*****Official 2025 Royals Season Repository Thread*****

[ChiefsCountry]

Coming off an American League Divisional Series appearance, its year 3 of Matt Quatraro tenure. Can they take the next step to a division title? Can Bobby Witt, Jr. take his superstar status to another level? Can Cole Ragans develop more? Will the other starting pitching duplicate last season? The offense can it deliver more? Who will be in the outfield? How about the new stadium development?

Free Agents/Trades Acquisitions
Jonathan India, 2B
Joey Wiemer, OF

[tk13]

Was listening to Petro and Rany's podcast tonight, and while they can be pessimistic sometimes, they did make a good point and concede there might not have been a great answer to these offensive problems.

The Royals wanted Santander and he's barely hitting over .200 and is on pace for 15 HR. Bellinger had a .500 OPS coming into today hitting between Judge and Goldschmidt. Joc Pederson is 3-55 and hitting worse than Melendez. Maybe some of them will turn it around but if they don't you have an extra $20-30 million hole in your lineup.

[dlphg9]

I think Peyton Wilson is due for a promotion. The kids in his 3rd season at AA and seems to have figured it out there.

.444 BA and 1.360 OPS in 14 games.

[dlphg9]

Originally Posted by tk13

Was listening to Petro and Rany's podcast tonight, and as negative as they can be, they did make a good point and concede there might not have been a great answer to these offensive problems.

They really wanted Santander and he's barely hitting over .200 and is on pace for 15 HR. Bellinger had a .500 OPS coming into today hitting between Judge and Goldschmidt. Joc Pederson is 3-55 and hitting worse than Melendez. Maybe some of them will turn it around but if they don't you have an extra $20-30 million hole in your lineup.

There wasn't a realistic upgrade out there really. They did finally get a guy for the lead off spot so that Bobby should have someone on when he's up, but India's been in a slump.

Hell it seems like everyone is trying to have career worst years besides Bobby and Maikel. If Salvy, Vinnie, Massey, and India all didn't look like absolute ass, then with Maikel's emergence and India playing like he had previously this offense wouldn't be the worst in the league and would be more than good enough.

JJ couldn't have expected the offense would be this bad.

[tk13]

Originally Posted by dlphg9

There wasn't a realistic upgrade out there really. They did finally get a guy for the lead off spot so that Bobby should have someone on when he's up, but India's been in a slump.

Hell it seems like everyone is trying to have career worst years besides Bobby and Maikel. If Salvy, Vinnie, Massey, and India all didn't look like absolute ass, then with Maikel's emergence and India playing like he had previously this offense wouldn't be the worst in the league and would be more than good enough.

JJ couldn't have expected the offense would be this bad.

Even Renfroe, he's always been a slow starter and including his best years his April numbers have been terrible, but he's been exceptionally bad this year.

[ChiefsCountry]

Tyler O'Neil, who I have been banging the table for the last couple of seasons, would have been a semi upgrade. But he is also injury prone.

On the rumored trade possibilities from the offseason, Alec Bohm has been complete ass as well. Angels wouldn't budge on Taylor Ward, whose bat has been okay but is ass on defense.

I'm surprised they didn't kick the tires more on Harrison Bader. His defense would play at Kauffman. But pretty weak bat traditionally.

[duncan_idaho]

Yeah, it was a tough market.

Luis Rengifo is someone they were also heavily connected to, and he has struggled early as well.

If they can get Marsh healthy, that's probably where I would go as far as a trade. Would hurt their SP depth, which sucks, but if they could flip Marsh for a decent bat that can play a corner, it probably is worth it - especially if that bat comes with some control.

Marsh would seem like an overpay for Rengifo, but Rengifo might also make some sense.

[farmerchief]

Originally Posted by dlphg9

There wasn't a realistic upgrade out there really. They did finally get a guy for the lead off spot so that Bobby should have someone on when he's up, but India's been in a slump.

Hell it seems like everyone is trying to have career worst years besides Bobby and Maikel. If Salvy, Vinnie, Massey, and India all didn't look like absolute ass, then with Maikel's emergence and India playing like he had previously this offense wouldn't be the worst in the league and would be more than good enough.

JJ couldn't have expected the offense would be this bad.

Seems like we have no "contact" hitters, players willing and capable of just putting the ball in play. Looks like a majority of the lineup is swinging for the fences, and we only have a few, that rightly have those kind of expectations? Last year, if I remember was the same problem early, then they finally started making better swings when the Royals made their runs.
Maybe a new hitting coach is in order?

[dlphg9]

Man, looks like Bubic is finally rounding into form. He might just end up being a really good #2 starter. If he had a bit more power, then he ends up being an ace and probably has a chance to be better than Ragans.

The Royals really need to extend him this off season. I think last year is his last year he is under control and I'd hate for him to get away.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by dlphg9

Man, looks like Bubic is finally rounding into form. He might just end up being a really good #2 starter. If he had a bit more power, then he ends up being an ace and probably has a chance to be better than Ragans.

The Royals really need to extend him this off season. I think last year is his last year he is under control and I'd hate for him to get away.

Bubic has one more year of team control after this season (entered the year with 4+ years of service time). If he can stay healthy the whole year and holds his velocity at a full starter’s workload, I’m on board with an extension of some sort.

The sweeper he added has given him the second pitch against lefties he had at times struggled with, and the change is still fantastic.

[RockChalk]

Maybe I missed this, but why was Estevez immediately given the closer role over Erceg? I thought Erceg handled it well in 2024. There is nothing comfortable about Estevez, almost every save opportunity is a roller coaster since he tries to nibble the zone so much.

[tk13]

Originally Posted by RockChalk

Maybe I missed this, but why was Estevez immediately given the closer role over Erceg? I thought Erceg handled it well in 2024. There is nothing comfortable about Estevez, almost every save opportunity is a roller coaster since he tries to nibble the zone so much.

They haven't said this, but it allows them to use Erceg wherever they want to put out fires and face the best guys on the other teams.

If Aaron Judge or Jose Ramirez is due up in the 7th inning they can use Erceg there instead of having to hold him back for the 9th inning to face the bottom of the order. Estevez probably isn't going to be as dominant as Erceg but he was a veteran closer. It gives them a ton of flexibility to play matchups in how they use Erceg and hopefully Harvey.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by RockChalk

Maybe I missed this, but why was Estevez immediately given the closer role over Erceg? I thought Erceg handled it well in 2024. There is nothing comfortable about Estevez, almost every save opportunity is a roller coaster since he tries to nibble the zone so much.

Because the math shows that your best bullpen grouping, if you have multiple above-average options, is:

1. Reserve your BEST guy for true fireman situations. He shows up in 6th or 7th or 8th or 9th to get the team out of a jam, or to face the top of the lineup.
2. Slot your second-best guy as your standard closer (but don't be afraid to use your relief ace instead of him in the 9th if he's on short rest or the matchup is better for your 1 reliever)
3. Have a handful of other above-average guys you use based on matchups
4. Have one dude that can go long and just eat innings so you can reserve 1-3 for games where they are actually valuable.

[Great Expectations]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Because the math shows that your best bullpen grouping, if you have multiple above-average options, is:

1. Reserve your BEST guy for true fireman situations. He shows up in 6th or 7th or 8th or 9th to get the team out of a jam, or to face the top of the lineup.
2. Slot your second-best guy as your standard closer (but don't be afraid to use your relief ace instead of him in the 9th if he's on short rest or the matchup is better for your 1 reliever)
3. Have a handful of other above-average guys you use based on matchups
4. Have one dude that can go long and just eat innings so you can reserve 1-3 for games where they are actually valuable.

We didn’t stick to rule #2 last night. Erceg pitched against 7, 8, 9 in the 8th.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Great Expectations

We didn’t stick to rule #2 last night. Erceg pitched against 7, 8, 9 in the 8th.

Yeah, I would have done that. I don't think the Royals are being as aggressive with that as the math suggests you should.

The Rockies' top of the lineup is also... not that special.

[RockChalk]

Appreciate the insight. And I understand the usage of Erceg as a fireman. But man, watching Estevez pitch is hard to watch.