Royals *** Official 2016 Royals Offseason Repository *** - Page 12

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.

Fansy the Famous Bard · 11-06-2015, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

Well, boo.

Padres plan to give Ian Kennedy a qualifying offer, I hear
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) November 6, 2015

The same Ian Kennedy that put up a higher ERA than Duffy did this year (who everyone was extremely down on)... and he did that in the NL.

Is way overrated by this board, imo.

Pitt Gorilla · 11-06-2015, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmw4h5

I submitted a question to McCullough's Royals chat at noon today. Something along the lines of,
"Alex Gordon has been the perfect Kansas City Royal. He has been referred to as the captain of this team. He is, right or wrong, viewed as this generation's Geroge Brett. With the Royals most likely failing to sign Gordon to a contract, what message does it send to our current roster of "homegrown" players that we are not willing to pay market value or anything close to market value for our talent? Why would any current player have any confidence in GMDM in terms of being offered a contract that isn't insulting? How do Salvy's teammates view his joke of a contract?"

Again, with all of this money coming off of the books this off-season, in addition to the ~$50 million made during the postseason, how the **** are we supposed to believe that this team can't afford to pay players such as Gordon or Zobrist?

Gordon does not look to be a candidate for rapid regression. The guy is in fantastic shape and has showed no signs of slowing down, other than, arguably, coming back early from a (freak) groin injury. I would think that the Royals could potentially count on moving Gordon and Perez both to DH/1b duties, or even possibly move Gordon to RF in the future if need be. If the Royals wanted Gordon to exclusively DH and work solely on power, I imagine he could add more strength to his frame and could focus solely on hitting.

It sends the message that we'd rather try to sign them when the time comes, instead of tying up so much money with the baseball elderly.

**Saul Good** · 11-06-2015, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmw4h5

I submitted a question to McCullough's Royals chat at noon today. Something along the lines of,
"Alex Gordon has been the perfect Kansas City Royal. He has been referred to as the captain of this team. He is, right or wrong, viewed as this generation's Geroge Brett. With the Royals most likely failing to sign Gordon to a contract, what message does it send to our current roster of "homegrown" players that we are not willing to pay market value or anything close to market value for our talent? Why would any current player have any confidence in GMDM in terms of being offered a contract that isn't insulting? How do Salvy's teammates view his joke of a contract?"

Again, with all of this money coming off of the books this off-season, in addition to the ~$50 million made during the postseason, how the **** are we supposed to believe that this team can't afford to pay players such as Gordon or Zobrist?

Gordon does not look to be a candidate for rapid regression. The guy is in fantastic shape and has showed no signs of slowing down, other than, arguably, coming back early from a (freak) groin injury. I would think that the Royals could potentially count on moving Gordon and Perez both to DH/1b duties, or even possibly move Gordon to RF in the future if need be. If the Royals wanted Gordon to exclusively DH and work solely on power, I imagine he could add more strength to his frame and could focus solely on hitting.

How is he seen as this generation's George Brett? He's nothing close to that.

And how was a 31 year old tearing a groin while chatting down a ball in the outfield a freak injury? It's a perfectly typical injury.

tk13 · 11-06-2015, 12:20 PM

Gordon isn't Brett but losing him is a big PR blow, no doubt. Good organizations will find ways to fill those gaps. Just like how we lost Butler and found Morales.

I don't think it has to set a bad example. Almost everyone else in our core group will be younger than Gordon when they hit FA. Paying a 28 year old Hosmer $20/M year makes more sense than eventually paying that to a 34-35 year old Gordon, if that is what comes to pass.
Posted via Mobile Device

duncan_idaho · 11-06-2015, 12:51 PM

Anyone interested in watching Starling with MLB Network can catch him at 1:30.

I think. Hopefully he's in the Surprise lineup today.

ReynardMuldrake · 11-06-2015, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmw4h5

I submitted a question to McCullough's Royals chat at noon today. Something along the lines of,
"Alex Gordon has been the perfect Kansas City Royal. He has been referred to as the captain of this team. He is, right or wrong, viewed as this generation's Geroge Brett. With the Royals most likely failing to sign Gordon to a contract, what message does it send to our current roster of "homegrown" players that we are not willing to pay market value or anything close to market value for our talent? Why would any current player have any confidence in GMDM in terms of being offered a contract that isn't insulting? How do Salvy's teammates view his joke of a contract?"

We paid him for 10 years, stuck with him when he looked like a bust, won him a ring, and turned him into a superstar. I think that sends a pretty good message to our players.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmw4h5

Again, with all of this money coming off of the books this off-season, in addition to the ~$50 million made during the postseason, how the **** are we supposed to believe that this team can't afford to pay players such as Gordon or Zobrist?

Gordon does not look to be a candidate for rapid regression. The guy is in fantastic shape and has showed no signs of slowing down, other than, arguably, coming back early from a (freak) groin injury. I would think that the Royals could potentially count on moving Gordon and Perez both to DH/1b duties, or even possibly move Gordon to RF in the future if need be. If the Royals wanted Gordon to exclusively DH and work solely on power, I imagine he could add more strength to his frame and could focus solely on hitting.

We're not in the business of winning by outspending everyone. Gordon is no longer a good value for the money. I'd much rather see Dayton find two or three Kendrys Morales/Chris Young type bargains for the same kind of money.

Coach · 11-06-2015, 01:19 PM

So the Royals' pen will lose Madson, Morales, Duffy (who most likely will be given another chance to start), and Chris Young (spot starter/long reliever) which is a good/bad thing depending on one's perspective. They will still have Hoch, Herrera, and Davis at the backend, which is good. I would suspect that GMDM will find some arms in the middle relievers to bridge to Hoch/Herrera/Davis back end or extra innings. We also have to consider the likelihood of injuries that happens every year, that the Royals still have plenty of depth to absorb the injuries.

So, what are the viable good internal or external candidates that had a down year/injured year that would be good for a 1 or 2 year with mutual options to fill in those spots?

nychief · 11-06-2015, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach

So the Royals' pen will lose Madson, Morales, Duffy (who most likely will be given another chance to start), and Chris Young (spot starter/long reliever) which is a good/bad thing depending on one's perspective. They will still have Hoch, Herrera, and Davis at the backend, which is good. I would suspect that GMDM will find some arms in the middle relievers to bridge to Hoch/Herrera/Davis back end or extra innings. We also have to consider the likelihood of injuries that happens every year, that the Royals still have plenty of depth to absorb the injuries.

So, what are the viable good internal or external candidates that had a down year/injured year that would be good for a 1 or 2 year with mutual options to fill in those spots?

Scott Alexander
Almonte

duncan_idaho · 11-06-2015, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach

So the Royals' pen will lose Madson, Morales, Duffy (who most likely will be given another chance to start), and Chris Young (spot starter/long reliever) which is a good/bad thing depending on one's perspective. They will still have Hoch, Herrera, and Davis at the backend, which is good. I would suspect that GMDM will find some arms in the middle relievers to bridge to Hoch/Herrera/Davis back end or extra innings. We also have to consider the likelihood of injuries that happens every year, that the Royals still have plenty of depth to absorb the injuries.

So, what are the viable good internal or external candidates that had a down year/injured year that would be good for a 1 or 2 year with mutual options to fill in those spots?

Brian Flynn, Louis Coleman, and Tim Collins will all be considered as internal options.

You also could see Zimmer piggybacked out of the pen to protect his arm but get him work vs. MLB hitters. Miguel Almonte also could be in play.

Coach · 11-06-2015, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Brian Flynn, Louis Coleman, and Tim Collins will all be considered as internal options.

You also could see Zimmer piggybacked out of the pen to protect his arm but get him work vs. MLB hitters. Miguel Almonte also could be in play.

I figure Coleman would get something, but I don't feel exactly "confident" with him for some reason. And Collins is still somewhat recovering from TJS, so he's an unknown at this point.

I could see Zimmer and Almonte getting some work in to get some MLB experience to protect their arms and get some work against MLB hitters with the goal of both of them being starters at the end of 2016 and/or start of 2017 season?

Halfcan · 11-06-2015, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dunit35

I was listening to 580 AM topeka recently. They were talking future Royals hall of famers. They listed:

1. Perez
2. Gordon
3. Holland
4. Davis
5. Escobar
6. Cain

They had ten total but I can't remember. Who would you gays believe could make it?

At the pace Salvy is setting-could rank in the top 5 for games caught. Possibly retire with 300 plus homers, 2500 hits, 1500 Rbi and 10 Gold gloves.

A World Series MVP trophy helps as well.

duncan_idaho · 11-06-2015, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach

I figure Coleman would get something, but I don't feel exactly "confident" with him for some reason. And Collins is still somewhat recovering from TJS, so he's an unknown at this point.

I could see Zimmer and Almonte getting some work in to get some MLB experience to protect their arms and get some work against MLB hitters with the goal of both of them being starters at the end of 2016 and/or start of 2017 season?

Coleman is really good vs. RHPs but his arm angle/mix lets lefties see him really well. Still, he's not a bad piece to have as the 4th or 5th best reliever out of your pen.

I don't know what they do with Collins/if they bring him back, but he's again not bad at the bottom end of a pen. Not sure he's worth the $1.5 million.

Flynn is an exiting guy to me, as a big lefty who could be very much like Will Smith was in being converted to the pen (dynamite vs. lefties and good enough vs. righties to pitch full innings).

As for guys "out there," Dillon Gee is someone who pops to mind as a potential bullpen conversion who could be really excellent. Chad Billingsley and Brandon Morrow are a few more guys who might work that way.

Coach · 11-06-2015, 03:23 PM

Don't miss the 64-page special #Royals #WorldSeries section coming in Sunday's Star - and yes, we're printing extras pic.twitter.com/44CXFoEEpE
— The Kansas City Star (@KCStar) November 6, 2015

Coach · 11-06-2015, 03:26 PM

#Royals select OF Jose Martinez from Omaha (AAA), adding him to the 40-man roster. He won the PCL batting title with a .384 avg in 2015.
— Royals (@Royals) November 6, 2015

Fansy the Famous Bard · 11-06-2015, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach

#Royals select OF Jose Martinez from Omaha (AAA), adding him to the 40-man roster. He won the PCL batting title with a .384 avg in 2015.
— Royals (@Royals) November 6, 2015

I think we just signed our LF'er for next season.

11-02-2015, 05:00 PM
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $-2069692	* 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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11-06-2015, 12:20 PM	#169
tk13 ... Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $-1837500	Gordon isn't Brett but losing him is a big PR blow, no doubt. Good organizations will find ways to fill those gaps. Just like how we lost Butler and found Morales. I don't think it has to set a bad example. Almost everyone else in our core group will be younger than Gordon when they hit FA. Paying a 28 year old Hosmer $20/M year makes more sense than eventually paying that to a 34-35 year old Gordon, if that is what comes to pass. Posted via Mobile Device
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11-06-2015, 12:51 PM	#170
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $-2069692	Anyone interested in watching Starling with MLB Network can catch him at 1:30. I think. Hopefully he's in the Surprise lineup today. __________________ "You gotta love livin', cause dying is a pain in the ass." ---- Sinatra
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11-06-2015, 01:19 PM	#172
Coach Champs! Join Date: Mar 2004 Casino cash: $3748476	So the Royals' pen will lose Madson, Morales, Duffy (who most likely will be given another chance to start), and Chris Young (spot starter/long reliever) which is a good/bad thing depending on one's perspective. They will still have Hoch, Herrera, and Davis at the backend, which is good. I would suspect that GMDM will find some arms in the middle relievers to bridge to Hoch/Herrera/Davis back end or extra innings. We also have to consider the likelihood of injuries that happens every year, that the Royals still have plenty of depth to absorb the injuries. So, what are the viable good internal or external candidates that had a down year/injured year that would be good for a 1 or 2 year with mutual options to fill in those spots? __________________ Super Bowl IV, LIV, LVII & LVIII Champions 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, & 2025 AFC Champions 1985 & 2015 Major League Baseball World Series Champions 1980, 1985, 2014, & 2015 Major League Baseball American League Champions 2015 American League Central Division Champs
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11-06-2015, 03:23 PM	#178
Coach Champs! Join Date: Mar 2004 Casino cash: $3748476	Don't miss the 64-page special #Royals #WorldSeries section coming in Sunday's Star - and yes, we're printing extras pic.twitter.com/44CXFoEEpE — The Kansas City Star (@KCStar) November 6, 2015 __________________ Super Bowl IV, LIV, LVII & LVIII Champions 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, & 2025 AFC Champions 1985 & 2015 Major League Baseball World Series Champions 1980, 1985, 2014, & 2015 Major League Baseball American League Champions 2015 American League Central Division Champs
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11-06-2015, 03:26 PM	#179
Coach Champs! Join Date: Mar 2004 Casino cash: $3748476	#Royals select OF Jose Martinez from Omaha (AAA), adding him to the 40-man roster. He won the PCL batting title with a .384 avg in 2015. — Royals (@Royals) November 6, 2015 __________________ Super Bowl IV, LIV, LVII & LVIII Champions 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, & 2025 AFC Champions 1985 & 2015 Major League Baseball World Series Champions 1980, 1985, 2014, & 2015 Major League Baseball American League Champions 2015 American League Central Division Champs
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