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 chiefsfan4life1978

Given Guthrie's age, I think a decline is very likely. I'd be surprised, albeit pleasantly, if he gives us 200 innings again. You're probably right on the ERA and WHIP though.

He'll be 35 at the start of the season, but he also has shown no signs of age/wear and tear. He's maintained an average fastball velocity right at 92.5 for several years (his AVG last year was the same as it was in 2010, for example).

He takes good care of himself, has good mechanics, and has never really been a flamethrower. I don't think we'll see his mid-30s destroy him like it does some pitchers.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

And the dude is just an awesome guy.

[chiefsfan4life1978]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

He'll be 35 at the start of the season, but he also has shown no signs of age/wear and tear. He's maintained an average fastball velocity right at 92.5 for several years (his AVG last year was the same as it was in 2010, for example).

He takes good care of himself, has good mechanics, and has never really been a flamethrower. I don't think we'll see his mid-30s destroy him like it does some pitchers.

Sounds good to me. I hope you're right!

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Problem with extending Shields is that anything KC can really afford to offer (which basically means a 3-year deal around $18-20 MM) is something he can likely surpass quite easily on the open market.

I think he's going to age well... he's got the frame to hold up to the innings load he has handled, his arsenal is one that should age well (fastball-changeup usually does), and he's a smart pitcher. But there's also a chance he turns into a Jeremy Guthrie sort before a 5 or 6 year deal is over.

Can't afford to take that risk if you're KC.

Pretty much. If we could even get a little crazy and go 3 for 66-75, I'd be great with it. But the Royals simply cannot risk having potentially $40M+ in dead money because of age.

Naturally, the risk of injury is always there for everyone.

[Demonpenz]

Everytime the royals lose. Kirpatrick punches you in the stomach.

[O.city]

Coming from a Cardinals fan who's become a pseudo Royals fan from living in KC.

In regards to Shields, like the Cards have done with their young pitching and the influx the Royals have coming on, I'm not sure you go overboard any bit to sign Shields.

I would think the way to go is let him play it out, may the offer Deez just suggested and if he doesn't take it, probably let him walk, using this year to develop guys in the pipeline.

[WhawhaWhat]

FSKC will air a Christmas Eve marathon of 4 Royals games, condensed to 2 hours each, beginning at 2pm next Tuesday.

— Joel Goldberg (@goldbergkc) December 19, 2013

2pm May 30 Royals come back in the 9th in a game that ends at 3:14am on day George Brett is named interim hitting coach.

— Joel Goldberg (@goldbergkc) December 19, 2013

4pm June 26 Braves at Royals, Alex Gordon homers to start the game and wins it with an RBI single in the 10th.

— Joel Goldberg (@goldbergkc) December 19, 2013

6pm July 24 Orioles at Royals Eric Hosmer’s home run ties it in the 8th, Alcides Escobar wins it in the 9th.

— Joel Goldberg (@goldbergkc) December 19, 2013

8pm home finale Sept 22 Rangers at Royals Justin Maxwell clubs a memorable walk-off grand slam. Enjoy everyone!!!

— Joel Goldberg (@goldbergkc) December 19, 2013

[JohnnyV13]

If we dealt Hoch, Davis, and Bonifacio we'd have $13.8 million to pay Santana. If the draft pick does kill his market a la Lohse, that would be doable.

[KCUnited]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

FSKC will air a Christmas Eve marathon of 4 Royals games, condensed to 2 hours each, beginning at 2pm next Tuesday.

— Joel Goldberg (@goldbergkc)

**** it, I'll watch.

[TLO]

In!

[Nightfyre]

Dealing Hoch and Davis for prospects and using the proceeds to sign Santana for another one year deal? I am good with it. That would make our rotation look a lot better. Shields/Santana/Vargas/Guthrie/Duffy and if Ventura is just lighting the world on fire in AAA we can deal Santana at the break.

[Canofbier]

Great start to the thread. Like most of you, I'm a fan of most of what the team has done so far this offseason. Can't wait to see how the team comes together come the beginning of the season!

[sedated]

Originally Posted by JohnnyV13

If we dealt Hoch, Davis, and Bonifacio we'd have $13.8 million to pay Santana. If the draft pick does kill his market a la Lohse, that would be doable.

Not a chance in hell.

The last thing Santana is going to do is sign a 1-year deal. He will take the longest contract he can get. They all do.

[Al Bundy]

I can't wait for the 2014 season.

[gblowfish]

I'm glad they could find four games that are worth watching again! Heh...progress, right? I've got a fever, and the only prescription, is eight hours of Royals Baseball! I'm sure Hud will be stoked!