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M-I-Z-Z-O-U
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Kansas City
Casino cash: $-2099692
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*** 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!
Spoiler!
Last edited by duncan_idaho; 11-17-2015 at 09:49 AM.. |
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#2386 |
Arf! Arf! Arf!
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: North
Casino cash: $3824173
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But imagine what we could have if we were better in right. If I'm not misremembering, Dyson hasn't performed very well when given the chance to play everyday since about 3 Springs ago
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2013 ADOPT A CHIEF Eric Kush ![]() "Often is a word I seldom use"--JP |
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#2387 |
Shit
Join Date: Jun 2008
Casino cash: $10039067
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Weren't they part of the platoon replacing Gordon that was basically on the same wins pace as with Gordo in games that mattered?
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Posts: 55,715
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#2388 | |
Rabbi Goldmann
Join Date: Nov 2012
Casino cash: $5450159
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Quote:
It's possible he will get "exposed" as a regular. But it's also possible he becomes a better hitter with regular PA. It's hard to hit when you're not getting to see live pitching very often. Either way, his floor with just speed + defense should make him better than Rios |
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Posts: 87,025
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#2389 | |
Champion Golfer Of The Year
Join Date: Aug 2001
Casino cash: $2590607
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#2390 |
...
Join Date: Nov 2001
Casino cash: $-1867500
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Our friends in Toronto have traded their leadoff hitter for relief help. Storen was the Nationals closer until Papelbon came in and wrecked the team. Might very well end up as the Jays closer.
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Posts: 56,696
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#2391 |
Band
Join Date: Sep 2005
Casino cash: $-634547
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Trash cans across Canada are breathing a sigh of relief.
Posted via Mobile Device |
Posts: 8,302
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#2392 |
Rabbi Goldmann
Join Date: Nov 2012
Casino cash: $5450159
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Posts: 87,025
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#2393 | |
M-I-Z-Z-O-U
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Kansas City
Casino cash: $-2099692
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Quote:
Good news for Dalton Pompey. Storen is pretty mentally fragile. Not sure he'll hold up the first time he gives up a SkyDome bomb, or the first time Bautista rolls him under the bus.
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"You gotta love livin', cause dying is a pain in the ass." ---- Sinatra |
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#2394 |
"You like to drink?"
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: "I like to drink."
Casino cash: $-350000
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duncan if I win the lotto, I'll pay for your kids' college to be my fantasy baseball majordomo.
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Chiefs 2016 Opponents: Home: JAX, TEN, NO, TB, NYJ. Away: HOU, IND, ATL, CAR, PIT Chiefs 2017 Opponents: Home: BUF, MIA, PHI, WSH, AFC North. Away: NE, NYJ, NYG, DAL, AFC South |
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#2395 |
Deus ambulans inter homines
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Chicago
Casino cash: $9439340
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Even though Infante is coming back, part of me has a gut feeling he's going to rebound. He certainly can't be worse, and if he is there's no way they can or would keep playing him because he already gives you zero at the plate, so for him to play worse then his fielding would have to be the area that regresses. That's really been his only saving grace because they place such high value on stellar defense up the middle. If he's not giving you + defense in the field, one of the young guys cutting their teeth and using Infante to give guys a day off would be the way to go. Unfortunately, because of his contract I get the very distinct impression that they've held out longer than normal in just moving on from him.
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Posts: 14,938
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#2396 |
The Beast Inside Your Head
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Parts Unknown
Casino cash: $-1770878
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Chances of Mondesi as a July call up or is he about a faster version of Infante right now?
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Posts: 26,274
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#2397 |
In Search of a Life
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: L.A.
Casino cash: $-765716
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I'm optimistic about Infante as well. Proud guy with a strong work ethic. Hopefully that surgery will help fix whatever was wrong with the swing last year. Of course it also wouldn't surprise me if he's just done.
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#2398 | |
M-I-Z-Z-O-U
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Kansas City
Casino cash: $-2099692
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Quote:
All depends on how he hits. If his tools finally translate to production and he starts hot at NWA and then continues that at Omaha, they may make the move midseason. Also depends on how Colon/Infante perform. If they're getting quality production from either guy, KC may wait one more year on Mondesi and allow him to continue to season. Mondesi and Starling are probably the two most important in the system, because there are so few position player types close and ready. I also wouldn't be surprised to see, if they are positive about keeping Moustakas, them have Cuthbert work on LF/RF defense.
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#2399 | |
Deus ambulans inter homines
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Chicago
Casino cash: $9439340
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Quote:
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#2400 | |
Perpetual Mediocrity
Join Date: Jan 2006
Casino cash: $1552783
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