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 Jive Ass

Substitute Crow for Herrera, but instead of Ventura or Duffy why not tempt them Wade Davis and they can convert him to a starter. He is cost-controlled the next few years which should help them out in their decision.

I wouldn't mind parting with Dyson, Aoki, Collins, Guthrie or Hayes, either. The Marlins can take their pick.

Wade Davis makes something like $15 milllion over the next two years. Doubt the Marlins want any part of that, especially considering his huge failure as a starter last year despite the advantages of the Royals D and home park.

His best value is going to come in trying to sell him to a team that needs a closer.

They wouldn't want any of Dyson, Aoki, Collins, Guthrie or Hayes. Those players have practically no value to the Marlins and very little value to other teams in general.

A team in desperate need of innings might be interested in picking up Guthrie as its No. 4 or 5 starter, but that's about it.

Dyson is a pretty ordinary 4th OF, despite the beliefs of Ned Yost and Dayton Moore. Aoki has a 1/2 year left and has been disappointing so far. Collins is a middle inning reliever who is struggling mightily (and also is undersized, expensive). Hayes is effing awful.

You have to trade value (talent, years of control) to get value. Moving spare parts around doesn't get you anything.

The Marlins don't need Kelvin Herrera. That doesn't add much value, either.

Again, trade talks with them would have to START with:

RA Mondesi
One of Duffy/Ventura (or maybe Zimmer if you're really lucky)
One of Almonte/Binford

And additional pieces (this is where you maybe throw in a Kelvin Herrera and a Jorge Bonifacio).

[BWillie]

I dunno guys, I say we just go get Giancarlo Stanton, Trout, & Bryce Harper. Throw in Bubba to get Kershaw too.

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by BWillie

I dunno guys, I say we just go get Giancarlo Stanton, Trout, & Bryce Harper. Throw in Bubba to get Kershaw too.

The Dodgers will probably want Butler included as well.

[teedubya]

Originally Posted by BWillie

I dunno guys, I say we just go get Giancarlo Stanton, Trout, & Bryce Harper. Throw in Bubba to get Kershaw too.

I'm in. I will begin the printing tickets for the 'ship.

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by BWillie

I dunno guys, I say we just go get Giancarlo Stanton, Trout, & Bryce Harper. Throw in Bubba to get Kershaw too.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by Jive Ass

Substitute Crow for Herrera, but instead of Ventura or Duffy why not tempt them Wade Davis and they can convert him to a starter. He is cost-controlled the next few years which should help them out in their decision.

I wouldn't mind parting with Dyson, Aoki, Collins, Guthrie or Hayes, either. The Marlins can take their pick.

Please stop spamming the board with stupid trade proposals. This is a place for knowledgable fans to post and you're cluttering it.

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Please stop spamming the board with stupid trade proposals. This is a place for knowledgable fans to post and you're cluttering it.

We should platooon Salvy guiuse!!!11!1!1!

[C3HIEF3S]

All Royals fans need to know about Giancarlo Stanton is that he will never be a Royal.
It's a worthless discussion.

[Three7s]

Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S

All Royals fans need to know about Giancarlo Stanton is that he will never be a Royal.
It's a worthless discussion.

Hey, he might......15 years from now.

[Deberg_1990]

Hosmer and Moose were supposed to be our Giancarlo Stanton.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Please stop spamming the board with stupid trade proposals. This is a place for knowledgable fans to post and you're cluttering it.

You know what else clutters this thread? Your ****ing sig.

[Jive Ass]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Please stop spamming the board with stupid trade proposals. This is a place for knowledgable fans to post and you're cluttering it.

Look, throw in Raúl Ibañez or Danny Valencia if we have to. We need to do whatever it takes to get Stanton...

It could lead us to our second World Series Championship in two years.

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

His max HR's in a yr was 21 - which he did once. He hasn't hit 20 HR's since 2009. Since when is that considered BIG POWER? Only for the R's I guess.....JFC

No shit! It seems like the Royals have adopted the tried and true Walmart practice of always scouring the bargain bin when it comes to player acquisition in-season / come the trade deadline. It's always rummaging through the scrap heap of past their prime, trading off their name and actual production in previous years, but obviously not that "player" any longer.

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by DeepSouth

If they don't bring in another bat, they should get rid of Ibanez. He's pretty much a guaranteed out every time he bats. I'd platoon Dyson and Aoki (Dyson batting over .300 against RHP, Aoki batting over .350 against LHP). I'd bring back Colon. He showed some spunk. It might be my imagination but I think Colon's presence and great rookie game seemed to light a fire under Infinte. Colon also gives the Royals a legitimate backup at SS and 2nd.

My main determinant of the plausibility of the Royals making a playoff spot this year, at least for me, personally, lies squarely on what they do or don't do up to the trade deadline. Specifically, the ability to add a legitimate bat or 2 to the lineup. Ideally, I would 1st look for a guy who is a consistent hitter by average or in combination with drawing walks to have a high on base percentage. Might even be able to offer some guidance and instruction to our other guys on better working the count and drawing walks??

Secondly, if they got more than 1 bat, as unlikely as that is realistically, I'd look for a good masher, power guy who I could live with a lower BA, if it meant a true instant offense, and not another warning track power bat.
Anything to truly provide incentive and competition for guys like Billy or Moose to either produce or spend their time on the pine or DFA would be a huge difference in creating greater incentive / motivation- even though these guys are professionals and, really, there shouldn't be any reason to need to dangle a bigger carrot to get them to do their jobs already!

I'm not sold on the organization actually being bold and aggressive in acquiring 1 or more guys to improve before the deadline, but I'm hoping I'm pleasantly dead wrong!

[BWillie]

I was watching Moneyball last night, a movie that discussed the run the Athletics had like two ****ing decades ago. Not only did they play the Royals, & beat the Royals to have the longest winning streak in baseball history, but Raul Ibanez was playing on it. He's that old. And thank the good lord we are lucky enough to have him batting .149