*** Official 2016 Royals Repository, Version 1 ***

[duncan_idaho]

And so it begins: The Royals' second straight attempt to repeat as AL Champions, and first attempt to repeat as World Series champions.

In this thread, we'll track all non-gameday action. Roster moves, prospect news, etc.

I'll start the thread as usual, with division rivals thoughts. I still like KC to repeat as AL Central champs. Here's how I see the rest of it shaking out:

2) Indians - they have the pitching (and seem to have at least semi-Kluber-ed Cody Anderson, who added 3 mph to his fastball in the offseason). Will the offense hold up? I think this is a team that ends up looking a lot like the 2014 Royals. Francisco Lindor will solidify their IF defense over the full season, and is a help with the bat. I think this club is still a year away from really breaking through - the offense still has a lot of question marks - but I like them to nab a wildcard spot.

Key Player(s): Michael Brantley. When Brantley returns - and how he hits when he does - will be critical to the Indians' ability to be good enough on offense.

Jason Kipnis. Kipnis has been an enigmatic offensive performer for the past several years. If he finally has a good offensive campaign from start to finish, Cleveland could make real noise.

Something of interest to me: For all the acclaim the Twins' farm system gets, I look at the Indians young players, and would much rather have them. Brad Zimmer is going to be a very good all-around CF. Clint Frazier has huge power potential and should arrive soon (2017). Lindor is a young stud.

3) Tigers - Old and dependent on a few stars. If Verlander and Sanchez are healthy and effective, they will be playoff contenders. I'm sure JD Martinez will continue to hit roid-aided bombs. I'm also pretty sure Victor Martinez's days as a huge power threat are gone.

Key player: Justin Verlander. Detroit people would have you believe he figured out how to succeed without his big fastball in September of last year. If that's true, and he returns to dominant form, Detroit will likely contend again.

Something of interest to me: Will Jose Iglesias stay healthy and not try to kill teammates in the dugout? His defense makes the whole group much better.

4) Twins - They won't lead the division or be in playoff contention for as long this year, but Minnesota will avoid the cellar.

Key Player: Miguel Sano. Huge power, huge K rate. Can he continue to drive the ball and be a plus offensive player? Probably needs to cut that 35 percent K percentage to do so.

Something of interest to me: Will teams challenge Sano inside with hard stuff? Working away, away, just lets his power play up. Also - will Mike Berardino continue to be the biggest beat writer homer in MLB?

5) White Sox - still managed by a shitty manager who can't control his clubhouse (The blame for the LaRoche thing really should fall on him, not the GM). Still have a shitty overall defense and a lot of douchebags on the team. They will once again look better on paper than they actually perform.

Key player: Carlos Rodon. The White Sox need Rodon to take a big step forward to make an actual move this season. He's got the talent...

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.

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by Dartgod

Except for all those WS appearances.

4th place in the AL since we became a franchise in 1969 with WS appearances behind the Yankees, A's and Orioles/Red Sox who are tied.

[Discuss Thrower]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Bottom line: this franchise is just snakebit

And you're made of felt with some Oberlin performing arts major's hand up your ass.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

And you're made of felt with some Oberlin performing arts major's hand up your ass.

Hey! I almost went to Oberlin for my piano degree!

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Bottom line: this franchise is just snakebit

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Sports
The reason why the Royals have considered trading Yordano Ventura
Jeff Passan,Yahoo Sports Wed, Jun 8 12:20 AM PDT Comments Like Reblog on Tumblr Share Tweet Email
0:06 / 1:00

Benches clear on Machado's HBP

Recently, inside the Kansas City Royals’ clubhouse, Yordano Ventura was talking about how he planned on hitting Jose Bautista with a pitch the next time he faced him. The people around Ventura rolled their eyes, tired of the bluster, done with the immaturity, hopeful he was playing fugazi instead of the on-field arsonist they’d seen too many times for their liking. Among his teammates and in the Royals’ front office alike, they’ve long waited for Ventura to grow up, only to end up amazed at how he manages to plumb beneath even his own low standards.

The Royals are growing tired of Yordano Ventura's act. (Getty Images)Yordano Ventura, petulant child, roared back to life Tuesday night, when after missing Manny Machado twice with brushback pitches during his second at-bat he planted a 99-mph fastball in Machado’s ribs in the third. Were this some other pitcher, maybe any other, Machado would’ve shaken off the pain and hobbled to first base. That it happened to be someone who in three consecutive starts last season incited benches to clear provided the tinder, kindling and logs for a Machado spark that otherwise would’ve idly died.

And so there Machado was, perhaps the American League MVP favorite, limping toward Ventura, then summoning the strength to throw an overhand right, then DDTing the right-hander into the mound on which he wastes such natural ability. There is a reason why his catcher didn’t sprint to stop the lurching Machado, why his manager admitted after the game that the Royals have grown weary of him, why, according to executives from two teams, the Royals within the past month have offered Ventura up in trade talks: For an act this tired, the performance must validate it, and the chasm between Ventura’s performance and potential is grand.

All three of these issues are pertinent, and it’s worth visiting them in reverse order. Yes, sources said, the Royals have broached other teams’ interest in Ventura, who because he still can throw a baseball 99 mph isn’t yet the sort of dead money only John Oliver would buy. After tonight, though, his ERA is 5.32, his strikeout rate 92nd of 107 qualified starters, his walk rate 105th of 107. And this with a guaranteed three years and $21.25 million left on his contract.

Now, if Ventura is anything like the starter he’s capable of being – in addition to the fastball, his curveball and changeup each are above-average pitches when he controls them – then that’s a great deal, particularly with a pair of $12 million club options tacked on at the end. If another team sees Ventura instead as a relief pitcher in the Kelvin Herrera mold, well, $21 million for three years of top-notch relief is a bargain in a bullpen market two GMs said they expect to explode in price this offseason.

This takes Ventura’s situation back to his manager, Ned Yost, and how he plans to handle the 25-year-old going forward. The Royals have coddled Ventura through these moments in the past, nursed him back from arm injuries that so many feared would portend the full-on blowout that tends to accompany triple-digit fastballs, and more than anything stuck by him through his temper tantrums. To see Yost, then, admit Royals players “probably” were frustrated by Ventura’s actions – well, that’s as close to a public rebuke as Yost, a die-hard players manager, ever will come.

Granted, it didn’t take a body-language expert to suss that out after Salvador Perez, who in past situations had done everything he could to protect Ventura, didn’t really bother to stop the 6-foot-3 Machado from punching him. Machado almost certainly will get the longer suspension because no brawl exists if he walks to first base. At the same time, when Ventura throws 59 pitches, and the very hardest is the one he grooved into Machado’s side, there exists that natural inclination among those handing out penalties to factor in who did the throwing.

It is the pitcher who stared down Mike Trout after a single up the middle and called out Trout for having the temerity to score a run. It is the pitcher who, in his next start, hit Brett Lawrie and needed Perez to physically remove him from the situation. It is the pitcher who, in his third straight start last April, made something of nothing and cemented this reputation that dogs him today.

“The talent is all there, but between the ears, there is a circuit board off-balance,” Orioles center fielder Adam Jones told reporters at Camden Yards. “I don’t get it. I don’t get it.”

This isn't the first time Yordano Ventura has caused the benches to clear. (AP Photo)
Orioles manager Buck Showalter admitted after the game he warned Machado he might get hit after the two misses and the words exchanged following Machado’s flyout in the second inning. It didn’t take a baseball lifer like Showalter to see it, either. Ventura is the rare person who lives down to his reputation.

And because of it, he completed his place Tuesday in a circle with players whose belligerence is offset by their production. Machado once fought Toronto third baseman Josh Donaldson, who tried to plow through Rougned Odor after he clocked Jose Bautista, who beefed with Ventura, who now danced with Machado.

Time exists for Ventura to grow up, if, in fact, that’s something he desires, which it may be, seeing as the team that forever stood by him is willing to offer him up in trades. This could be his come-to-Jesus moment, this embarrassing pitching, this embarrassing brawl, this embarrassing year where a 100-mph-throwing starter stumbled on his way to earning that Ace Ventura nickname and ended up more like Ray Finkle.

The Royals play the Blue Jays on July 4, and perhaps by then Ventura will understand that vengeance against Bautista for their August 2015 war of words is an outcome best avoided by all. Expecting that, of course, would be hoping for too much, because Ventura is the anti-monk. He long ago forsook self-control and chuckled at asceticism and made a career of it anyway, that great were his gifts.

Those only buy so much time, so much leeway, and every unnecessary incident magnifies the ticking of his clock and shortens his leash. If anything comes out of this, it’s a reminder of the same thing people in baseball were saying a year ago, the same thing they’ll continue to say until it actually happens.

It’s time for Yordano Ventura to grow up.

[KevB]

Originally Posted by Jerok

It's a crapshoot, we traded away 5 of em last year, and I think that's it.

That's it right there --- 5 pitchers who are either already in the majors or on the door step. Still a meager total given he's been here for 10+ years.

BTW, Are we beyond the WS grace period such that we can criticize GMDM again? Everything he did turned to gold there for a stretch, so hard to get worked up when discussing his mistakes at this point.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by kcchiefsus

The Royals have to be the worst team in the majors at developing starting pitching. Dayton Moore has not been able to find and develop a single starting pitcher worth a damn in his time here. Why are we so horrible in this area?

It's definitely troubling, though a good point was made re: trades. Other than Duffy and Ventura, most of the other highly touted pitching prospects in the KC system have been traded: Odorizzi, Lamb, Finnegan, Reed, Montgomery.

Chris Dwyer is about the only true "flameout."

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Duncan you were thinking of a trade swap for Ventura yesterday, how about Matt Kemp from the Padres? Ventura, Infante for Kemp and something. RF this year and DH next year when Morales leaves.

That's something worth exploring, especially if San Diego agrees to eat some money.

Andrew Cashner would be an interesting return piece for KC. It also would be interesting to see if San Diego would talk re: Wil Myers. He has three years remaining on his deal but finally is hitting. He probably is too successful now for that to work, but worth discussing if you're talking about Ventura.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Sports
The reason why the Royals have considered trading Yordano Ventura
Jeff Passan,Yahoo Sports Wed, Jun 8 12:20 AM PDT Comments Like Reblog on Tumblr Share Tweet Email
0:06 / 1:00

Benches clear on Machado's HBP

Recently, inside the Kansas City Royals’ clubhouse, Yordano Ventura was talking about how he planned on hitting Jose Bautista with a pitch the next time he faced him. The people around Ventura rolled their eyes, tired of the bluster, done with the immaturity, hopeful he was playing fugazi instead of the on-field arsonist they’d seen too many times for their liking. Among his teammates and in the Royals’ front office alike, they’ve long waited for Ventura to grow up, only to end up amazed at how he manages to plumb beneath even his own low standards.

The Royals are growing tired of Yordano Ventura's act. (Getty Images)Yordano Ventura, petulant child, roared back to life Tuesday night, when after missing Manny Machado twice with brushback pitches during his second at-bat he planted a 99-mph fastball in Machado’s ribs in the third. Were this some other pitcher, maybe any other, Machado would’ve shaken off the pain and hobbled to first base. That it happened to be someone who in three consecutive starts last season incited benches to clear provided the tinder, kindling and logs for a Machado spark that otherwise would’ve idly died.

And so there Machado was, perhaps the American League MVP favorite, limping toward Ventura, then summoning the strength to throw an overhand right, then DDTing the right-hander into the mound on which he wastes such natural ability. There is a reason why his catcher didn’t sprint to stop the lurching Machado, why his manager admitted after the game that the Royals have grown weary of him, why, according to executives from two teams, the Royals within the past month have offered Ventura up in trade talks: For an act this tired, the performance must validate it, and the chasm between Ventura’s performance and potential is grand.

All three of these issues are pertinent, and it’s worth visiting them in reverse order. Yes, sources said, the Royals have broached other teams’ interest in Ventura, who because he still can throw a baseball 99 mph isn’t yet the sort of dead money only John Oliver would buy. After tonight, though, his ERA is 5.32, his strikeout rate 92nd of 107 qualified starters, his walk rate 105th of 107. And this with a guaranteed three years and $21.25 million left on his contract.

Now, if Ventura is anything like the starter he’s capable of being – in addition to the fastball, his curveball and changeup each are above-average pitches when he controls them – then that’s a great deal, particularly with a pair of $12 million club options tacked on at the end. If another team sees Ventura instead as a relief pitcher in the Kelvin Herrera mold, well, $21 million for three years of top-notch relief is a bargain in a bullpen market two GMs said they expect to explode in price this offseason.

This takes Ventura’s situation back to his manager, Ned Yost, and how he plans to handle the 25-year-old going forward. The Royals have coddled Ventura through these moments in the past, nursed him back from arm injuries that so many feared would portend the full-on blowout that tends to accompany triple-digit fastballs, and more than anything stuck by him through his temper tantrums. To see Yost, then, admit Royals players “probably” were frustrated by Ventura’s actions – well, that’s as close to a public rebuke as Yost, a die-hard players manager, ever will come.

Granted, it didn’t take a body-language expert to suss that out after Salvador Perez, who in past situations had done everything he could to protect Ventura, didn’t really bother to stop the 6-foot-3 Machado from punching him. Machado almost certainly will get the longer suspension because no brawl exists if he walks to first base. At the same time, when Ventura throws 59 pitches, and the very hardest is the one he grooved into Machado’s side, there exists that natural inclination among those handing out penalties to factor in who did the throwing.

It is the pitcher who stared down Mike Trout after a single up the middle and called out Trout for having the temerity to score a run. It is the pitcher who, in his next start, hit Brett Lawrie and needed Perez to physically remove him from the situation. It is the pitcher who, in his third straight start last April, made something of nothing and cemented this reputation that dogs him today.

“The talent is all there, but between the ears, there is a circuit board off-balance,” Orioles center fielder Adam Jones told reporters at Camden Yards. “I don’t get it. I don’t get it.”

This isn't the first time Yordano Ventura has caused the benches to clear. (AP Photo)
Orioles manager Buck Showalter admitted after the game he warned Machado he might get hit after the two misses and the words exchanged following Machado’s flyout in the second inning. It didn’t take a baseball lifer like Showalter to see it, either. Ventura is the rare person who lives down to his reputation.

And because of it, he completed his place Tuesday in a circle with players whose belligerence is offset by their production. Machado once fought Toronto third baseman Josh Donaldson, who tried to plow through Rougned Odor after he clocked Jose Bautista, who beefed with Ventura, who now danced with Machado.

Time exists for Ventura to grow up, if, in fact, that’s something he desires, which it may be, seeing as the team that forever stood by him is willing to offer him up in trades. This could be his come-to-Jesus moment, this embarrassing pitching, this embarrassing brawl, this embarrassing year where a 100-mph-throwing starter stumbled on his way to earning that Ace Ventura nickname and ended up more like Ray Finkle.

The Royals play the Blue Jays on July 4, and perhaps by then Ventura will understand that vengeance against Bautista for their August 2015 war of words is an outcome best avoided by all. Expecting that, of course, would be hoping for too much, because Ventura is the anti-monk. He long ago forsook self-control and chuckled at asceticism and made a career of it anyway, that great were his gifts.

Those only buy so much time, so much leeway, and every unnecessary incident magnifies the ticking of his clock and shortens his leash. If anything comes out of this, it’s a reminder of the same thing people in baseball were saying a year ago, the same thing they’ll continue to say until it actually happens.

It’s time for Yordano Ventura to grow up.

I had seen this. Situation sucks for KC, but at least the manager and GM are smart enough to not bad mouth him and further destroy his trade value.

"Will listen" on trades is the word from them, rather than "our manager hates him and we want to unload him."

Hopefully helps Moore avoid a Rasmus/J Upton-like (DBacks to braves) return.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[C3HIEF3S]

Nine game suspension for Ventura. Close to what I originally figured. #Royals

— David Lesky (@DBLesky) June 9, 2016

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Now 11-22 on the road ! WTF !

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by KevB

That's it right there --- 5 pitchers who are either already in the majors or on the door step. Still a meager total given he's been here for 10+ years.

BTW, Are we beyond the WS grace period such that we can criticize GMDM again? Everything he did turned to gold there for a stretch, so hard to get worked up when discussing his mistakes at this point.

Every season is a new season. It's great we've won b2b AL pennants and are defending WS champs, but nothing about the last 2 yrs really matters this year. No one cares we're the defending champs and really if anything it paints a bullseye on the Royals back. GMDM's job is to put team/players in place to win the division and get to the playoffs so we can contend for another pennant/trip to WS...and ultimately try and win that of course. GMDM doesn't play, so you can't fault him for the Royals lack of bats, but you can fault him for thinking we had enough quality SP arms to get to where they need to be because he sucked in that dept this offseason and it's showing. So yeah, absolutely you can blame him for that.

[SAUTO]

Machado got 4

[chiefqueen]

At first I thought the Royals could "time" his suspension so we go with a 4-man rotation during the suspension but unless Ventura pitches on 3 days rest and starts on Sat or 6/16 it is not going to work.

The ideal time for Ventura to drop his appeal would be 6/17 with the Royals having off days 6/20 & 6/23 and then he could pitch against the Cards on 6/28 and I don't think KC would need a 5th starter during that time.

[Three7s]

Originally Posted by chiefqueen

At first I thought the Royals could "time" his suspension so we go with a 4-man rotation during the suspension but unless Ventura pitches on 3 days rest and starts on Sat or 6/16 it is not going to work.

The ideal time for Ventura to drop his appeal would be 6/17 with the Royals having off days 6/20 & 6/23 and then he could pitch against the Cards on 6/28 and I don't think KC would need a 5th starter during that time.

Not like it matters. The whole rotation is a dumpster fire.

[KChiefs1]

Royals first pick tonight is 67th.
Any thoughts on who could fall to us?


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