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.

[Sully]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Show me the post where I said the Guthrie trade was terrible. I don't recall saying that, or being too upset Jonathan Sanchez was sent packing.....but I'll believe you if you link it.

2013 royals repository
Post # 7178

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by Sully

2013 royals repository
Post # 7178

http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showt...08#post9818908

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Meh, Sanchez sucks but Guthrie is one of the worst WAR pitchers in all of baseball this year via fangraphs. Plus he makes 8M. Not looking so hot right now. (Last year, yes)

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Deflecting what, moron? He's a negative value player this year and one of the worst in baseball - AND he's costing us 8M.


Don't be a fool and ignore the data.

[Prison Bitch]

I didn't think Guthrie should've been extended. not traded for. That's the real issue, hence the reference to the $8m.

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

I didn't think Guthrie should've been extended. not traded for. That's the real issue, hence the reference to the $8m.

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

Isn't that a new contract signed this past offseason? The trade of Sanchez for Guthrie was only for the remainder of last season. Criticize the new contract all you want but the trade had nothing to due with this year.

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Agreed. That's a fair distinction. If we want to separate the two as separate actions, I can buy that. So the trade was 2 good months of Guthrie. The aftermath is potentially, 3 disastrous years of an extension. I'll stipulate.

Just to finish that trade talk.

[Prison Bitch]

Tell Sully to do a better job "understanding big boy words" next time.

[Sully]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

I didn't think Guthrie should've been extended. not traded for. That's the real issue, hence the reference to the $8m.

Yeah. That was clearly your point, considering the entire conversation was about good or bad trades.

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Tell Sully to do a better job "understanding big boy words" next time.

Anytime you need me to help you refine your thoughts, just let me know.

[Sully]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Tell Sully to do a better job "understanding big boy words" next time.

Anyone who reads that line f discussion knows exactly what you were saying, as do you. So pretending you weren't talking about the trade makes you look even funnier (unintentionally).

[RockChalk]

Are we in the 2013 Repository? Must be, since people are still arguing with PB

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showt...08#post9818908

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

I didn't think Guthrie should've been extended. not traded for. That's the real issue, hence the reference to the $8m.

Also...

Jeremy Guthrie didn't make $8 million last year. He made $5 million. He makes $8 million this year (His original contract was set up to run $5 million/$11 million/$9 million, but he deferred $3 million of salary from this year into a buyout of his 2016 option.)

So you were just wrong on that point.

The Royals also ended up getting league-average numbers from Guthrie last year, over 211 2/3 IP. Which is not world beater stuff but DOES have value (even at $8 million, if you get 200 league average out of a guy, you're getting pretty good value).

He's had two very rough starts in July (that have added 3/4 of a run to his ERA), but I bet we look up at the end of the year and see what we saw last year: 200 or more league average innings. WAR figures are going to hate Guthrie, always, because he doesn't strike many batters out, but guys who can get through 200 IP at a decent No. 4 starter level of performance do have value in baseball.

[Prison Bitch]

He's got a 3 year $25m contract, not sure why you're arguing when it's allocated. If he only made $5m last year then he'll kill us at $12m next year. It's ultimately all the same.



The point remains: he's a decent player, but not worth 8.3/per. And certainly not for a small market. We have to be careful with our limited dollars.

[Toadkiller]

Tweet from ‪#‎MLB‬ Insider Jerry Crasnick
‪#‎Mariners‬ casting a wide net in search of a bat. They've even talked to ‪#‎royals‬ about Billy Butler (he of the .355 SLG%)

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

He's got a 3 year $25m contract, not sure why you're arguing when it's allocated.

Because you'd certainly pick at a point like that if someone made that type of oversight when discussing things with you. And you know it.

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

If he only made $5m last year then he'll kill us at $12m next year. It's ultimately all the same.

He doesn't make $12 million next year. He makes $9 million.

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

The point remains: he's a decent player, but not worth 8.3/per. And certainly not for a small market. We have to be careful with our limited dollars.

When the Royals have to spend on the open market for players, if they get them at a fair market value deal (without having to overspend), that's fine. Guthrie signed for pretty fair market value.

When guys like Ricky Nolasco and Scott Feldman are signing $12 million dollar/year deals over the past offseason, there's really no room to complain about Guthrie making $8 or 9 million.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Toadkiller

Tweet from ‪#‎MLB‬ Insider Jerry Crasnick
‪#‎Mariners‬ casting a wide net in search of a bat. They've even talked to ‪#‎royals‬ about Billy Butler (he of the .355 SLG%)

Interesting. If the Royals could trade Billy Butler, that creates an open spot in the lineup (making a 1B/DH/LF type more easily fit into the mix) as well as freeing up some salary for a player. Opens up some more options, which could be a good thing.

You'd be selling extremely, extremely low on Butler, but there are few other options at this point. They aren't picking up his option and certainly wouldn't make him a qualifying offer if they had the chance or choice.

There's a chance he rebounds and has a strong second half, but it's not a very great chance. You'd be going more on blind faith and hope than anything else.

[Unsmooth-Moment]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Interesting. If the Royals could trade Billy Butler, that creates an open spot in the lineup (making a 1B/DH/LF type more easily fit into the mix) as well as freeing up some salary for a player. Opens up some more options, which could be a good thing.

You'd be selling extremely, extremely low on Butler, but there are few other options at this point. They aren't picking up his option and certainly wouldn't make him a qualifying offer if they had the chance or choice.

There's a chance he rebounds and has a strong second half, but it's not a very great chance. You'd be going more on blind faith and hope than anything else.

What could we get for him? Butler hasn't done much this year, but it would sort of be throwing in the towel on the year unless we went after another bat.