Royals *** Official 2016 Royals Offseason Repository *** - Page 226

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.

duncan_idaho · 03-02-2016, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Li'l Smokey

Sexy time

Reports on his stuff were great.

94-95 on his fastball. 92-93 on the cutter. Curveball flashing great shape and depth. Good command.

Sure-Oz · 03-02-2016, 10:21 PM

@injuryexpert: Early indications are Grade II strain. Location will be key. Good rehab staff there in KC. https://twitter.com/rustindodd/statu...62838814232576

BigCatDaddy · 03-02-2016, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Reports on his stuff were great.

94-95 on his fastball. 92-93 on the cutter. Curveball flashing great shape and depth. Good command.

Very nice. Any chance he starts the year in KC barring any unforseen injuries to other guys?

duncan_idaho · 03-02-2016, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

Very nice. Any chance he starts the year in KC barring any unforseen injuries to other guys?

I could see them targeting end of the year. They need to be careful with his innings this year, as 120-140 would be about his max after not throwing a ton last year.

More likely they use him out of the pen late in 16 considering the rotation depth, but I think he's a factor in 2017.

And, of course, he is talented enough to just force the issue, like Ventura did in 2014.

suzzer99 · 03-03-2016, 02:28 AM

Is anyone else following Rany's top 218 moments? Here's my prediction for top 10:

Sal's hit
Gordon's homer
Hosmer's dash
Colon's hit
Hosmer's triple in the WC game
Cain's Enos Slaughter moment
Kendry's "OFF COREA!" hit
Hosmer's extra-inning dinger in 2014 ALDS game 2
Davis striking out Revere
Rios' chopper double in ALDS

Why Not? · 03-03-2016, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suzzer99

Is anyone else following Rany's top 218 moments? Here's my prediction for top 10:

Sal's hit
Gordon's homer
Hosmer's dash
Colon's hit
Hosmer's triple in the WC game
Cain's Enos Slaughter moment
Kendry's "OFF COREA!" hit
Hosmer's extra-inning dinger in 2014 ALDS game 2
Davis striking out Revere
Rios' chopper double in ALDS

Well if we're going pure best moments, number 1. is Davis' K of Flores for the final out of the series

**ChiTown** · 03-03-2016, 10:17 AM

Today's lineup:

#Royals lineup for today's game vs. the Rangers at 2:05 CT. pic.twitter.com/M0apyN5QvN
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) March 3, 2016

siberian khatru · 03-03-2016, 11:05 AM

Dyson out 6 weeks, including rehab stint

Sure-Oz · 03-03-2016, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

Dyson out 6 weeks, including rehab stint

Would they sign a Marlon Byrd or is this a Travis Snyder/Orlando platoon

Jerok · 03-03-2016, 11:10 AM

Bring in rios for another look

siberian khatru · 03-03-2016, 11:11 AM

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb...e63774182.html

Quote:

SUPRISE, ARIZ.
Poised to earn a starting job for the first time in his career, Royals outfielder Jarrod Dyson is now likely to start the season on the disabled list because of a grade two oblique strain.

Manager Ned Yost said Thursday that the oblique strain, suffered Wednesday in the Royals’ Cactus League opener, will likely keep Dyson out for close to six weeks. The prognosis, revealed after an MRI, means Dyson will likely be unavailable when the Royals open the season April 3 against the New York Mets at Kauffman Stadium.

“It’s probably going to somewhere in the vicinity of six weeks,” Yost said.

As Dyson recovers, the injury could offer immediate opportunity to a glut of reserve outfielders, including Paulo Orlando, Brett Eibner, Jose Martinez, Reymond Fuentes, Travis Snider and even top prospect Bubba Starling. Yost said Thursday that Orlando, who played in 86 games last season, would receive an opportunity to claim the everyday role.

“Absolutely,” he said.

Before spring training, Yost said the right-field position could feature a platoon between the left-handed hitting Dyson and right-hand hitting Orlando. But for the moment, Yost appears inclined to let the competition play out.

“I want to see who wins that job,” Yost said. “I’m not looking for anybody. I’m looking for somebody to win the job. And if a platoon works out best for us, then that’s what it is. I’m not looking for a platoon. We haven’t had a platoon out there.”

For now, Orlando appears well-positioned to stake a claim for more playing time. A 30-year-old native of Brazil, Orlando made his major-league debut last season and batted .249 with a .269 on-base percentage, seven homers and six triples. He earned a spot on the postseason roster and his speed and defense profiles as above average. In just 86 games, he had a wins above replacement (WAR) of 1.0. He has shown an ability to hit right-handed pitching as well as lefties.

“It’s taken him a while, being from Brazil,” Yost said. “He was a real late bloomer. He has really developed his game here in the last couple years. But I was just impressed all year long with his ability to do something each day to help you win. It was always something.

“He can play center; he can play right. He can run; he can throw. He can hit (and) hit with power.”

As the news of Dyson filtered through the Royals clubhouse on Thursday morning, Orlando said his goal remained unchanged: Be on the roster on opening day.

“We’ll see what happens,” Orlando said. “I just come here hoping to make the team again. You know you have a lot of good guys here, and that’s good for the Royals. It makes us a better team. We have a lot of good guys here. Hopefully, I do a good job and can help the team.”

Orlando appears to be a favorite to be on the 25-man roster when the season begins. But others could challenge for a roster spot or a platoon role.

Among the list of candidates in right field, Snider, a 27-year-old nonroster invitee, possesses the most big-league experience. A former top prospect in the Blue Jays system, Snider posted career numbers for Pittsburgh in 2014, batting .264 with a .338 on-base percentage and 13 homers in 140 games. He regressed to the mean last season, batting .237 with three homers in 69 games for Baltimore before being released in August.

He re-signed with the Pirates, finished out the season, and signed a minor-league deal with the Royals on Jan. 30. If the Royals desire a platoon in right, the left-handed hitting Snider would serve as a complement to Orlando.

The Royals will also take a look at Fuentes, a former first-round pick who appeared in 23 games for the Padres in 2014, and Eibner, a former second-round pick who re-established his prospect status with a strong season at Class AAA Omaha in 2015. Like Snider, Fuentes, 25, offers a left-handed bat and could provide versatility in the outfield. Eibner, meanwhile, is a 27-year-old who offers a right-handed bat and a blend of power and athleticism. Club officials believe his defense profiles as above-average in a corner spot. A former college pitcher at Arkansas, Eibner is equipped with an arm that would fit well in right field.

The other outfielders in the equation are Martinez, a former journeyman who shredded the Pacific Coast League last season, batting .382 in 102 games at Omaha; and Starling, the former first-round pick who is likely ticketed for the minors but could debut in Kansas City at some point in 2016.

“We’re going to give everybody a look out there,” Yost said. “They all are going to play a lot.”

For Dyson, who was unavailable on Thursday morning, the injury comes at an inopportune time. He has spent parts of the last six seasons in Kansas City, maturing into a valuable weapon off the bench. His speed instills fear in opposing pitchers. He possesses the versatility to play all three outfield spots. As spring training began, he was in position to earn regular playing time for the first time. Instead, he will likely have to wait.

“We have a lot of guys who can man right field,” center fielder Lorenzo Cain said. “I was definitely expecting Dyson to go there and man it, but he’s hurt right now. He has to go back, get healthy, do what he can to get back on the field as soon as possible.”

Chiefs Pantalones · 03-03-2016, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

Would they sign a Marlon Byrd or is this a Travis Snyder/Orlando platoon

Platoon. I'm hoping Eibner steps up and gets the job though.

Chiefs Pantalones · 03-03-2016, 11:19 AM

I feel bad for Dyson but I wasn't real excited about him in an extended role there anyway to be honest. But for the sake of hard work and dedication I think he deserved a shot.

Demonpenz · 03-03-2016, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Why Not?

Well if we're going pure best moments, number 1. is Davis' K of Flores for the final out of the series

I think Salvy's hit is #1. An entire shitfest of a run for sports team in this town over in one swing.

KChiefs1 · 03-03-2016, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerok

Bring in rios for another look

Shut your ****ing mouth!

11-02-2015, 05:00 PM
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $-2219692	* 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..
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03-03-2016, 02:28 AM	#3380
suzzer99 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: L.A. Casino cash: $-875716	Is anyone else following Rany's top 218 moments? Here's my prediction for top 10: Sal's hit Gordon's homer Hosmer's dash Colon's hit Hosmer's triple in the WC game Cain's Enos Slaughter moment Kendry's "OFF COREA!" hit Hosmer's extra-inning dinger in 2014 ALDS game 2 Davis striking out Revere Rios' chopper double in ALDS
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03-03-2016, 10:17 AM	#3382
ChiTown Stroking to the SB Champs! Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Flatlands of Kansas Casino cash: $-621038	Today's lineup: #Royals lineup for today's game vs. the Rangers at 2:05 CT. pic.twitter.com/M0apyN5QvN — Kansas City Royals (@Royals) March 3, 2016 __________________
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03-03-2016, 11:05 AM	#3383
siberian khatru 21st Century Schizoid Fan Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: The Gates of Delirium Casino cash: $-1455050	Dyson out 6 weeks, including rehab stint
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03-03-2016, 11:10 AM	#3385
Jerok Veteran Join Date: Sep 2013 Casino cash: $3544092	Bring in rios for another look
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03-03-2016, 11:19 AM	#3388
Chiefs Pantalones GO CHIEFS!!!!!! Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $6868717	I feel bad for Dyson but I wasn't real excited about him in an extended role there anyway to be honest. But for the sake of hard work and dedication I think he deserved a shot. __________________ Don't be fooled by my username, I'm white.
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