*** Official 2016 Royals Offseason Repository ***

[duncan_idaho]

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.

[Mother****erJones]

Congrats guys!

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Depends. Is Yost still manager? If so, Sal might need a wheelchair when he ends this contract.

That's an interesting topic, and I was about to pose the question.

How many more years do people think Ned is skipper?

More importantly, who do they get to replace him, or what are some people's wishlists of names they'd like to see as the next manager?

[DeepSouth]

Originally Posted by Anyong Bluth

That's an interesting topic, and I was about to pose the question.

How many more years do people think Ned is skipper?

More importantly, who do they get to replace him, or what are some people's wishlists of names they'd like to see as the next manager?

Dale Sveum. He's done wonders for the Royals bats. And, he has manager experience.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by Anyong Bluth

That's an interesting topic, and I was about to pose the question.

How many more years do people think Ned is skipper?

More importantly, who do they get to replace him, or what are some people's wishlists of names they'd like to see as the next manager?

There's a chance this could be his last season, and it'll obviously be his choice. At the beginning of 2015, he signed an extension through 2016 and said he'd manage through the end of the contract but then he's not sure if he'd want to continue or retire.

[duncan_idaho]

I like Kennedy, but not at $17 million/year. If he gets that much, I'm not sure it makes sense for KC.

I do think he has the best upside of any starter left on the market and could have a Vloquez-like season for KC.

He's got good stuff and is fearless. I think pitching in a pitcher's home park (in a division with lots of those) with an elite defense behind him will allow him to be a little more aggressive in challenging hitters early.

San Diego obviously is a pitcher's park, but the D there was atrocious last season.

Good point on k% vs k/9, but I think he still will be league average or better in those stats, even moving back to the AL.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

Taking a successful pitcher away from a home run park has Moore written all over it.


http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/1...-contract.html
Wei-Yin Chen Seeking Five-Year, $100MM Deal
By Zach Links | December 17, 2015 at 12:10pm CST

Free agent pitcher Wei-Yin Chen is searching for a five-year, $100MM contract, according to Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com (on Twitter). At that price, Kubatko adds, it’s clear that the Orioles have moved on to other offseason targets. At the outset of the offseason, MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes projected that Chen would land a five-year deal worth $80MM. Apparently, the Scott Boras client is aiming higher.

I wonder if 4 for 80 gets it done.

[suzzer99]

Originally Posted by Anyong Bluth

Bottom line, Infante, and Rios in the regular season gave you zero. Literally, anything from those 2 spots ultimately means the club is better than last year in the regular season.
Not better than when you had Zobrist, admittedly, but I'm almost at the point where I feel Ben has taken only this mythical unicorn status.

I fully admit that my mancrush for Zobrist was big, and no doubt he was a fantastic pickup. Now reality is he's 32, and there absolutely no chance he earns his contract. The Cubs are serious contenders, and if he's part of them winning a WS, not a single **** will be given by the Cubs organization or fans. KC wasn't in that position moneywise, and unless they had a top 5 payroll in baseball, it's not a wise signing.

In light of our own pending free agents, who almost are still young and entering their prime typically, sinking that money instead of aggressively trying to ink Hos, Moose, Cain (maybe), Esky (maybe), and extending Sal, is doublely foolish.

Does no one think that come the trade deadline that if needed that a few guys who may potentially make this team more potent in the postseason won't be available?

Let's remember, Fallball and regular season baseball are 2 different animals. One's a marathon and you have to balance not fall behind the pack without leaving nothing in the tank. The other's a short track event. Get out of the break fast, warmed up and loose, and lean. There's no days off, you trim your rotation, and if you go on short rest it doesn't matter because the finish line is in sight right around the last turn.

Zobrist is 35.

I get that we couldn't keep Zobrist. But sometimes I just daydream about if we were a big market team and could keep him and either Cueto or another ace. We could win 110 games next year with Zobrist, an ace and someone like Chen at #2. No other additions needed. Throw in Cespedes in right and we could set the all time wins record while still at half the Dodgers 2015 payroll.

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

Concussions could end his career out of nowhere

Salvy refuses to wear the full head gear

His feet are constantly getting beaten up too


I cringe every time he get hit with a foul ball

The guy needs to wise up and either wear the upgraded gear or work with a manufacturer to design something with better protection that he feels comfortable wearing.

He's a gold glove, All star catcher in MLB, it's not going to be a problem with finding some designers to fashion some custom gear and have it fabricated.

How man times has he taken a bat to the head because the follow through swing by the batter?

Is it that hard to add a layer of impact absorbant cushion and a top layer of metal or high impact plastic that sits on top of the straps of his mask in the back?

As for his feet- steel toe and tongue.

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by suzzer99

Zobrist is 35.

Sorry typo

[DeepSouth]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

I like Kennedy, but not at $17 million/year. If he gets that much, I'm not sure it makes sense for KC.

I do think he has the best upside of any starter left on the market and could have a Vloquez-like season for KC.

He's got good stuff and is fearless. I think pitching in a pitcher's home park (in a division with lots of those) with an elite defense behind him will allow him to be a little more aggressive in challenging hitters early.

San Diego obviously is a pitcher's park, but the D there was atrocious last season.

Good point on k% vs k/9, but I think he still will be league average or better in those stats, even moving back to the AL.

This might be a pretty lame reason, but I don't feel warm and fuzzy about Kennedy because he'll have pitch to a DH instead of a pitcher if he comes to the Royals.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by Anyong Bluth

As for his feet- steel toe and tongue.

I would buy them for him!!!

please Salvy, upgrade your gear and protect yourself

[A Salt Weapon]

Originally Posted by Sully

Personalized.

This is what I did this year, got the 2014 ws patch on it, now I got to get another for this year with the 2015 ws patch

[alnorth]

lol, the Gordon contract has a mutual option, because its Dayton Moore so of course it does

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Royals seem to be hoping on the Ian Kennedy bandwagon. Welcome aboard to Duncan and me's train on that guy.

AL Central Champs again!

[Halfcan]

Originally Posted by Anyong Bluth

This sends a message that no longer is every good player a la Damon, Dye, Beltran are just biding their time.

That's why all the so-called National guys reported as if they had inside information and kept "reporting" KC had no chance to re-sign Alex = bullshit!
Even dumb enough to claim the Royals offer was 4 years $50 million. That was an outright lie. Dayton isn't dumb, and the organization knows a range he's going to get salarywise.

You don't enter into negotiations by putting out an insulting number and create acrimony. I'm sure there offer was originally probably a 3 year deal to see if they could get it done. They knew full well that like Zobrist, some club could have overpaid and there's little to do if that was the case.

After the flurry at the start of FA died down, I have little doubt that discussions got more serious because teams, including the Royals, had a better feel for what and who they were competing with and ballpark numbers. So, Gordo probably got a 4th year conditional on a little less per year, and deferring a good amount until after the new TV deal as well as allowing the club to free up some available money to pursue FA now while the team is a contender.

Alex got his 4 years, overall more money, and his 1st choice of remaining a Royal, and coming back to play for a contender that just won a WS and have been there in back-to-back years.

The Royals fill their major hole in 1 of the corner outfield spots, get a structured friendly contract that doesn’t completely tie their hands until the new TV deal, and send a significant message to both the fans and the players in the clubhouse as well as potential free agents that the club is serious about winning and investing in talent.

Dayton really put the cherry on top, because having a more than likely lifer like Alex is a great ambassador for this community and the Royals place in it for the future. Is he Brett ? On the field, no, but as a face and recognizable icon on the 2015 WS team, definitely, and the younger fan base needs that so they have something to identify with and a desire to take their own kids to the park and cultivate the future Royals fans.

Ultimately, the money and years, and even if he doesn't earn every penny in the last year or two of his contract, doesn't mean a thing. What the Royals just acquired by him re-signing was a reprieve from the 90's and early 2000's. A ghost ship at sea with no captain, after Kauffman died, and everyone jumping overboard at first chance because it had become a glorified AAAA organization.

Nice post!