Who are you comfortable replacing Santana with? And with the less playing time for Frenchy RF has not been nearly as big of a black hole as it once was. Santana is much more important than a few more hits from 2B.

If someone offered us a competent 2B who's signed for the next three years (as Duncan I believe suggested) it may be pretty tempting to at least consider the offer (if we're ten games out or more, we should absolutely be all over that deal).

Some pretty good stuff on Yordano Ventura:

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/art...nclick_check=1

Tattooed across Yordano Ventura’s left forearm is a baseball leaving a trail of flames.

Heat has become a primary part of the Kansas City Royals pitching prospect’s game.

Ventura earned his first triple-A victory Sunday afternoon, tossing five strong innings as the Omaha Storm Chasers defeated the Iowa Cubs 3-1 at Principal Park.

“Super impressive,” Iowa manager Marty Pevey said of Ventura.

The 22-year-old prized prospect of the Royals dazzled the 9,214 fans at the park with his explosive fastball that was consistently clocked in the high 90s, even touching 99.

Ventura, ranked the third-best prospect in the Royals system by Baseball America entering this season, signed with the team as a 17-year-old out of the Dominican Republic in 2008.

He began the season in double-A, compiling a 2.34 ERA in 11 starts and striking out 74 hitters in just 57.2 innings.

The success earned him a promotion to Omaha, where he struggled to find consistency in his first two starts. He threw five solid innings in his debut before getting hit hard in his second outing.

Ventura bounced back with another strong start Sunday, surrendering just three hits in five innings while striking out five.

He outdueled Iowa starter Guillermo Moscoso, who was nearly as good. The Cubs pitcher struck out four while giving up three runs on five hits in five innings to fall to 2-5.

The lone blemish on Ventura’s day came when Edwin Maysonet smacked a first-inning solo home run that bounced out of an inflatable glove above the Cub Club in left field.

The Spanish-speaking right-hander was nearly unhittable after that.

“He felt fine,” Ventura said through teammate and interpreter Christian Colon. “He felt like he was hitting his spots when he needed to.”

Ventura was oftentimes his worst enemy. He struggled to find the strike zone with all three of his pitches: a curveball, his changeup and the electric fastball.

He finished the day tossing 81 pitches, 51 for strikes.

“Right now, his command of all his pitches he just needs to continue to work on,” Omaha manager Mike Jirschele said.

There is plenty to be excited about, though.

“If the command comes through, he’s going to be a really good pitcher,” Jirschele said.

Jirschele, who once managed former Royals ace Zack Greinke in the minors, said Ventura is a step ahead of the current Los Angeles Dodger.

“He’s got better stuff than Zach Greinke when he came through,” he said.

Ventura didn’t start the sixth after finishing the fifth near his 90-pitch limit.

“Just getting him experience here at this level,” Jirschele said.

With each successful start, more and more excitement builds around the youngster.

“He knows that there is a lot of hype on him,” Colon translated. “He just wants to perform and work as hard as he can to get where he needs to get.”

So hey, Colon can at least interpret Spanish to English. LMAO

Use the same thing they must have said to Guthrie. Just point out that it is not a coincedence that he pitches very well in The K. But I guess he might not care about that if he is going to get more guaranteed money somewhere else anyways, even if he does perform worst.

On a side note, Guthrie's home and away spilts are essentially polar opposites.

I haven't seen any names suggested. I could have missed it somewhere. The only thing is, the only team who will want a rent a player is a contender. And they won't be giving up a controlled everyday 2B for that since that 2B is needed and would probably be part of their success already.

Honestly, if Santana wants anything more than 3/36 (which, he likely will) and Duffy/Paulino and Ventura continue lighting it up in the minors, I would be more content on focusing that money on an extra bat for the next season. Saving it for an extension offer for Shields would be worth it as well.

I suppose I am just more pessimistic, given that a few years ago we were all jizzing our pants over the projected rotation of Montgomery, Dwyer, Lamb, Duffy, and Odorizzi.

Not to be uncharacteristically optimistic, but isn’t there going to be a big bump in revenue sharing after this year because of the new TV deal? I heard the figures last offseason, wasn’t it something like $15-20 million a season per team?

After reading that, I completely agree with this....

And it's not just the holes at the positions. Not only do we need to find a RF and 2B, we need some power RF and 2B since our other positions are probably set in stone for at least another couple of seasons (maybe).

After the last 28 years, I do not blame you at all.

Bubba Starling was also 5 for 5 last night. He's hitting .243 over the last 10 games, which isn't great, but it's a lot better than where it was.

I was of this mindset before, (until I posed the thoughts to Duncan, that is) but I now believe that if we're at least 5 games back come August, the only way we trade Santana is if we can make a Billy Beane type fleecing (with Moore's trading track record, I doubt this will occur).

2013-2014 are kind of our all or nothing years, right? If so, keeping our dynamic 1-2 punch for the playoffs will be essential.

chiefspants already pointed out the main issue with that...

The only teams that will be interested in trading for Santana will be in the playoff chase. And a team in the running is not likely to have a spare RF/2B just laying around that they can part with. Not a good one that would be an upgrade for KC.

I think the only way Santana gets traded is if KC is out of the running for at least the wildcard. Hopefully we don't get to that point.

I still think Chase Utley makes the most sense as a trade target. I know he's old, and expensive, and injury-prone. But he also could give you 2-3 WAR from the 2B spot if he stays healthy the whole second half.

It's the type of move Walt Jocketty always seemed to make, with great success (Will Clark/Larry Walker/etc), when he was in St. Louis, and I think that could be a nice boost for KC. That one extra stick would transform the lineup a bit.

Gordon
Utley
Perez
Butler
Hosmer
Cain
Moustaksas/Tejada
Escobar

I get it.

Main difference being... Paulino and Duffy have already succeeded at the major league level. They both seem to have recovered completely and have the same live arms they did before. Most TJ guys like that bounce back with almost no problem at all.

When we were excited about those 5 guys, none had pitched above AA. And the best of them (Lamb) suffered an injury and is still trying to make it all the way back (recent signs that's happening, though).

I keep watching the Angels fail to make up ground in the AL West and keep dreaming about Howie Kendrick. Utley would be nice, but damn...Kendrick is a ball player.

If they want Ventura, they can stick it where it counts.

The way Ventura's pitching, I would want more in return. But Kendrick brings power, defense, and is only 29.

I want whoever the Rockies don't want and throw in the trash.

You're kidding, right? They can have our 160 lb "pitching prospect" if it means getting a stick in return. He's more likely Juan Cruz than Pedro Martinez.

Kendrick is hot right now, but when he evens out he generally hits around .285/.330/.410 with around 10 HR's a year (numbers that will likely go down once he arrives at Kauffman.)

From a pure value standpoint, I would want a little more in return for the best prospect we currently have in the minors.

I'd have no problem with it. He's hitting 335 this year with 8 homers. At this point in the season, I'd rather have a player who can help immediately than a prospect who may or may not pan out. We're in win now mode.

I suppose I could come around to the deal. It would be hard, with Kendrick's contract (4/35, I believe) we would need him to continue performing at a high level (.285/.345/.470 would be nice).

What worries me is that his production will suffer from the moment he reaches Kauffman Stadium. 4/35 is a big commitment for the Royals, and that contract could send us back a long way if Kendrick performs as he did last year (.287/.325/.400 with 8 HR's).

I know we've been burned by prospects in the past, but with Santana's inevitable departure, it would be nice to keep our options open for the rotation next year.

Situation 1:

Royals trade Kyle Smith, Orlando Calixte, Will Smith and Jason Adam for 0.5 seasons of Chase Utley

Pros:
Utley is very good when healthy
Utley is a winner who has experienced the highest levels of success
Utley is the best bat/defense combo available
Relatively low prospect price paid

Cons:
Utley is old
Utley is injury prone
Utley walks after this year

Situation 2:

Royals trade Yordano Ventura and Orlando Calixte for 2.5 years of Howie Kendrick at $9 million and change/year.

Pros:
Kendrick is in his prime
Kendrick is controlled for 2 more years after 2013
Kendrick is above-average with both bat and glove at 2B
Kendrick offers some RH pop, which the team sorely misses

Cons:
Salary (contract is a bit high for KC)
Likely a .290/.330/.430 player, and salary restricts budget
Complementary, not leading, player
Higher prospect price paid

In a vacuum, I would rather have Kendrick through 2015, but his contract probably prohibits KC from chasing rotation reinforcements in FA (even mid-level guys would probably be available for that price range) or pursuing a second-tier OF to play RF. And in trading Ventura, you've traded your best internal option for a quick-impact, high-level starter.

The combo of lower cost/more flexibility from Utley is more appealing to me.

Utley now + Ventura and a FA SP (AJ Burnett?) or FA RF (Mike Morse? Jason Kubel?) is a little more appealing to me than just Kendrick by himself.

It helps more now, IMO, and allows them to fill critical holes more capably moving forward.

Why would we need to chase rotation reinforcements in FA?

Kendrick's deal essentially gives us no breathing room when it comes to the rotation. If Kendrick reverts to his career output (.290/.330/.430 with around 10 HRs) and Paulino is injured again and/or Guthrie regresses, the situation for 2014 begins to look pretty dire.

If we aren't obligated to Kendrick, we would at least have the space to sign a bat with more power, make an effort to extend Shields or sign another starter. We also would still possess the luxury to test out Ventura's ability in the rotation, of course.

Well, if you let Santana walk and you trade Ventura, you're looking at:

1) Shields
2) ______
3) Guthrie
4) Davis/Mendoza
5) Duffy/Paulino

We haven't seen how Duffy and Paulino react to being back in the show. In all likelihood, they're just fine. But it's also possible that one or both struggle to re-acclimate to the majors.

Also, neither has pitched at the level of a good No. 2 starter over a full season, something Santana is doing this season and has done multiple times in the past.

If you're trying to win in 2014, I think you have to enter the season with a better option as your No. 2 starter than Jeremy Guthrie/or hoping for Paulino and Duffy to be that.

Awful.

This!

Right now, the Royals will have enough payroll flex to pursue solid, second-level FAs. Probably two of them, if they keep payroll where it is. That could mean adding a bat like Mike Morse or Jason Kubel in the OF and a solid SP to strengthen the rotation spots behind Shields.

Shields and Santana are short-term solutions at SP, and Guthrie probably isn't much better.

So what appears as a glut of starting pitchers now could quickly become a dearth.

So if we trade Ventura because of durability concerns, we'd better get something really nice in return.

I'd deal Ventura for a power bat only

So Im assuming you dont see Lough as much of a long-term option at RF?

On this team you need to get some power from the RF position. 20-30 HR a year type of guy.

Man, I wish we could have acquired Scherzer. He was outstanding at Mizzou and is dealing now.

You guys don't think that if we get into playoff contention or even make the playoffs, that David Glass will open up the purse strings $5-$10 mil more next year? It would be kind of hard justifying not doing it because of the money he'll make off attendance if we're in the playoff race late in the season.

Better than Jeff Fracoeur but really best as a 4th OF type. Really need someone who is at least a 15 HR/40 2B threat out there.

He should, but I'm not going to count on it. Can't let myself do that yet.

We don't really have an excessive sample size but every time this team has appeared close in the last 10 years Glass spent more money and this team was more aggressive picking up guys. Even with Baird.

At least we're not the Braves and Mets. They're still playing. Game started at 11 PM tonight due to rain. They have to play a doubleheader tomorrow. They are basically playing three games in a 24 hour period if the weather holds up.

hey I'm excited about .500 but lets not get too excited

we're still not hitting well and still not hitting for ANY power

I suppose we'd have to give up Ventura, Dyson, Lough, Getz, Francoeur, all of our Wal Mart shares, Crown Vision and at least 2 cases of Billy's "Hit it a Ton" BBQ Sauce to get Stanton.

Actually that might get his bed pan.

Miami doesn't want any of them.

it was a joke

Out of all the things to add to a team it seems like getting a bat is the easiest. I would rather hitting be our problem and not pitching or defense. Plus this team is loooose as hell. You get team that doesn't give a **** you have a chance at guys just going ham.

I think we saw what crappy defense will get you last night. Truth be told, seems like our division rivals routinely shown some defensive weaknesses.

I see two problems with the “get a 2B or RF if we are within 5 games at the break”. First, unless we can scratch out 2-1 wins for another month, we won’t be – seems a bit chicken or egg. Second, Johnson has appeared serviceable at 2B and Lough serviceable at RF – the real sinkhole is at 3B, and the franchise won’t spend anything on that because they still see Moose as a future star.

If we get into a series with the tigers. I would make Fielder. Cabrerra work by bunting.

Howie Kendrick

I dreamt we acquired him last night. Pls, God, can we make this happen?

The Royals desperately need a 2B. Johnson suuuuuuucks. He is awesome against Tampa Bay and atrocious against everybody else. His OBP is only .286, and he has just 5 walks and 32 strikeouts in 107 AB. Those are Yuni Betancourt-type numbers, but with less power and more strikeouts.

Don't joke here, Prison Bitch deals only in cold hard facts. If he doesn't think it is a possibility do not discuss it, even jokingly.

What do you people think this is, a message board or something?

Johnson is actually a pretty valuable 2B... on a team that can afford to carry a no-impact stick at 2B.

If Moustakas were hitting at his pre-All Star 2012 level and Escobar was hitting .270/.325/.400, you could live with Johnson's glove and limited offensive contributions.

They're glaring on a team with a lot of glaring weaknesses in the lineup.

I know this to be true, but I still "feel" like Johnson provides more value than his numbers suggest. He's the gamer/winner/spark plug that managers love and sabermetricians hate. I love him as a utility guy.

Valid point.

It's possible, if KC's bats wake up and the Royals are "in it" through July and August, that Glass authorizes going further next season. Would be pretty cool.

His defense is quantifiable and excellent. Same with his baserunning/speed. He's a fast and efficient baserunner.

I think that's true of a lot of guys that aren't great with the bat but "Feel" more like a sparkplug than you'd expect.

Dear Baby Jesus, as a sacrifice for your giving us Howie Kendrick, we offer you Prison Bitch. He can be utilized or mutilated however you deem fit. TIA,

Everyone

So…Ross Gload syndrome?

I still say go after Andre Ethier and see how much salary the Dodgers are willing to pay of it.

We discussed Kendrick a few pages back in this thread, and here are the things to consider.

Kendrick is hot now, but when he evens out, is typically a .285/.330/.430 hitter with around 10 HR's a year. Another thing to consider is that these numbers could possibly experience a notable decline when he arrives at Kauffman Stadium.

Kendrick's contract (4/35) is another point of concern for a team like the Royals. If we do trade for Kendrick, we are bound to that deal until 2015-2016, and this will likely prevent us from being able to pursue a power bat for the lineup. If he continues his current hot streak (.335/.375/.485) this contract could prove to be more than worth it and he will provide a much needed boost to the lineup. On the flip side, if he regresses to his output from last year (.287/.325/.400) this contract could be absolutely binding for a team like the Royals. Also, with Kauffman's effect on hitters, it's not out of the question to believe we would see this type of regression.

Finally, and perhaps most concerning, is Kendrick's price tag. With his current hot streak, contract, and his team's slump, the Angels are definitely going to want to sell high on their second baseman. This likely means no deal is made without (arguably) our top prospect in the minors, Yordano Ventura. Ventura, now in AAA, has been absolutely dominating at every level of the minors and is drawing absolutely glowing scouting reports (with the last one of ranking his stuff over Greinkes).

I know, a prospect is a prospect, but trading Ventura gives us no breathing room in the rotation for 2014 (We're already losing Santana, but will be in dire straits if Guthrie regresses or if we experience an injury). Also, it's also worth noting that we have very little long term solutions at SP extending past 2014, and if we want any hope of competing past that picture, Ventura may be worth holding onto.

The best case scenario is that we can trade a package of our prospects not named Ventura and Kendrick is able to perform around .285/.340/.460 with around 10-15 HR's until 2015. This would give us a much needed power boost in the immediate future, and keep our options open for the rotation even when Santana departs next year.

The worst case scenario is that we have to deal Ventura, and Kendrick regresses to his normal output, (.285/.330/.430 with around than 10 HRs a year). Not only would this provide a ho-hum boost to our line-up, but it would also give us zero options when it came to our 2014 rotation. If anyone regressed or was injured, our prospects for 2014 and beyond begin to look rather grim.

Because a trade for Kendrick will likely have to include Ventura, I feel that our best option is to attempt to trade for another 2B at the deadline (Utley comes to mind), and pour our energy into signing a power-bat in the offseason. Without Kendrick's contract obligations, we would also have the capability to sign another starter in the 2014 season (if we need to) or we could make an offer to extend Shields as. This flexibility could be absolutely pivotal for a small market team like the Royals.


TL;DR- Kendrick has a hefty price tag and what we would have to give up for his career output could potentially be jeopardizing to our rotation/lineup in 2014 and beyond. High Risk, Mid-High Reward.

LMAO

Read it, saw the other posts, still want him.

ESPN's got a brutal 10-question True/False quiz on the rules of baseball. I'm proud to say I got 7/10.

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/quiz...know-mlb-rules

If they're willing to pick up 50 percent of the rest of that contract, it might be worth exploring. Only issue at that point is that he's SO overpaid, even if KC was only on the hook for 1/2 of the contract, he still might not be worth it.

You'd be paying almost $9 million/year for the age 32-36 seasons of a guy who OPSed less than .800 over the past three years. Could end up being a crippling contract.

and he's injury prone.

I'm wondering if someone can provide a recap of a conversation I heard this morning on the way to work on either 610 or 810 (Sorry, I know that's not much information). It had something to do with Rex Hudler calling Moustakas out for not hustling and/or pouting, and that he should be sent down. Did anyone else hear that? What did Moose do (or fail to do)? What did Hudler say?

Sorry if Q; hadn't seen it discussed and am curious.

3/10. :(

During the game last night Moustakas hit a relatively routine grounder to the first baseman. As soon as he left the batters box he put his head down and just sort of trotted to 1B without running hard or running as if he could potentially somehow get on base. Hudler crushed him on TV.

Wow, I'm impressed that Hud did that (I had deemed any negative analysis from Hud an impossibility). Moose's spirits are completely defeated at this point, Dayton is the only one that doesn't see it.

Wow, if Hudler turns on you, you know you've messed up. Thanks for the explanation.

Yep, even Ned isn't playing him that much anymore. He'll have to go to Omaha eventually.

He did get benched in the most favorable situation a hitter could ever be in last night (bases loaded, no outs). That was hopefully a sign to Moustakas that they were not happy with the effort he put forth in his last AB.

Send Moose down and bring up Irving Falu. Platoon Falu and Tejeda for as long as necessary.

I didn't know you could stand on the base and get hit and you are out.

Can you elaborate on why you want him?

Kendrick is a nice player but not a star, and he probably costs "Star" prices to purchase. There are other targets who offer more offensive upside (Alex Rios, Chase Utley, Mike Morse) at likely lower costs in prospects/trade chips.

If you bring in a stop-gap like Utley or Morse, you can sign a similar replacement in FA for about the same money you'd give Kendrick.

If you are able to land a guy like Rios that you control for a few more years, don't have to worry as much about a FA bat.

I'll put it this way: Rios and Utley are big-enough bats to make a major difference and impact in the KC lineup. Kendrick is a good bat but does not have the same effect.

escabar didn't run out a ball last week that was close. Got to have some red asses even if it is hudler yelling at em.

They have better options than Falu. Anthony Seratelli, Johnny Giavotella.

Falu is really not as good as a lot of KC fans think he is.

but you can say the same thing about Giavotella. Falu actually produced at the major league level (granted with only 1/4 of the ABs), where Giavotella hasn't.

Ethier has negative trade value. That's the worst contract in baseball under $100 million. That would be worse than signing broke dick Reggie Sanders.

You really think 91 PAs is a valid sample size?