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.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Wilson8

I was hoping to get that draft pick from Baltimore for Santana.

We don't get the pick of the team that signs the player.

They sacrifice their first-round pick (Unless it is protected). Everyone else slides up a spot. The team that lost the player gets a comp pick at the end of the first round of the draft.

So Baltimore signing a guy with a QO is great for KC... as it moves them up from No. 18 to No. 17 in the draft order.

Now, just need someone to sign Santana... and get a pick in that comp round.

If Santana ends up signing 4/48 or 4/50, I understand the reticence from the KC front office. It's if he lands somewhere on a 3 - or especially 2 - year deal, that's when it really stings.

[BlackHelicopters]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

We don't get the pick of the team that signs the player.

They sacrifice their first-round pick (Unless it is protected). Everyone else slides up a spot. The team that lost the player gets a comp pick at the end of the first round of the draft.

So Baltimore signing a guy with a QO is great for KC... as it moves them up from No. 18 to No. 17 in the draft order.

Now, just need someone to sign Santana... and get a pick in that comp round.

If Santana ends up signing 4/48 or 4/50, I understand the reticence from the KC front office. It's if he lands somewhere on a 3 - or especially 2 - year deal, that's when it really stings.

Preparing for the sting.

[WhawhaWhat]

Ubaldo Jimenez to the O's on a 4-year deal. One less option for Erv.

[Brianfo]

Originally Posted by Brainiac

JFC, enough already with your obsession with Mike Sweeney. The way you constantly go on and on about him, I'm starting to think he must have ass raped your wife.

No, he just ass raped the Royals.

[KChiefs1]

Riyals are projected to have the best defense in MLB in 2014.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/...&vkey=news_mlb

1. ROYALS
The turnaround of the Royals' pitching staff in general, and Ervin Santana in particular, was a great story last season, but it wouldn't have been possible without the backing of one of the best defenses in the game.

The Royals led the Majors in defensive runs saved, and the reason why is pretty simple, really: They don't have a defensive weakness at any position. That's why they're No. 1 here. Shortstop Alcides Escobar and catcher Salvador Perez are among the best at their premier positions, and Alex Gordon is unmatched in left field. Omar Infante was a nice pickup for second base. The Royals just need this group to hit as well as it fields and they'll be ready to take that next step into October.

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

Ubaldo Jimenez to the O's on a 4-year deal. One less option for Erv.

4/$48 million

Santana more or less?

[Simplicity]

I'm sorry if Q but ESPN has a headline thing on the MLB tab of their website... it's title...
"Royals: Playoffs?"

Basically the read is talking about how we upgraded our offense this season which is a key point for our success this season. 31% odds of making it to playoffs with 23% playing in a divisional series.

[Wilson8]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

We don't get the pick of the team that signs the player.

They sacrifice their first-round pick (Unless it is protected). Everyone else slides up a spot. The team that lost the player gets a comp pick at the end of the first round of the draft.

Thanks for the clarification.

How does this work for a team like the Yankees that signs multiple "Qualifying Offer" free agents? They signed Brian McCann (12/02/2013), Jacoby Ellsbury (12/03/2013), and Carlos Beltran (12/19/2013).

They lost Robinson Cano (12/09/2013) to Seattle and Curtis Granderson (12/09/2013) to the Mets.

I assume NYY lost their 1st round pick when they signed McCann. Atlanta would then get a comp pick after the 1st round. NYY sign Ellsbury and give up a 2nd round pick? Does Boston get a comp pick after the 1st round? Seattle* signs Robinson Cano, so now instead of NYY giving up a 2nd round pick they give up their Cano comp pick, which is higher. Mets* then sign Curtis Granderson, so Yankees get a comp pick. Then Yankees sign Carlos Beltran so they give up their comp pick.

So as long as the Yankees sign no more QOFAs they are down their 1st round draft pick.

If the Yankees sign Ervin Santana, do the Royals get an after 1st round comp pick and the Yankees give up a 2nd round pick?

Also didn't these new rules just start in 2013?

* Since Mets and Seattle were in the bottom 10, they only give up 2nd round pick.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Wilson8

Thanks for the clarification.

How does this work for a team like the Yankees that signs multiple "Qualifying Offer" free agents? They signed Brian McCann (12/02/2013), Jacoby Ellsbury (12/03/2013), and Carlos Beltran (12/19/2013).

They lost Robinson Cano (12/09/2013) to Seattle and Curtis Granderson (12/09/2013) to the Mets.

I assume NYY lost their 1st round pick when they signed McCann. Atlanta would then get a comp pick after the 1st round. NYY sign Ellsbury and give up a 2nd round pick? Does Boston get a comp pick after the 1st round? Seattle* signs Robinson Cano, so now instead of NYY giving up a 2nd round pick they give up their Cano comp pick, which is higher. Mets* then sign Curtis Granderson, so Yankees get a comp pick. Then Yankees sign Carlos Beltran so they give up their comp pick.

So as long as the Yankees sign no more QOFAs they are down their 1st round draft pick.

If the Yankees sign Ervin Santana, do the Royals get an after 1st round comp pick and the Yankees give up a 2nd round pick?

Also didn't these new rules just start in 2013?

* Since Mets and Seattle were in the bottom 10, they only give up 2nd round pick.

The Yankees gained comp picks for Cano and Granderson and lost picks for signing Ellsbury, McCann and Beltran.

So they lose their first and both of the comp picks they got for their own FA. If they sign another FA, they will lose their second round pick.

[mr. tegu]

Opening weekend is going to be awesome. The Royals start their march to the playoffs, Game of Thrones starts back up, and it is Final Four weekend. Awesome.

[KChiefs1]

When do single game tickets go on sale?

[Coach]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

When do single game tickets go on sale?

March, I believe, but I'm not 100% sure on that.

Edited: Checked Royals.com, and it says "Single Game Tickets will be on sale Saturday, March 1 at 10:00 a.m. (CT)."

http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/tic...me.jsp?c_id=kc

[mr. tegu]

March 1st.

[Wilson8]

Maybe a clue in why Florida Marlins claimed and then released Jimmy Paredes. After they claimed him, he played winter ball in the Dominican League and batted .176 in 20 games and 68 at bats.

Baltimore only kept him for 2 days. Not sure why they bothered.

Maybe give him a chance in Omaha and see if he can do anything.

[KChiefs1]

Thanks!