2014 Royals Repository

[duncan_idaho]

With my 6,000th post on ChiefsPlanet (it only took me 12 years to get here), I bring you: The 2014 Kansas City Royals Repository.

To be discussed here: All things Royals, as they attempt to post another winning season and make it back to the playoffs for the first time since 1985.

25-man RosterAvailable HERE

AL Central Standings:

Link

Duncan's Top 20 Royals Prospects

Spoiler!

1) 3B Hunter Dozier ETA: 2015
Dozier started slowly at A+ Wilmington but caught fire in May and June, earning a mid-season promotion to AA Northwest Arkansas. Big, strong kid with good plate discipline skills and solid power who projects to be an above-average glove at 3B with solid power.

2) SS Raul (Adalberto) Mondesi ETA: 2017
Mondesis is the opposite of Dozier…. Started red-hot at Wilmington before back spasms derailed him for a few weeks and hasn’t gotten it going since coming back. Scouting reports have been great – defense and speed both improved over the offseason. Still a chance to be an elite SS, with 40 SB speed, plus glove, .300 average and some pop.

3) LHP Sean Manaea | ETA: 2015
Scouting reports outperform the stat line so far. Missing a ton of bats at A+ but not preventing runs like you’d expect to see. Needs to work deeper into games (gradually working about an inning deeper/month so far this year) and improve control. Walks are biggest concern right now, but could be elevated due to work on extra off-speed offerings. Still has No. 2 starter potential, could be higher if the great control he exhibited before his hip surgery eventually comes back.

4) RHP Kyle Zimmer| ETA: 2015
Should be NO. 1 on the list and is probably the Royals most VALUABLE current prospect, but he hasn’t thrown a ball in 4-5 weeks and had only been throwing for 2-3 weeks when he was shut down then.

5) LHP Brandon Finnegan| ETA: 2015
Top 2014 draft choice is an undersized lefty who will start at A+ Wilmington after anchoring CWS run for TCU. Good fastball, better slider, change that needs work to stick as a starter, but if he sticks, No. 2/No. 3 starter upside. Likely a top 10 or even top 5 pick if he doesn’t miss 1 start in the middle of the college season as a precautionary move.

6) RHP Miguel Almonte| ETA: 2016
Have heard some say Almonte is more advanced as a pitcher at A+ than Yordano Ventura was (comparison because both were cheap signs out of Latin America). Really advanced changeup and a curve that is working out well (where the ‘more advanced’ comment comes from). Fastball velo is good but not great – 92-94. Like Manaea, working on his second-best offspeed pitch and leaning less on his bread-and butter (changeup), which has hurt his numbers a bit.

7) RHP Christian Binford 2017
Reverse case of “don’t just scout stat lines.” Based on his stats at A+, you’d think he was an elite prospect, but there are questions about Binford’s stuff playing up at higher levels. Tall righty with great command of fastball, slider and a good and still developing changeup. None of those pitches profiles as better than average, though, limiting his likely upside to back-end rotation guy.

8) SS Orlando Calixte| ETA: 2016
I still like him more than many. Good combination of SS/MI skills and power. Started hot at NWA but in a slump at moment.

9)LHP Foster Griffin | ETA: 2019
Tall, projectable lefty taken in 2014 draft. Viewed as a great value in the sandwich round and probably would have been KC’s pick at No. 17 if Finnegan hadn’t fallen. High school arm who is going to take a while to develop.

10) RF Jorge Bonifacio| ETA: 2016
Hasn’t hit as well as expected in his second go-round at AA NWA. Power still sapped, and average skills have dipped. Once looked like he might be an option in RF at some point in 2015, now looks like 2016 is optimistic. Still young for his level.

11) 3B/2B Cheslor Cuthbert| ETA: 2016
Cuthbert has had better luck at NWA than Boni and is also extremely young for level. HE’s been moved to 2B since Dozier was promoted, which could put a new spin on Cuthbert’s prospects. If he sticks at 2B, bat plays up much better. Good OBP/plate discipline and solid power, but needs to continue improving contact skills

12) C Chase Vallot| ETA: 2020
Young (just 17) C with tremendous power. One of the top prep bats and a great value for KC where it got him. If he sticks at C, expect him to move slowly, but the bat may force the issue (or force him to another position).

13) C Zane Evans| ETA: 2017
GA Tech product has handled Wilmington better than most RH bats and probably is in line for a promotion to NWA sometime soon. Decent pop, decent skills behind the plate. Could be a nice reserve catcher.

14) RHP Scott Blewett| ETA: 2020
Tall, projectable righty with a fresh arm but some injury concerns on his shoulder that slipped him out of Round 1 of MLB draft. Big time potential.

15) CF Bubba Starling | ETA:
Bubba Starling has great tools. Bubba Starling (still) can’t hit. That’s all I have to say about that.

16) 1B Samir Duenez| ETA:
I still like him, even though the attempt to run him through full season ball at 17 did not go well.

17)LF/RF Elier Hernandez| ETA:
Hernandez still pops up in scouting reports but still is very raw and toolsy.

18) RHP Pedro Fernandez| ETA:
Pop-up player on the same track as Ventura and Almonte. Similar signing, similar profile. One to watch over next few years.

19) SS Marten Gasparini| ETA:
Royals’ most expensive international signing likely moves to CF eventually, but his speed and athleticism are intriguing abilities. Early reports from complex ball are very positive on him.

20) RHP Niklas Stephenson| ETA:
Interesting pop-up candidate who found 10 more MPH on his fastball by using a weighted ball during workouts over the winter. Now sits mid-90s with fastball and is dominating at rookie ball (after having an ERA over 8 there a year ago). Likely promoted to a higher challenge soon.

[RockChalk]

Besides the fact it would be great to have him in the rotation, I want Ervin to re-sign purely to see Rany's head do this...

[Infidel Goat]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

It would be a travesty if they allow Hoch and Davis' salaries to prevent them from making a serious run at Ervin. Getting into the playoffs with this present rotation is reliant on either a weak division or Yordano having a Lincecum like rookie season.

If the Royals want a serious shot at going deep into the playoffs, than landing Ervin or another starter is a priority, in my opinion.

I agree. If Santana is willing to sign for the 3/$40M range, I would hope that they are looking to move either Hoch or Davis for prospects and a little more monetary flexibility.

I've long advocated working on an extension for Shields, but if he wants a Greinke contract it's not going to happen in KC. Theoretically, signing Santana would give us less flexibility in future years, but if all of our pitching prospects pan out then it still strikes me as a contract that can be moved barring serious injury/terrible performance.

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by Infidel Goat

I agree. If Santana is willing to sign for the 3/$40M range, I would hope that they are looking to move either Hoch or Davis for prospects and a little more monetary flexibility.

I can't imagine why any team would ever trade a prospect for Hochevar or Davis.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

I can't imagine why any team would ever trade a prospect for Hochevar or Davis.

I know we're conditioned to hate Hoch (including me a year ago), but he has value as a relief pitcher. We wouldn't get much, but we'd get something even with his 2014 salary.

[CaliforniaChief]

I bet the Dodgers would give us something for Hochevar.

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

I bet the Dodgers would give us something for Hochevar.

Dodger dogs?!? I would be in for that.

[RockChalk]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

I bet the Dodgers would give us something for Hochevar.

Sarcasm?

[tk13]

Looks like we have our replacement for Bob Dutton.

This passes for news: This will be my last week at The Star-Ledger. Excited to cover the Royals for The Kansas City Star.

— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughSL) January 29, 2014

[alnorth]

Andy McCullough is the new Royals beat writer for the KC Star. He comes from New Jersey, where he covered the Yankees for the Star-Ledger.

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Andy McCullough is the new Royals beat writer for the KC Star. He comes from New Jersey, where he covered the Yankees for the Star-Ledger.

Pfft, what a front-running, band wagon, fairweather writer.

[alnorth]

Royals got Carlos Peguero from Seattle for either a PTBNL or cash

edit: looks like this guy is insurance, helping our outfield depth if someone gets hurt. He destroyed AAA in 2011 and 2012 but struggled in the majors. Last year he didn't do as much in AAA, so he might be a AAAA player.

Overall, thats fine for a PTBNL.

edit2: Everett Teaford was designated for assignment to make room for him.

[dallaschiefsfan]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

What a load of crap...that would be worst case scenario for the Royals getting a lower pick if they lose Santana

The pick that another team surrenders for signing Santana has nothing to do with the pick the Royals receive. We will get a sandwich pick between round 1 and 2, regardless of whether the other team is surrendering a 1, 2, 3 or 4.

Add that to our regular #1 pick and our competitive balance pick that we received and we have three late first round-ish picks this year...assuming we don't sign Santana.

[tyton75]

I never even thought Santana was a real option for us to be able to get, but if we are close in the bidding I would be SO happy. Considering Shields will be gone after this season, it'd be nice to have Santana in the rotation with Vargas and Guthrie in the event the younglings aren't up to par... (like most of our homegrown pitching over the years)

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

Pfft, what a front-running, band wagon, fairweather writer.

[CaliforniaChief]

Craig Brown ‏@royalsauthority 8m
So the #Royals DFAd Everett Teaford, who is currently on the Royals Caravan tour at Nellie’s Restaurant in Cameron, MO.

Rany Jazayerli ‏@jazayerli 4m
Awkward.