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.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by Zeke

It's not about getting rid of him... it's about the ultimatum... meaning Dayton would make selfish moves that could hurt the franchise long term to gain 2-3 more wins and save his job.

yep, you gotta pay attention to moral hazard. Its not as big a deal in the NFL since in-season trades are rare. Ideally, if I were the owner, I'd put my GM on a rolling 2-year contract that automatically renews every year about a month after the season. The GM might still think that this is the make or break year, but he'll never be in the last year of his contract and might not know for sure that he has to make long-term dumb moves to win now.

You'd guarantee that you would have to eat a year if you ever did decide to fire the GM, but its probably worth it.

[DJJasonp]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

I would hate it if for all for Wil Myers is that we got 2 seasons above .500 and no playoff birth and a draft choice. Woof

Sad thing is....I'll own up to it...I'm actually ok with that (if that scenario plays out).

After decades of being one of the worst 3-5 teams in baseball......it's a whole other world actually having a competitive team that is in the hunt post-all-star break!

I know it's ridiculous to think that way....but losing 100 games nearly every season is ridiculous also.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

That was weird... posted in wrong thread...

But on teh topic of Myers vs. Shields... I'mw ith DJJasonp... I needed this past year. I'll take another summer of fun in the sun.

[lewdog]

http://www.theonion.com/articles/roy...ting-ka,34966/

Royals Courting Masahiro Tanaka By Highlighting Kansas City’s Rich Japanese History

KANSAS CITY—In a meeting that included an elaborate tea ceremony, the Kansas City Royals made their bid to sign prized right-hander Masahiro Tanaka by highlighting their city’s vibrant Japanese history, sources confirmed Thursday. “From several world-class Tang Dynasty art museums to the countless Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines in the metropolitan area, Kansas City reverently honors the ancient traditions of the Japanese people,” said general manager Dayton Moore, who invited Tanaka to join him in the onsen, a Japanese hot spring, behind the centerfield wall. “With numerous cherry blossom festivals and Gagaku concerts, you’ll feel right at home. In fact, many regard K.C. as Little Tokyo.” Following the meeting, witnesses confirmed that the 25-year-old was treated to a Royals-themed kabuki performance starring the team’s current pitching staff.

[Simplicity]

Originally Posted by lewdog

http://www.theonion.com/articles/roy...ting-ka,34966/

Royals Courting Masahiro Tanaka By Highlighting Kansas City’s Rich Japanese History

TOUCHDOWN ROYALS.

[Brianfo]

Originally Posted by DJJasonp

Sad thing is....I'll own up to it...I'm actually ok with that (if that scenario plays out).

After decades of being one of the worst 3-5 teams in baseball......it's a whole other world actually having a competitive team that is in the hunt post-all-star break!

I know it's ridiculous to think that way....but losing 100 games nearly every season is ridiculous also.

Great fn post. I'm with you dude. I make the trade again and twice on Sunday. Let the chips fall where they may. Rany can choke on a fatty. How damn fun was it to be watching box scores in August?

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by Brianfo

Great fn post. I'm with you dude. I make the trade again and twice on Sunday. Let the chips fall where they may. Rany can choke on a fatty. How damn fun was it to be watching box scores in August?

It was alot of fun...but I want more success.

[Brianfo]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

It was alot of fun...but I want more success.

Me too. Small market team swimming up stream. Meh!

[Dartgod]

Originally Posted by lewdog

http://www.theonion.com/articles/roy...ting-ka,34966/

Royals Courting Masahiro Tanaka By Highlighting Kansas City’s Rich Japanese History

Sonofabitch! I saw the headline and wondered why I never knew that KC had a "Rich Japanese History". Then I'm reading the article and thinking WTF is this shit? Finally I looked at the source and saw that it was The Onion.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by Dartgod

Sonofabitch! I saw the headline and wondered why I never knew that KC had a "Rich Japanese History". Then I'm reading the article and thinking WTF is this shit? Finally I looked at the source and saw that it was The Onion.

You weren't the only one... although I won't openly admit to it.

[Sully]

Didn't Brad Penny go out with Alyssa Milano?

[Deberg_1990]

We will never be Rooooyals......Roooyals.....

[BlackHelicopters]

Originally Posted by Sully

Didn't Brad Penny go out with Alyssa Milano?

Nice. Pics?

[C3HIEF3S]

Hosmer signs for $3.6 Mil, avoiding arbitration.
Hochevar signed as well $5.21 Mil, 1 year.

[noa]

Holy shit did we really give Hoch $5 mil?
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