<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We have made the following roster moves: <a href="https://t.co/QX8zKLpKec">pic.twitter.com/QX8zKLpKec</a></p>&mdash; Kansas City Royals (@Royals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Royals/status/1676227193448419330?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

No need for Cox since he pitched last night. Got another arm to use.

Let's go BWJ!

Big dick Witt!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bobby Witt Jr. - Kansas City Royals (13) <a href="https://t.co/hWjlgdVQjm">pic.twitter.com/hWjlgdVQjm</a></p>&mdash; MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBHRVideos/status/1676307594728599556?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

It's sad seeing Greinke and Wainwright washed. Older I get the more I think Barry Sanders did it right.

BWJ getting good enough to where the Royals can trade him and get a haul.

Starting some draft prep. Royals are 8th.

Some in the Royals prospect hound community think Vandy CF Enrique Bradfield may be the royals choice at 8 to save some slot money for their pick… hang on a second…

That was just me taking a vomit break.

Bradfield is like Nicky Lopez, but in CF. He’s super fast and a great defender but has no power present and no power projection.

Not a bad player but not one I’d be taking 8th.

Kyle Teel is being pretty heavily linked to them from what I've seen.

Just sign some Blue Valley kids. Wont make a difference

Kyle Teel (College C) and Blake Mitchell (high school C) have the most current buzz.

There's also a lot of linkage to Noble Meyer. Who is a RH high school pitcher from a non-baseball hotbed.

So of course it will probably be him.

The idea of drafting a guy in the top 10, so that you can save some slot money is so incredibly stupid. You should be going for the absolute best possible player you can get. Saving some money so you can maybe pay a little extra later on a player that's not gonna be near as good doesn't make any sense to me at all. This draft will tell me alot about JJ and if I believe he should stick around. If he goes with a DM approach, then shut can that mother****er.

I don’t think it’s an awful strategy. It’s like trading down with your first pick and trading up with your second pick.

If you execute it well, it can be really effective.

I would not do it to select a no-power speed merchant CF type, though.

Seems like it's an ok strategy on occasion if there is some High School kid you like, who is not a high pick, so you can toss some extra money at to convince them to forgo college. However, I absolutely agree with you. JJ needs to show he is different from DM in this draft or it is time to completely clean house in the front office.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if it's similar to Moore's drafts. The front office is the same..the scouts are the same..

The Orioles do a good job of it, but it's also the scouting strategy is being implemented by former execs during the Astros dynasty under Jeff Luhnow.

Colton Cowser was a below slot signing at fifth overall in the 2021 draft. He will make his major league debut today after posting a .996 OPS in Triple-A.

The O's took Heston Kjerstad second overall in 2020 and he's finally producing after being setback by injuries.

But with their second pick in 2020, they took Jordan Westburg overslot and he just made his major league debut. He has a chance to be a first division regular in the infield.

The Orioles know what they're doing and the Royals don't is basically all this is...like they flipped Jorge Lopez into 2 legit players the Royals can't manage to do anything like that.

The Royals have one of the 5 worst minor league systems in baseball according to every source out there. While at the same time having a terrible MLB team and their response is to literally fire 1 guy.

Exactly!

Nobody knew who the hell Yennier Cano was before this year. He's now a setup man pitching in the All-Star Game.

This team is gonna have to bite the bullet and hire a real Gm with real experience in building a competent system...Luhnow where are you?

Why didn't they completely clean house? What have they shown to warrant keeping?

My guess is because that is very expensive and to this point John Sherman has shown he is cheap.

To put a GM in place that knows what he is doing would require likely firing every single person in the front office, all of the minor league people etc etc..that is expensive when you are then going to need to hire the people he wants while still paying everyone else.

I'd like to hear who people really hope we take with the eighth pick.

Let's assume the big five (Crews, Skenes, Langford, Clark, and Jenkins ) are gone, who would be the next three players you'd want?

I'll offer my next three picks: Teel, Lowder, and Dollander.

I really like Teel. Matt Shaw from Maryland is a college bat I find really interesting. If I'm taking a pitcher, Dollander is worth taking a swing on (viewed as potential 1.1 entering the season).

If they dip for a HS bat, my favorite guy is Arjun Nimmala (other than Max Clark and Walker Jenkins). He's the youngest top guy in the class, which matters.

Hurston Waldrep is another college pitcher worth considering, I think. The Florida ace is nasty and has a good present fastball-splitter-slider combo. The splitter is a split-change, so it's offspeed.

There's some talk Jenkins could drop as teams may not be as high on him as the scouting community is.

If things go as expected Matt Shaw is someone I like, a second baseman with a really high end bat profile.

If they go to save some money I'd prefer Tommy Troy over Bradfield, Troy profiles as a guy who can hit where Bradfield might legit be Billy Hamilton and I get all the oh elite defense and stolen bases equals war shit but a dude hitting 215 isn't that helpful as an everyday player.

I do not remotely trust this team to use a top 10 pick on a pitcher, I just don't.

Also wanted to add Heasley was throwing 98 out of the pen yesterday so maybe he actually has an MLB spot as a 1 inning guy.

But the main problem is still there, there really is nothing as far as starters go..Alec Marsh is probably a reliever too.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Zack Greinke has been placed on the 15-day IL with right shoulder tendinitis. RHP Dylan Coleman has been recalled from Triple-A Omaha. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Royals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Royals</a></p>&mdash; Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) <a href="https://twitter.com/anne__rogers/status/1676682803801468929?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Maikel Garcia was as recently as last year listed at 6'0'' and 145 lbs. His MLB ESPN player card says 6'0'' 180.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Per Bally&#39;s Royals broadcast, Alec Marsh is the first Royals pitcher to pick off two guys in same game since James Shields did it nine years ago.</p>&mdash; Jeff Rosen (@jeff_rosen88) <a href="https://twitter.com/jeff_rosen88/status/1676759463485685761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Royals have to play with a winning record the rest of the season (38-37) to avoid 100 losses. They have to play .426 ball (32-43) the rest of the way to avoid tying the club record of 106 losses. They&#39;re on pace to finish 47-115.</p>&mdash; Royals Review (@royalsreview) <a href="https://twitter.com/royalsreview/status/1676932383260418049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Minor league weights are notoriously unreliable. And a lot of kids from Latin America don't start to fill out until AA or above due to (1) age and (2) better nutrition/per diem/etc.

I'd guess it's more likely 145 was his initial debut weight at 17 or whatever in complex ball, and he has been steadily adding as he matured.

Still, if he can continue to get bigger and stronger without losing his speed or flexibility (ie hampering his defensive and baserunning abilities), he can be a first-division regular with his other skills.

I know they won't do it now but they might as well just move him to SS and move Witt to CF that kills 2 birds with 1 stone and then find out if Nick Loftin can play 3B everyday.

Has anyone had success tailgating and then people just giving them their tickets? That is what we used to do when I was 18 to 21. We wouldn't even get tickets (cuz we were broke AF) and we would just go down to the parking lot and people would just give them away because they were so bad in the mid 2000's. People would rather get drunk in their van than watch that shit.

Back before the championship runs my crew and I would make the 3 hour drive JUST to tailgate. We would have tickets ahead of time, and come with $100 in food/beer/supplies. I wouldn’t spend a dime once inside the stadium. Usually we would pair up with another group and split the goods.
Good times.

I'm down with that.

Or sign Matt Chapman in FA and move Loftin to 2B.

That's what's great about Loftin, he's played all over. 2nd, 3rd, SS, OF... you could probably stick him at Catcher and he'd be successful. The guy may end up only being an average hitter at the ML Level, but his versatility is second to none.

Probably need to find out if he's a starter or a super sub reserve.

Also I think it's time to send MJ Melendez back to AAA and figure out if he's a catcher cause if he's not his value is way down.

Garrett is taking Lyles role of BP pitcher tonight

Didn't he puke in his mouth and spit it out?

Nicky Lopez literally has no value if he's not playing elite defense.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;My parents...they just wanted to give their kids an opportunity to achieve everything they want and to be successful in life.&quot;<br><br>Arjun Nimmala has a chance to become the first player of Indian descent to play in Major League Baseball. <a href="https://t.co/YfjNwt9loz">pic.twitter.com/YfjNwt9loz</a></p>&mdash; MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBNetwork/status/1676967422115594242?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Good spot about the guy that should be the Royals pick at 8.

My favorite, too, unless Max Clark or Walker Jenkins is there.

I think it will be between Teel, Meyer, Houck or Mitchell. Royals seem to have had a hard on for Virginia lately in the draft so that leads to believe Teel will be the pick.

Meyer is one of a few players I would flip my lid about. High school RHP from a non-baseball hotbed? No ****ing thanks.

Enrique Bradfield is the other.

There's some smoke out there that the Royals want to cut a deal at 8 which means under slot..says they really like Kyle Teel but if they go for the cut a deal option or he's gone the most likely options are then..

Enrique Bradfield
Colin Houck


Says they also like Brayden Taylor.

I will probably throw things if they draft Enrique Bradfield.

Yes, he's got a high floor because the defense is so good, even if he's a legitimate bad offensive player like Billy Hamilton, he's still a 2 win player.

But shit, let's not act like it is so hard to find a glove-first CF. Michael A. Taylor. Kevin Kiermaier. Etc.

Isn't that pretty much what Kyle Isbel is already?

And if it mattered that much you could have traded a sack of shit for Christian Pache who is all glove and no bat.

Yes and yes.

It's why the idea of drafting Bradfield "because floor! and save money!" drives me nuts.

If you want to save money to lure a prep off a commitment at 44, cool. Just draft a player with more upside than this guy.

I watched some video on Houck he does have a really nice swing so I could see the idea on that one.

I'd take ****in Tommy Troy before I took Bradfield.

I doubt Sherman's Palace in downtown will have the same outfield as Kauffman, so I don't think a Bradford type would be as needed.

If you're going to suck, do it quickly. 8 hits, 2 walks, 14 Ks by both teams combined.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Game time: 1 hour, 51 minutes. <a href="https://t.co/iP3MUX0x3k">https://t.co/iP3MUX0x3k</a></p>&mdash; Pete Grathoff (@pgrathoff) <a href="https://twitter.com/pgrathoff/status/1677484117686902784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Latest mocks

Baseball America -- Blake Mitchell, C, Sinton (Texas) HS

The Athletic (Keith Law) -- Kyle Teel, C, Virginia

Fangraphs (Eric Longenhagen) -- Noble Meyer, RHP, Jesuit HS (Ore.)

MLB.com (Jonathan Mayo) -- Noble Meyer, RHP, Jesuit HS (Ore.)

CBS -- Blake Mitchell, C, Sinton (Texas) HS

Sporting News -- Arjun Nimmala, SS, Strawberry Crest HS (Fla.)

I guess at least he's trying to "keep his eye on the ball"......

Serious question: should the hitting coach have been fired already? I wish someone would tell the players there’s no such thing as a 5 run home run.

The Royals stink but Elly De Le Cruz is amazing.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Elly De La Cruz stole second, third and home in the span of two pitches!<br><br>(MLB x <a href="https://twitter.com/ZipRecruiter?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Ziprecruiter</a>) <a href="https://t.co/tOogXBGcpi">pic.twitter.com/tOogXBGcpi</a></p>&mdash; MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1677811008633536513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A 108 MPH laser for Bobby’s 14th homer of the season!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WelcomeToTheCity?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WelcomeToTheCity</a> <a href="https://t.co/DCWwhmRwMx">pic.twitter.com/DCWwhmRwMx</a></p>&mdash; Kansas City Royals (@Royals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Royals/status/1677819337653071874?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

BWJ coming up in the 9th for his shot at the cycle.

And double is what he needs. Not out of question....

Getting kneecapped by a foul ball has to suck in the worst way.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Royals DFA’d Amir Garrett this morning <a href="https://t.co/XGGpMmF3TU">https://t.co/XGGpMmF3TU</a></p>&mdash; Pete Grathoff (@pgrathoff) <a href="https://twitter.com/pgrathoff/status/1678037745975820291?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I wonder if they trade in mind and this just frees up a roster spot for the moment. Or they just say **** it your gone

Royals' pick at No. 8 in Baseball America's final mock:

8. Royals — Blake Mitchell, C, Sinton (Texas) HS

Slot Value: $5,980,100

Total Bonus Pool: $12,313,500

There are a lot of underslot rumors for the Royals here at No. 8. Whether that’s a function of draft philosophy or simply where they’ve found themselves on the board is a tougher question. Think back to 2021, when Kansas City pulled a surprise and took lefthander Frank Mozzicato at pick No. 7 and signed him to a $3.55 million deal for almost $2 million in savings. Texas catcher Blake Mitchell is the name that could make sense, though Mitchell is more highly regarded than Mozzicato at the time and I’m not sure how much savings that deal would net. He’s more of a split-camp sort of player given some teams’ aversion to prep catchers, but those who like Mitchell think he could be a star. Florida shortstop Adrian Santana could be another player they like, for this pick or a later one, and they are also linked with Noble Meyer, Rhett Lowder, Chase Dollander and the college hitting trio of Brayden Taylor, Jacob Wilson and Kyle Teel. There’s no shortage of options here and this could also be the high-water mark for Matt Shaw.

Update: No real update here, I’m sticking with Blake Mitchell because he’s so heavily associated with the club for this pick. If he doesn’t go here he could potentially slip down into the back of the first. All of the top arms could make sense here, too.

Dart Throw Later Picks: SS Adrian Santana; RHP TJ Nichols

MLB.com's Final Mock

8. Royals
Callis: Brayden Taylor, 3B, Texas Christian (No. 15)
After the two SEC outfielders, Taylor is the Royals' favorite college bat. High school catcher Blake Mitchell gets mentioned here a lot and could go in the 7-10 range, fit in the teens or drop into the 20s. Lowder or Dollander would make some sense too.

Mayo: Blake Mitchell, C, Sinton (Texas) HS (No. 14)
There’s interest in Meyer, but many in the industry felt they wouldn’t go the high school pitching route again this year. They could look at the college hitters available, like Teel, as well as the college arms mentioned above, but Mitchell could be a money-saver up this high, allowing the Royals to be aggressive later on.

MJ Melendez alone would have gotten people fired in many organizations.

It's almost training camp which means a winning streak is coming. Possibly a winning September

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Has Royals taking TCU&#39;s Brayden Taylor, although also thinks they could take Kyle Teel if he&#39;s available. <a href="https://t.co/AvGzrPK3Io">https://t.co/AvGzrPK3Io</a></p>&mdash; Royals Review (@royalsreview) <a href="https://twitter.com/royalsreview/status/1678160979064913920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I’m on my way to the draft. A couple thoughts:<br>- Teel is the third best college bat in the class imo. He just so happens to also play a premium position. Seems like a no brainer to me. He checks every single box for me. No need to overthink it.</p>&mdash; Preston Farr (@royalsminors) <a href="https://twitter.com/royalsminors/status/1678114521662226432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">- Max Clark falling to 8 is the absolute best case scenario today barring something absolutely insane happening. He’s got an argument for being the best prep bat in the class. True 5 tool CF prospect and if he falls to 8, it’s a lock. Everything else goes out the window.</p>&mdash; Preston Farr (@royalsminors) <a href="https://twitter.com/royalsminors/status/1678114525864919040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Is it conceivable that the Royals could have another run like they did from 2013-16 with their homegrown talent on the roster now like they did then in the very near future? I understand trades were a major part of our success then, but we still had that core of guys at the center of it that came up through the minors. Any shot at that, or is that too much to ask at this point in time?

Alot of the late mocks are giving them Blake Mitchell because of the underslot rumors.

The Royals have 2 players that have played over expectations this year... Garcia and Hernandez..that's it everyone else is below.

The Starting pitching is beyond terrible and on top of that a lot of the hitters are failing...

Let's add on that Quartraro probably wasn't the right hire for this type of team..he's far to laid back. Pratto gets ejected... Melendez argues with the ump in a series where the strike zone was routinely awful for Royals hitters and Q just sits there...doesn't go out to back his players, sometimes you need to get ejected to show the guys you got their backs...

I would say absolutely not unfortunately.

Vegas odds have Langford out of Florida to go first over the LSU boys.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">One name that continues to rise is HS SS Colin Houck. A celebrated HS QB, the thought is that once Houck concentrates fully on baseball, he will explode. Hearing his name has high as 8 to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Royals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Royals</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Diamondbacks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Diamondbacks</a> at 12 also have strong interest.</p>&mdash; Harris Frommer (@H_Frommer) <a href="https://twitter.com/H_Frommer/status/1678168530250874884?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Longoria is the comp that keeps coming up for Houck.

So far pray that Jenkins falls.

Welp Jenkins goes so the top 5 goes top 5.

A's take a Dayton Moore pick

I'm glad the A's took that punch-and-judy off the board.

The As have no money so there ya go...that's like Christian Colon pick.