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.

[gblowfish]

If Marty can raise enough money to fly the banner, the Royals will raise ticket prices the night of the first fly over, because it's an "event" and tickets are subject to dynamic variable pricing. I hope they do it on "Salute the A's" night.

I hate that promotion with the intensity of a thousand burning suns.

Wednesday, August 13th is "A's Poster Night." Get a poster of the team that abandoned Kansas City to go to Oakland, California, then win six AL Pennants and Four World Series.

We salute them because they know how to win, and we don't.

Ya-hoo.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by Three7s

Or package in a prospect with those two for Stanton?

DM wouldn't even finish his sentence before the Marlins' FO would hang up the phone.

Sure would like to know what, arguably, the best reliever in baseball + a legit #3 starter would bring from a contender, though...

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

No doubt that the Cerner guys have more money and they have kicked ass with Sporting, just remember that Sporting's salary for the entire team is similar to what the Royals pay Hosmer.

Their combined net worth is something like $6-7 billion dollars, minimum (Illig and Patterson are $6 billion combined, and the other guys have to be bringing SOMETHING to the table). Most of Glass's net worth is tied up in the Royals franchise (I think he's about $700 million, with $500 million of that being the Royals).

The salary is restricted by the league, but those guys have spent considerably more than their peers on everything around the team (and really understand how to create fan experience - SEC football teams are consulting with them to pick up pointers on that).

They also made big personal investments in a soccer-only stadium and complex because they understand you have to spend it to make it.

[KCUnited]

Can't get behind flying the banners. Paying someone to divert the team plane over Ukraine though...

[Hootie]

Originally Posted by Three7s

Or package in a prospect with those two for Stanton?

Well unfortunately Miami doesn't work because they aren't buyers...so they have absolutely no use for Shields and Holland is going to start getting really expensive.

The reason the Cards work because they are legitimately WS contenders and need a starter and MOST DEFINITELY need Greg Holland.

[Marty Mac Ver 2.0]

Hootie, not seeking any limelight...and I certainly don't have the time to do this or give this like SOC.

However, the amount of requests I get to start this movement, re-start it, etc... I've long ignored for a year. This weekend's series? I figured the best thing do is to create the portal for people to donate to. If the fans don't donate enough, guess what? No banners.

Reality is the Royals haven't been to the post-season since 1985. This year's squad is just too talented to play with the volume of ups-and-downs they have. If the fans truly want a SOR movement, they'll contribute. Otherwise, this thing goes away.

Let this be a wake up call to the club.

Originally Posted by Hootie 2.0

Marty is a super good dude...but this just seems like an attention whore kind of thing. Trust me, I know attention whoring when I see it.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Their combined net worth is something like $6-7 billion dollars, minimum (Illig and Patterson are $6 billion combined, and the other guys have to be bringing SOMETHING to the table). Most of Glass's net worth is tied up in the Royals franchise (I think he's about $700 million, with $500 million of that being the Royals).

The salary is restricted by the league, but those guys have spent considerably more than their peers on everything around the team (and really understand how to create fan experience - SEC football teams are consulting with them to pick up pointers on that).

They also made big personal investments in a soccer-only stadium and complex because they understand you have to spend it to make it.

Thank you for that response. Perfect

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Their combined net worth is something like $6-7 billion dollars, minimum (Illig and Patterson are $6 billion combined, and the other guys have to be bringing SOMETHING to the table). Most of Glass's net worth is tied up in the Royals franchise (I think he's about $700 million, with $500 million of that being the Royals).

The salary is restricted by the league, but those guys have spent considerably more than their peers on everything around the team (and really understand how to create fan experience - SEC football teams are consulting with them to pick up pointers on that).

They also made big personal investments in a soccer-only stadium and complex because they understand you have to spend it to make it.

I have no problem with the Cerner Group buying the Royals at all, they would be the best for it. MLB is just a whole different beast than MLS is.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

I have no problem with the Cerner Group buying the Royals at all, they would be the best for it. MLB is just a whole different beast than MLS is.

The point is that they are more than financially capable of stepping up, and they have shown that they are a VERY progressive ownership group.

Do it!

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by Hootie 2.0

Well unfortunately Miami doesn't work because they aren't buyers...so they have absolutely no use for Shields and Holland is going to start getting really expensive.

The reason the Cards work because they are legitimately WS contenders and need a starter and MOST DEFINITELY need Greg Holland.

Davis is owed $7M next year, which is an asinine amount for a set-up guy. Perfectly reasonable for a good closer, though.

Ironically, moving Davis to the closer role and potentially getting an elite prospect for Shields and Holland would offer a way for the Royals to still win "The Trade" in a way that I don't think anyone envisioned.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by Marty Mac Ver 2.0

Hootie, not seeking any limelight...and I certainly don't have the time to do this or give this like SOC.

However, the amount of requests I get to start this movement, re-start it, etc... I've long ignored for a year. This weekend's series? I figured the best thing do is to create the portal for people to donate to. If the fans don't donate enough, guess what? No banners.

Reality is the Royals haven't been to the post-season since 1985. This year's squad is just too talented to play with the volume of ups-and-downs they have. If the fans truly want a SOR movement, they'll contribute. Otherwise, this thing goes away.

Let this be a wake up call to the club.

I love you Marty, but this is a bad proposition. The Chiefs play once a week to large viewing audiences. The Royals play 5-6 times per week in front of a small viewership. Apples and Buick's. The effect will hit ESPN and local channels as a small also ran blurb and have no effect. And, to repeat what Deez stated, Pioli deserved every shot he got from the fans and more. Dayton isn't a bad guy, he just sucks as a GM.

[Unsmooth-Moment]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Davis is owed $7M next year, which is an asinine amount for a set-up guy. Perfectly reasonable for a good closer, though.

Ironically, moving Davis to the closer role and potentially getting an elite prospect for Shields and Holland would offer a way for the Royals to still win "The Trade" in a way that I don't think anyone envisioned.

I certainly think the Royals should be at least keeping the option open. Trading Shields/Holland now could benefit the team and make this do or die season less die next season.

[Hootie]

That's why I'm all for trading Holland. And honestly, Wade Davis' reliever stuff is even filthier than Holland's and I didn't even think that was possible (Sans Kimbrel).

Davis is a steal in the closer's role for his two team option years...Holland will be more expensive.

Some contender would overpay for a Shields/Holland combo...and honestly speaking...if our bats get hot it still wouldn't necessarily cripple our run for that last wild card spot.

[Sure-Oz]

I'll be thrilled when gmdm I'd fired. Problem is glass doesn't seem to be in a rush

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

I'll be thrilled when gmdm I'd fired. Problem is glass doesn't seem to be in a rush

If he is fired it won't be until after the season. While GMDM has made some bade decisions, he has also made some good ones. This team is perfectly capable of performing at a higher level than they are. I think most of the problem is the way they are allowed to be managed or not managed, if you will.