rotation with a FA SP. Duffy, Ventura, Volquez and Medlen are locks for 4 spots, it seems. Kyle Zimmer may finally be ready to make a MLB impact, but his innings will be limited. That means KC needs insurance. Will it kill two birds with one stone (and insure against Duffy/Ventura regression) by signing a more top-tier guy? Or does Moore look to Chris Young/someone like him for this depth?

Personally, I think Mike Leake would be a great fit with KC's defense and park, and I know Moore has long coveted him. He's still young - just 28 - and has succeeded in bandbox Cincinnati for years.

Ian Kennedy, Mat Latos, Marco Estrada, and Justin Masterson are some other names that may pique interest (a little further down the list).

Other than that, I don't think KC makes any major moves. Greg Holland will be interesting to observe, as they have one more year of control of him, and he will obviously miss all of that season. I wouldn't be surprised to see a pre-arbitration deal that pays him something like $15 million over the next two seasons, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him turned loose, period.

The bullpen will rest upon Wade Davis/Herrera/Hochevar, filling in pieces around them. Bringing Madson back wouldn't be a surprise, but he could get a big deal from another team that is willing to pay him as their top setup guy or even their closer.

I think the biggest prospects to watch in Spring Training will be:

1) Kyle Zimmer. The hype has built, died down, built again, etc. If he's healthy, he's filthy and a potential ToR arm. But what does he look like in ST, and how many innings can you reasonably expect from him if he does earn a rotation spot? It seems like 120-130 innings would be his limit unless they really stretch (or unless he has a lot of hidden innings from simulated games/extended spring training, which might push him to 150-160).

Having another cheap, home-grown pitcher would be a significant boon for this team as it tries to extend the competitive window (and potentially give KC a strong 1-2 to build its rotation around in Zimmer and Ventura)

2) Bubba Starling. I'm trying to remain skeptical, but I like what I hear about Bubba from this season, and the performance has picked up. If KC does not sign someone to fill the RF slot, I think that's a strong indication KC's front office believes Starling will be ready to contribute in 2016.

Dayton Moore has long said that when Starling's light flips on, it will happen quickly and burn brightly. Time will tell.

After his STRONG Arizona Fall League Performance, he shot up my prospect chart.

3) Miguel Almonte. His late-season stint out of the KC bullpen went poorly, but Almonte has a plus-plus changeup, a good fastball, and a decent curve ball. He may be the dark horse in the rotation competition, and unlike Zimmer, he's set up to pitch a full 180 inning season.

4) RA Mondesi. The only player to debut in the MLB World Series has incredible tools. He still needs to refine his game, but again... he may be KC's best cheap, plus alternative at a key position (2B). His defense would be a boon from Day 1, but he needs seasoning with the bat before he's asked to hold down 2B full time.

And, as always, here are the Prospects:

Duncan’s Top 20 for 2016:

Spoiler!

1. Raul Adalberto Mondesi, SS, BOTH: Tools, tools, tools. RA has tools galore. At his best, he’s an All-Star SS who plays elite D, hits 15-20 HR, swipes 40 bags, and is an ideal 1, 2 or 3 hitter. At his worst, I think he looks a lot like Alcides Escobar. Plate discipline is his biggest challenge at this point, but evaluators are confident that will come with time. Clear No. 1
2. Kyle Zimmer, RHP: He’s pitching again and staying healthy, which is nice. He’s pitcing out of the bullpen to build back his arm strength, which is less nice. But still has that high upside, just a lower floor now. Ideally, the team will use him as a bullpen weapon in September (because he has earned it) and then give him a chance to transition back to starting for 2016.
3. Bubba Starling, CF, RH: Starling has been up and down this year but put himself back on the map by greatly improving his K rate while also improving across the slash line as a hitter. His defense and baserunning are MLB ready; if Starling can work himself into a league average hitter, he can be a solid MLB regular who plays great D in CF while hitting 15 HR and swiping 20 bags.
4. Miguel Almonte, RHP: Still love the body, FB/CH combo. Results aren’t eye popping, but he’s still low enough and early enough in the development to prize those things over performance. Still a solid No. 3 starter upside, and just a year and some change away from potentially being ready to contribute at the MLB level.
5. Jorge Bonifacio, RF, RH: Emilio’s little brother got off to a horrible start in 2015 but has heated up as the season went on. He also is translating BP power to game power for the first time, with 15 HR just past the mid-way point of his season. Despite his disappointing 2014, he has a chance to build his way back into legit prospect status – and still is only 22. Next challenge for him should be Omaha, but that may wait for the start of the 2014 season.
6. Scott Blewett, RHP: Blewett has a nice two –pitch mix already and is off to a strong start. With his size (6-6) and a good fastball/curveball combo, Blewett could eventually turn into a good No. 3 starter, with a MLB-average changeup.
7. Nolan Watson, RHP: The Royals’ 2015 sandwich pick is a polished prep arm who is adding velocity and explosiveness to a good, polished base. Likely to move quickly.
8. Ashe Russell, RHP: The 2015 top pick probably needs more work than Watson, but the upside is really nice. Again, advanced two-pitch mix that will depend on him adding a changeup. Could be a very good NO. 2 if it all adds up.
9. Balbino Fuenmayor, 1B/DH, RH: The Balbino came out of basically nowhere in 2015 to earn a Futures Game spot. Big power and an improved two-strike approach have turned the late bloomer into a legit prospect. He’s blocked at the MLB level currently by Eric Hosmer and Kendrys Morales, but Fuenmayor’s combination of power hitting and good average/strike zone control makes him intriguing.
10. Cheslor Cuthbert, 3B, RH: Cheslor probably is not going to be the star KC was hoping for when signing him out of Nicaragua, but he does look like he can be a solid reserve for an MLB club. Good defense at 3B paired with a solid plate approach and some gap power plays fine off the bench. He becomes a lot more interesting if they think he can stick as a 2B, which they have experimented with.

Spoiler!

11. Chase Vallot, C/DH/1B: I really like Vallot’s power and plate discipline combo. His bat will probably force him from behind the plate, but he’s held his own despite being extremely young for every level he has faced.
12. Alfredo Escalera-Maldonado, OF, RH: Escalera-Maldonado earned a promotion to Wilmington at age 20, which is pretty advanced movement for that age. He’s an athletic outfielder who has shown some plate discipline at an early age, which is encouraging. Doesn’t sound like he can stick in CF long term for KC, but his bat has become one to watch.
13. Pedro Fernandez, RHP: I haven’t seen much of him, but like the reports I’ve heard on his fastball and general makeup. Could become the next Almonte/Mondesi, though he’s more likely to land in the pen than either of them.
14. Elier Hernandez, OF, RH: Elier Hernanez teamed with Escalera-Maldonado in breaking out at Low-A and earning a promotion to Wilmington. It’s still early for this guy – he is just 20 years old – but he doesn’t take walks and hasn’t developed the prodigious power many thought he had the potential for. Still worth watching.
15. Hunter Dozier, 3B, RH: Dozier is reworking his swing mid-season, which generally will cause production to do what his has done: Nose dive. The changes he made entering the season (seemingly geared towards increasing his power production) were a disaster, and now he’s trying to get back to what he used to be. Still looks great and checks most of the scouting boxes, but the performance hasn’t matched, and it almost knocked him out of the list.
16. Christian Binford, RHP: After a breakthrough 2014, Binford struggled mightily at AAA and suffered a demotion. His upside remains similar – a back-end starter who can eat innings – but Binford’s lack of velocity and reliance on command have caught up to him so far.
17. Marten Gasparini, OF, SH: Gasparini is intriguing because of his speed and athleticism. He’s a LOOOOONG ways from the majors and young for his level, but reports on his bat speed, swing, and speed remain positive enough to keep him on the bubble.
18. Eric Skoglund, LHP: Skoglund had a nice year at Wilmington. I'm skeptical because his K rate is lower than I like to see for a guy at A+ - just 7/9, and usually guys lose a strikeout or two/9 as they move up the chain from there - but he has excellent control, walking 1.17 batters/9. 6-7 lefties with great control who get lots of ground balls - like Skoglund - have a chance to overcome bad K rates.
19. Ryan O'Hearn, 1B/LF: A lefty stick with power, O'Hearn was a savings signing as an 8th round pick, but a change in his approach increased his power - while increasing his K rate. After Vallot, probably the best pure power prospect in the Royals system.
20. Josh Staumont, RHP: I was terrified of this guy's control problems, and he walked nearly a batter an inning in his pro debut (32 BB in 40 1/3 IP). Staumont's nasty, nasty stuff (plus-plus fastball, plus slider) could make him a very good late-inning reliever who strikes out more than a batter an inning, if he can develop average or slightly below-average control. If he really masters the control, you're talking about a potential Greg Holland type, but that's a TALL task.

Prison Bitch · 12-11-2015, 11:53 PM

Don't know anything about them but I'm reminded of the time we put out our B lineup after we clinched and Carrasco threw a 15k one hitter on us. The drop off to AAAA or borderline MLB guys is like a cliff

KChiefs1 · 12-12-2015, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wilson8

From a December 9th Kansas City Star story, http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb...e48900090.html, on Dayton Moore and the Winter Meetings –

Eibner, Fuentes, and Martinez have all had good stats in 2015.

For any of you that follow the Royals minor leagues or having watched the Omaha Storm Chasers, what can we expect from these three outfielders? Jose Martinez at 6’7” and a .384 AAA average seems impressive. What is his defense like? Brett Eibner, stat wise, handles LHP and RHP equally well. What’s his speed and defense like? I also like Reymond Fuentes being a LHB and his .308 average looks good. Fuentes looks like he might have some speed too, with 29 stolen bases.

Any information on these guys from someone that has actually seen them play would be appreciated.

I've heard Eibner described as a Paulo Orlando with less speed & more power. He has struck out a lot & is 26 already. I've wanted the Royals to bring him up just to see how good he really is.

Wilson8 · 12-12-2015, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Don't know anything about them but I'm reminded of the time we put out our B lineup after we clinched and Carrasco threw a 15k one hitter on us. The drop off to AAAA or borderline MLB guys is like a cliff

That’s an interesting thought. I looked it up and that night we had -

1. Jarrod Dyson CF 0 for 4 .245 average at that time
2. Ben Zobrist 2B 0 for 4 .282 “
3. Alex Rios RF 1 for 3 .270
4. Paulo Orlando LF 0 for 3 .247
5. Jonny Gomes DH 0 for 3 .213
6. Cheslor Cuthbert 3B 0 for 3 .233
7. Christian Colon SS 0 for 2 .293
8. Drew Butera 1B 0 for 2 .206
9. Francisco Pena C 0 for 3 .000

That was a brutal batting order going against a good pitcher in Carlos Carrasco. Gomes average against RHP was .203.

For 2016 we could have a lineup of –
1. Alcides Escobar SS
2. Mike Moustakas 3B
3. Lorenzo Cain CF
4. Eric Hosmer 1B
5. Kendrys Morales DH
6. Left handed bat TBD OF
7. Salvador Perez C
8. Jarrod Dyson, Reymond Fuentes, Paulo Orlando, Brett Eibner, or Jose Martinez OF – best player wins the position with next best player backing up.
9. Omar Infante, Christian Colon, or Raul Mondesi 2B

That’s not too bad. The lineup can really improve depending on the LHB that we get.

KChiefs1 · 12-12-2015, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wilson8

From a December 9th Kansas City Star story, http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb...e48900090.html, on Dayton Moore and the Winter Meetings –

Eibner, Fuentes, and Martinez have all had good stats in 2015.

For any of you that follow the Royals minor leagues or having watched the Omaha Storm Chasers, what can we expect from these three outfielders? Jose Martinez at 6’7” and a .384 AAA average seems impressive. What is his defense like? Brett Eibner, stat wise, handles LHP and RHP equally well. What’s his speed and defense like? I also like Reymond Fuentes being a LHB and his .308 average looks good. Fuentes looks like he might have some speed too, with 29 stolen bases.

Any information on these guys from someone that has actually seen them play would be appreciated.

Found this on Jose Martinez:

At 27 years of age heading into the 2016 season, Martinez is just about to enter his hypothetical prime. Even if he is not much of a power threat, with fifty home runs and 134 doubles in his career, he has displayed an excellent ability to make contact. His overall 16.6% strikeout rate over his minor league career, including a 15.4% rate last season, would certainly make Martinez a solid fit on the Kansas City Royals.

Primarily a right fielder in his nine year minor league career, Martinez split his time between left and right last season for Omaha. Even if he is not likely to crack the starting lineup as a regular, Martinez could potentially fill in that backup role that Orlando had last season. Given the uncertainty around the Royals outfield at present, Martinez could potentially become an important piece in Kansas City.

KChiefs1 · 12-12-2015, 02:01 AM

Found this on Fuentes:

Fuentes' main tool is his speed which translates to both sides of the ball. He's a plus runner with good base stealing instincts and excellent range and defense in left field or center field. He doesn't show anything in the power department, probably maxing out at 5-10 homers per year at his peak. Scouts are down on his hit tool, despite posting at least a .315 average his last two trips through the Texas League spanning nearly 600 plate appearances. A red flag there is a .381 BABIP in 2013 and .392 BABIP in 2014 at the AA level. He's a career .302 hitter in 245 AAA plate appearances though with a .310 BABIP in 2014. His arm isn't quite noodle status but it's also not a strong point in his profile, grading out anywhere from fringy to a tick below average. Overall, I believe he could handle holding down either left or center field in a starting role for a team out of contention. Going to the Royals though, Fuentes looks like a 4th outfielder and another speed option on the bench. With limited time spent in AAA, he's most likely to head to Omaha to kick off the 2015 season.

Fuentes is not a power hitter. He has never hit more than 6 home runs in a season, and his best isolated slugging percentage was just .122 this season. However, he does have some other offensive skills that appealed to the Royals. Fuentes stole 25 bases in 28 attempts in 2014, and for his career, he’s stolen 187 bases at an 80% success rate.

That speed is made even more valuable by Fuentes’ plate discipline. In the last two seasons he’s posted a cumulative walk rate of 10%, while striking out in just over 17% of his plate appearances. This means that Fuentes seems to have solid contact skills, and he can get on-base at a very respectable clip. He also tends to post above average BABIPs, likely a testament to his speed. Add all of that together, and you can see part of why the Royals would be interested.

Sure-Oz · 12-12-2015, 02:04 AM

@JonHeymanCBS: royals' big hope is to keep alex gordon. but early indication is he isn't planning big hometown discount, like last time.

Wilson8 · 12-12-2015, 02:10 AM

I’ve seen some video of them. Maybe 7 of the 19 HRs that Eibner had this year are on the Storm Chasers web site. He seems to have a nice swing. Also there is a video of Eibner playing CF and running down a fly ball and catching it over his shoulder. There are also a few videos of Martinez and Fuentes hitting. I’d really like to see some video of them playing the outfield.

I looked for video of the 2015 Omaha Storm Chasers games and could not find any.

**Saul Good** · 12-12-2015, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wilson8

That’s an interesting thought. I looked it up and that night we had -

1. Jarrod Dyson CF 0 for 4 .245 average at that time
2. Ben Zobrist 2B 0 for 4 .282 “
3. Alex Rios RF 1 for 3 .270
4. Paulo Orlando LF 0 for 3 .247
5. Jonny Gomes DH 0 for 3 .213
6. Cheslor Cuthbert 3B 0 for 3 .233
7. Christian Colon SS 0 for 2 .293
8. Drew Butera 1B 0 for 2 .206
9. Francisco Pena C 0 for 3 .000

That was a brutal batting order going against a good pitcher in Carlos Carrasco. Gomes average against RHP was .203.

For 2016 we could have a lineup of –
1. Alcides Escobar SS
2. Mike Moustakas 3B
3. Lorenzo Cain CF
4. Eric Hosmer 1B
5. Kendrys Morales DH
6. Left handed bat TBD OF
7. Salvador Perez C
8. Jarrod Dyson, Reymond Fuentes, Paulo Orlando, Brett Eibner, or Jose Martinez OF – best player wins the position with next best player backing up.
9. Omar Infante, Christian Colon, or Raul Mondesi 2B

That’s not too bad. The lineup can really improve depending on the LHB that we get.

That's a horrendous lineup. Escobar, Infante, Dyson, and the extra outfield spot ar gaping holes. Moose and Perez are mediocre and have a tendency to go into prolonged slumps. Hosmer, Cain, and Morales aren't enough to carry a lineup, especially in the AL on a team without dominant SP.

**Anyong Bluth** · 12-12-2015, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

@JonHeymanCBS: royals' big hope is to keep alex gordon. but early indication is he isn't planning big hometown discount, like last time.

What hometown discount last time?

Gordo's numbers weren't wetting anyone's panties where he was getting a bunch of teams pursuing him. He outplayed his contract, but when he signed it, he was certainly not "giving" the Royals the hometown discount.

Heyman is either talking out of his ass because he is simply presuming based upon Alex's contract, or he's spinning some major revisionist history!

Prison Bitch · 12-12-2015, 08:56 AM

There was no "discount", it was a fair deal for both sides. Which, you know, is why they both signed it. We have to put up with all sorts of stupid phrases in baseball and "hometown discount" is one. It rarely if ever happens.

The MLBN guys were talking the other day on why starters get paid and how you need them in October. Yeah, our 4.98 ERA by starters was just crucial.

Fansy the Famous Bard · 12-12-2015, 10:13 AM

25 man roster as of today

Starters
Miguel Almonte
Danny Duffy (LHP)
Kris Medlen
Yordano Ventura
Edinson Volquez

Relievers
Louis Coleman
Chirs Young
Wade Davis
Brian Flynn (LHP)
Kelvin Herrera
Luke Hochevar
Joakim Soria

Catchers
Drew Butera
Salvy

Infielders
Christian Colon
Alcides Escobar
Eric Hosmer
Mike Moustakas
Raul Mondesi

Outfielders
Lorenzo Cain
Jarrod Dyson
Paulo Orlando
Brett Eibner
Jose Martinez

DH
Kendrys Morales

DFA Infante... the guy is a black hole. He plays 1 position, doesn't hit, can't run, old.. provides zero except Money sink and takes a valuable roster spot. See if he'll go to AAA, if not, bye-bye.

That's not a lot to get excited about, with two big question marks at corner outfield. Infield is slightly better than last year. Not quite as strong in the bullpen with the loss of Holland and Madsen, but Soria very well could fill a hole. Tim Collins will start out in AAA as he works back from TJ. Not a lot of consistent success in the Rotation outside of Volquez... But the ability is there.

Without adding a lot of payroll, kick tires on Corner OF's for a package around Herrera. Try to sign Parra.

I might even see what you could possibly get for Moustakas while his value may be high.... You have Cuthbert who could step in with basically similar production.

blake5676 · 12-12-2015, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeke

I might even see what you could possibly get for Moustakas while his value may be high.... You have Cuthbert who could step in with basically similar production.

Not anywhere close to correct. Moose's defense is infintely better and his bat is as well. Cuthbert didn't look lost when he was up, but they aren't even in the same ballpark in a comparison.

Your 25 man doesn't look super pretty right now, but we still have a move or two to make at minimum. And nothing will happen until the Gordon situation resolves.

Fansy the Famous Bard · 12-12-2015, 10:38 AM

You overvalue moose like I'm hoping the rest of MLB GM's would.

Chiefspants · 12-12-2015, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

There was no "discount", it was a fair deal for both sides. Which, you know, is why they both signed it. We have to put up with all sorts of stupid phrases in baseball and "hometown discount" is one. It rarely if ever happens.

The MLBN guys were talking the other day on why starters get paid and how you need them in October. Yeah, our 4.98 ERA by starters was just crucial.

Yet, I have a feeling we're not going to see Moose or Cain (two players who have seen similar turnarounds) sign one of these "fair" deals (plz prove me wrong GMDM).

duncan_idaho · 12-12-2015, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saul Good

That's a horrendous lineup. Escobar, Infante, Dyson, and the extra outfield spot ar gaping holes. Moose and Perez are mediocre and have a tendency to go into prolonged slumps. Hosmer, Cain, and Morales aren't enough to carry a lineup, especially in the AL on a team without dominant SP.

I don't think that's the final lineup/everyday lineup, but the 2-6 (Moustakas/Cain/Hosmer/Morales/Perez) is not bad at all.

The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of Denard Span in LF if Gordon is not resigned. Good defense + good OBp skills are the priority there for me (which is why I like the Korean OF Kim as well, or Dexter Fowler, even). The. That LF hits 2, and Moustaksas can return to the 6 spot and bump perez down.

They don't need an amazing offense. Just league average-ish.

Add A Kazmir or Chen + a LF option who can hit second, and I consider it a good offseason.

11-02-2015, 05:00 PM
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $-2079692	* Official 2016 Royals Offseason Repository * Well, folks, it has happened. The Royals stand triumphant, atop the heap of MLB. In this thread, we'll track the action as Dayton Moore continues The Process and attempts to defend the long-awaited title. Before we get to the meet of it, let's take a minute to reflect ... and say "I'm Sorry" to Dayton Moore. We gave you hell. Many of us called for your head. But you were right. You got it done. Congratulations. Mea culpa. Now, let's talk about the offseason: LINK TO 2016-18 PAYROLL INFO COURTESY OF ROYALS REVIEW The Royals will have a few priorities: Corner OF (x2) and 1 SP, IMO. The rest of the core is solid and will need little tweaking. Looking at the increase in ticket sales, merchandising, concessions, parking, etc., I think it's fair to assume the Royals GROSSED $100 million more this season, or close to it. That gives Glass and Dayton Moore much more flexibility on payroll for 2016 (hopefully). First order of business will be gauging the Alex Gordon market. If he can be resigned for 4-5 years at around $75-80 million total, it would be hard for KC to pass on that. He's still an above-average corner OF bat, and the Royals will need to bring in at least one proven guy to play in a corner if Gordon walks... and the whole market looks a lot like Alex - guys in their early 30s looking for huge, final contracts. Second order of business: Make a decision on Zobrist. It sounds like KC will pursue him aggressively. At 34, he's at risk of declining in a big way after a few years. If they could find someone to take on Omar Infante for eating 1/2 of his deal, that would be a great start to things. If they decide not to spend on Zobrist, KC will need to cobble together some sort of plan for 2B/RF that involves some cheaper options like Orlando, Colon, Dyson, etc. I could see them deciding his ability to provide great insurance at either 2B or in RF is worth the risk. Third order of business: Add depth to the rotation with a FA SP. Duffy, Ventura, Volquez and Medlen are locks for 4 spots, it seems. Kyle Zimmer may finally be ready to make a MLB impact, but his innings will be limited. That means KC needs insurance. Will it kill two birds with one stone (and insure against Duffy/Ventura regression) by signing a more top-tier guy? Or does Moore look to Chris Young/someone like him for this depth? Personally, I think Mike Leake would be a great fit with KC's defense and park, and I know Moore has long coveted him. He's still young - just 28 - and has succeeded in bandbox Cincinnati for years. Ian Kennedy, Mat Latos, Marco Estrada, and Justin Masterson are some other names that may pique interest (a little further down the list). Other than that, I don't think KC makes any major moves. Greg Holland will be interesting to observe, as they have one more year of control of him, and he will obviously miss all of that season. I wouldn't be surprised to see a pre-arbitration deal that pays him something like $15 million over the next two seasons, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him turned loose, period. The bullpen will rest upon Wade Davis/Herrera/Hochevar, filling in pieces around them. Bringing Madson back wouldn't be a surprise, but he could get a big deal from another team that is willing to pay him as their top setup guy or even their closer. I think the biggest prospects to watch in Spring Training will be: 1) Kyle Zimmer. The hype has built, died down, built again, etc. If he's healthy, he's filthy and a potential ToR arm. But what does he look like in ST, and how many innings can you reasonably expect from him if he does earn a rotation spot? It seems like 120-130 innings would be his limit unless they really stretch (or unless he has a lot of hidden innings from simulated games/extended spring training, which might push him to 150-160). Having another cheap, home-grown pitcher would be a significant boon for this team as it tries to extend the competitive window (and potentially give KC a strong 1-2 to build its rotation around in Zimmer and Ventura) 2) Bubba Starling. I'm trying to remain skeptical, but I like what I hear about Bubba from this season, and the performance has picked up. If KC does not sign someone to fill the RF slot, I think that's a strong indication KC's front office believes Starling will be ready to contribute in 2016. Dayton Moore has long said that when Starling's light flips on, it will happen quickly and burn brightly. Time will tell. After his STRONG Arizona Fall League Performance, he shot up my prospect chart. 3) Miguel Almonte. His late-season stint out of the KC bullpen went poorly, but Almonte has a plus-plus changeup, a good fastball, and a decent curve ball. He may be the dark horse in the rotation competition, and unlike Zimmer, he's set up to pitch a full 180 inning season. 4) RA Mondesi. The only player to debut in the MLB World Series has incredible tools. He still needs to refine his game, but again... he may be KC's best cheap, plus alternative at a key position (2B). His defense would be a boon from Day 1, but he needs seasoning with the bat before he's asked to hold down 2B full time. And, as always, here are the Prospects: Duncan’s Top 20 for 2016: Spoiler! 1. Raul Adalberto Mondesi, SS, BOTH: Tools, tools, tools. RA has tools galore. At his best, he’s an All-Star SS who plays elite D, hits 15-20 HR, swipes 40 bags, and is an ideal 1, 2 or 3 hitter. At his worst, I think he looks a lot like Alcides Escobar. Plate discipline is his biggest challenge at this point, but evaluators are confident that will come with time. Clear No. 1 2. Kyle Zimmer, RHP: He’s pitching again and staying healthy, which is nice. He’s pitcing out of the bullpen to build back his arm strength, which is less nice. But still has that high upside, just a lower floor now. Ideally, the team will use him as a bullpen weapon in September (because he has earned it) and then give him a chance to transition back to starting for 2016. 3. Bubba Starling, CF, RH: Starling has been up and down this year but put himself back on the map by greatly improving his K rate while also improving across the slash line as a hitter. His defense and baserunning are MLB ready; if Starling can work himself into a league average hitter, he can be a solid MLB regular who plays great D in CF while hitting 15 HR and swiping 20 bags. 4. Miguel Almonte, RHP: Still love the body, FB/CH combo. Results aren’t eye popping, but he’s still low enough and early enough in the development to prize those things over performance. Still a solid No. 3 starter upside, and just a year and some change away from potentially being ready to contribute at the MLB level. 5. Jorge Bonifacio, RF, RH: Emilio’s little brother got off to a horrible start in 2015 but has heated up as the season went on. He also is translating BP power to game power for the first time, with 15 HR just past the mid-way point of his season. Despite his disappointing 2014, he has a chance to build his way back into legit prospect status – and still is only 22. Next challenge for him should be Omaha, but that may wait for the start of the 2014 season. 6. Scott Blewett, RHP: Blewett has a nice two –pitch mix already and is off to a strong start. With his size (6-6) and a good fastball/curveball combo, Blewett could eventually turn into a good No. 3 starter, with a MLB-average changeup. 7. Nolan Watson, RHP: The Royals’ 2015 sandwich pick is a polished prep arm who is adding velocity and explosiveness to a good, polished base. Likely to move quickly. 8. Ashe Russell, RHP: The 2015 top pick probably needs more work than Watson, but the upside is really nice. Again, advanced two-pitch mix that will depend on him adding a changeup. Could be a very good NO. 2 if it all adds up. 9. Balbino Fuenmayor, 1B/DH, RH: The Balbino came out of basically nowhere in 2015 to earn a Futures Game spot. Big power and an improved two-strike approach have turned the late bloomer into a legit prospect. He’s blocked at the MLB level currently by Eric Hosmer and Kendrys Morales, but Fuenmayor’s combination of power hitting and good average/strike zone control makes him intriguing. 10. Cheslor Cuthbert, 3B, RH: Cheslor probably is not going to be the star KC was hoping for when signing him out of Nicaragua, but he does look like he can be a solid reserve for an MLB club. Good defense at 3B paired with a solid plate approach and some gap power plays fine off the bench. He becomes a lot more interesting if they think he can stick as a 2B, which they have experimented with. Spoiler! 11. Chase Vallot, C/DH/1B: I really like Vallot’s power and plate discipline combo. His bat will probably force him from behind the plate, but he’s held his own despite being extremely young for every level he has faced. 12. Alfredo Escalera-Maldonado, OF, RH: Escalera-Maldonado earned a promotion to Wilmington at age 20, which is pretty advanced movement for that age. He’s an athletic outfielder who has shown some plate discipline at an early age, which is encouraging. Doesn’t sound like he can stick in CF long term for KC, but his bat has become one to watch. 13. Pedro Fernandez, RHP: I haven’t seen much of him, but like the reports I’ve heard on his fastball and general makeup. Could become the next Almonte/Mondesi, though he’s more likely to land in the pen than either of them. 14. Elier Hernandez, OF, RH: Elier Hernanez teamed with Escalera-Maldonado in breaking out at Low-A and earning a promotion to Wilmington. It’s still early for this guy – he is just 20 years old – but he doesn’t take walks and hasn’t developed the prodigious power many thought he had the potential for. Still worth watching. 15. Hunter Dozier, 3B, RH: Dozier is reworking his swing mid-season, which generally will cause production to do what his has done: Nose dive. The changes he made entering the season (seemingly geared towards increasing his power production) were a disaster, and now he’s trying to get back to what he used to be. Still looks great and checks most of the scouting boxes, but the performance hasn’t matched, and it almost knocked him out of the list. 16. Christian Binford, RHP: After a breakthrough 2014, Binford struggled mightily at AAA and suffered a demotion. His upside remains similar – a back-end starter who can eat innings – but Binford’s lack of velocity and reliance on command have caught up to him so far. 17. Marten Gasparini, OF, SH: Gasparini is intriguing because of his speed and athleticism. He’s a LOOOOONG ways from the majors and young for his level, but reports on his bat speed, swing, and speed remain positive enough to keep him on the bubble. 18. Eric Skoglund, LHP: Skoglund had a nice year at Wilmington. I'm skeptical because his K rate is lower than I like to see for a guy at A+ - just 7/9, and usually guys lose a strikeout or two/9 as they move up the chain from there - but he has excellent control, walking 1.17 batters/9. 6-7 lefties with great control who get lots of ground balls - like Skoglund - have a chance to overcome bad K rates. 19. Ryan O'Hearn, 1B/LF: A lefty stick with power, O'Hearn was a savings signing as an 8th round pick, but a change in his approach increased his power - while increasing his K rate. After Vallot, probably the best pure power prospect in the Royals system. 20. Josh Staumont, RHP: I was terrified of this guy's control problems, and he walked nearly a batter an inning in his pro debut (32 BB in 40 1/3 IP). Staumont's nasty, nasty stuff (plus-plus fastball, plus slider) could make him a very good late-inning reliever who strikes out more than a batter an inning, if he can develop average or slightly below-average control. If he really masters the control, you're talking about a potential Greg Holland type, but that's a TALL task. Last edited by duncan_idaho; 11-17-2015 at 09:49 AM..
Posts: 22,430

12-11-2015, 11:53 PM	#1561
Prison Bitch Rabbi Goldmann Join Date: Nov 2012 Casino cash: $5450159	Don't know anything about them but I'm reminded of the time we put out our B lineup after we clinched and Carrasco threw a 15k one hitter on us. The drop off to AAAA or borderline MLB guys is like a cliff
Posts: 87,025

12-12-2015, 02:01 AM	#1565
KChiefs1 I’m a Mahomo! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Mid-Missouri Casino cash: $6771021	Found this on Fuentes: Fuentes' main tool is his speed which translates to both sides of the ball. He's a plus runner with good base stealing instincts and excellent range and defense in left field or center field. He doesn't show anything in the power department, probably maxing out at 5-10 homers per year at his peak. Scouts are down on his hit tool, despite posting at least a .315 average his last two trips through the Texas League spanning nearly 600 plate appearances. A red flag there is a .381 BABIP in 2013 and .392 BABIP in 2014 at the AA level. He's a career .302 hitter in 245 AAA plate appearances though with a .310 BABIP in 2014. His arm isn't quite noodle status but it's also not a strong point in his profile, grading out anywhere from fringy to a tick below average. Overall, I believe he could handle holding down either left or center field in a starting role for a team out of contention. Going to the Royals though, Fuentes looks like a 4th outfielder and another speed option on the bench. With limited time spent in AAA, he's most likely to head to Omaha to kick off the 2015 season. Fuentes is not a power hitter. He has never hit more than 6 home runs in a season, and his best isolated slugging percentage was just .122 this season. However, he does have some other offensive skills that appealed to the Royals. Fuentes stole 25 bases in 28 attempts in 2014, and for his career, he’s stolen 187 bases at an 80% success rate. That speed is made even more valuable by Fuentes’ plate discipline. In the last two seasons he’s posted a cumulative walk rate of 10%, while striking out in just over 17% of his plate appearances. This means that Fuentes seems to have solid contact skills, and he can get on-base at a very respectable clip. He also tends to post above average BABIPs, likely a testament to his speed. Add all of that together, and you can see part of why the Royals would be interested. __________________
Posts: 54,038

12-12-2015, 02:10 AM	#1567
Wilson8 Veteran Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $2837557	I’ve seen some video of them. Maybe 7 of the 19 HRs that Eibner had this year are on the Storm Chasers web site. He seems to have a nice swing. Also there is a video of Eibner playing CF and running down a fly ball and catching it over his shoulder. There are also a few videos of Martinez and Fuentes hitting. I’d really like to see some video of them playing the outfield. I looked for video of the 2015 Omaha Storm Chasers games and could not find any.
Posts: 3,932

12-12-2015, 08:56 AM	#1570
Prison Bitch Rabbi Goldmann Join Date: Nov 2012 Casino cash: $5450159	There was no "discount", it was a fair deal for both sides. Which, you know, is why they both signed it. We have to put up with all sorts of stupid phrases in baseball and "hometown discount" is one. It rarely if ever happens. The MLBN guys were talking the other day on why starters get paid and how you need them in October. Yeah, our 4.98 ERA by starters was just crucial.
Posts: 87,025

12-12-2015, 10:13 AM	#1571
Fansy the Famous Bard I'm with the Banned Join Date: Feb 2009 Casino cash: $-1113560	25 man roster as of today Starters Miguel Almonte Danny Duffy (LHP) Kris Medlen Yordano Ventura Edinson Volquez Relievers Louis Coleman Chirs Young Wade Davis Brian Flynn (LHP) Kelvin Herrera Luke Hochevar Joakim Soria Catchers Drew Butera Salvy Infielders Christian Colon Alcides Escobar Eric Hosmer Mike Moustakas Raul Mondesi Outfielders Lorenzo Cain Jarrod Dyson Paulo Orlando Brett Eibner Jose Martinez DH Kendrys Morales DFA Infante... the guy is a black hole. He plays 1 position, doesn't hit, can't run, old.. provides zero except Money sink and takes a valuable roster spot. See if he'll go to AAA, if not, bye-bye. That's not a lot to get excited about, with two big question marks at corner outfield. Infield is slightly better than last year. Not quite as strong in the bullpen with the loss of Holland and Madsen, but Soria very well could fill a hole. Tim Collins will start out in AAA as he works back from TJ. Not a lot of consistent success in the Rotation outside of Volquez... But the ability is there. Without adding a lot of payroll, kick tires on Corner OF's for a package around Herrera. Try to sign Parra. I might even see what you could possibly get for Moustakas while his value may be high.... You have Cuthbert who could step in with basically similar production. __________________ Hi.
Posts: 6,461

12-12-2015, 10:38 AM	#1573
Fansy the Famous Bard I'm with the Banned Join Date: Feb 2009 Casino cash: $-1113560	You overvalue moose like I'm hoping the rest of MLB GM's would. __________________ Hi.
Posts: 6,461