2012 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread

[alnorth]

2012 Slogan: Our Time

A better, more accurate 2012 Slogan: It is Finally Next Year
(from Great Expectations)

An alternative slogan if you don't like that one: Someone has to win this crappy division
(from alnorth)

With the beginning of a new year, it is time for the 2012 version of the Royals Repository Thread. We've got Hosmer, we've got a 2011-dominating Gordon, we've got Moose, we've got hopefully a killer bullpen, we've got a stereotypical slow slugging DH, we've got easily one of the best defensive shortstops in the AL, we've got a promising catcher in Salvador Perez. Hell, we've got offense and promising prospects galore.

We do not have starting pitching.

Oh yeah, we've also got this:



Get ready for, (as of January 2012 anyway), one of the most confusing puzzles of a baseball season in recent Royals history. Will they suck? Maybe, I don't know. Will we be given a year of 0.500 baseball? Possibly, I don't know. Will they win the division and go to the playoffs for the first time in 27 years? For the first time in a long time, it could happen, I don't know. 92 losses, 92 wins, or anything in between would not surprise a lot of us.

Everything goes here except Gameday threads and really big news. If a giant story breaks, the Royals achieve some awesome milestone, or we sign/lose a highly significant player/coach/mascot/whatever, then it might also deserve its own thread. This being Chiefs Planet, please do not clutter the board with new threads about trivial Royals news or you will only annoy those who come here for just Chiefs football. If you aren't sure and its not a Gameday thread, it goes here.

What sort of stuff often goes here? SPchief explained it well, so I'll just copy that:

If you locate something of interest.. ANYTHING.. deals on apparel, best ways in/out of the stadium, giveaways, great stories from this season or from seasons gone by, rumors, trades, anything.... feel free to post it here.

[CoMoChief]

If Hosmer has the most value.....trade him because Butler can play 1st.

At very worse train Wil Myers to play the position.

[siberian khatru]

I really don't want to trade Hosmer. I don't think they should be trading ML pieces at this point. They should be trading minor league talent -- although I'd prefer to hang on to Myers, too, to replace Frenchy.

I guess you could trade Hosmer, move Butler to 1B, Myers to RF and "find" a DH (or I guess "find" another 1B). Actually, I fear if they trade Hosmer that will just give them the excuse to keep playing Frenchy and put Myers at 1B.

But I still have a lot of faith in Hosmer, he was good his rookie year. If he had struggled like this his rookie year, I'd be a lot more nervous about him. But I'm very confident he will bounce back.

[Dr. Johnny Fever]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

If Hosmer has the most value.....trade him because Butler can play 1st.

At very worse train Wil Myers to play the position.

I'm not disagreeing with you but Butler can barely play first. With Hosmers crappy year he might be the guy I'd make available but PART of me says Myers simply because we have nothing to go on at the major league level.

Fire away.

[CaliforniaChief]

Hosmer's gonna be a stud. But pitching is king. (see SF Giants)

If you want a proven stud pitcher, you have to give up top hitting talent.

If Volstad and another mid-range pitcher are the only moves on this front, then I'm gonna kick myself for the rest of my life for not starting a banner-flying company in Kansas City last spring.

[CaliforniaChief]

Hosmer's gonna be a stud. But pitching is king. (see SF Giants)

If you want a proven stud pitcher, you have to give up top hitting talent.

If Volstad and another mid-range pitcher are the only moves on this front, then I'm gonna kick myself for the rest of my life for not starting a banner-flying company in Kansas City last spring.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Dr. Johnny Fever

2 questions for you Duncan.

1. Which guy would you move in that case?

2. What is your opinion on my take on Esky? I ask purely because I respect your take.

See my next post. I think you're dead-on. Errors and fielding percentage are a pretty antiquated way of looking at defense.

Who I would move would depend on who I can get. For David Price? I absolutely would move Eric Hosmer, and not think twice about it (Unless they're asking for one of the other guys, too, at which point it becomes too expensive for the Royals to do it).

For James Shields? No.

For Jeremy Hellickson? Hell no.

Basically, the cut-off for Hosmer comes down to getting a guy who is a legit 1 or 2, who is controlled for at least a few more seasons. Trading Hosmer now would be moving 5 years of service from him. That still holds a ton of value (though less than it did a year ago).

Myers and Moose don't have the same value, but you're looking for the same thing, ideally. A younger guy, probably more of a 2/3, who is controlled for at least 2-3 seasons more.

I hesitate to move either Butler or Gordon, who are proven and developed big-league hitters signed to reasonable deals long-term.

[Dr. Johnny Fever]

IMO Volstad is just a stab in the dark like Paulino was. If you find something that's great, if not, so long.

[Dr. Johnny Fever]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

See my next post. I think you're dead-on. Errors and fielding percentage are a pretty antiquated way of looking at defense.

Who I would move would depend on who I can get. For David Price? I absolutely would move Eric Hosmer, and not think twice about it (Unless they're asking for one of the other guys, too, at which point it becomes too expensive for the Royals to do it).

For James Shields? No.

For Jeremy Hellickson? Hell no.

Basically, the cut-off for Hosmer comes down to getting a guy who is a legit 1 or 2, who is controlled for at least a few more seasons. Trading Hosmer now would be moving 5 years of service from him. That still holds a ton of value (though less than it did a year ago).

Myers and Moose don't have the same value, but you're looking for the same thing, ideally. A younger guy, probably more of a 2/3, who is controlled for at least 2-3 seasons more.

I hesitate to move either Butler or Gordon, who are proven and developed big-league hitters signed to reasonable deals long-term.

Saw it/responded and thanks.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

I really don't want to trade Hosmer. I don't think they should be trading ML pieces at this point. They should be trading minor league talent -- although I'd prefer to hang on to Myers, too, to replace Frenchy.

I guess you could trade Hosmer, move Butler to 1B, Myers to RF and "find" a DH (or I guess "find" another 1B). Actually, I fear if they trade Hosmer that will just give them the excuse to keep playing Frenchy and put Myers at 1B.

But I still have a lot of faith in Hosmer, he was good his rookie year. If he had struggled like this his rookie year, I'd be a lot more nervous about him. But I'm very confident he will bounce back.

Agree.

Ideal outlook, if you trade Hosmer, is for it to end up like the Delmon Young deal. The Rays moved a guy who was perceived as a future offensive juggernaut (who had early, mixed success in the bigs but still a ton of value) for a hot pitching prospect and a few other useful pieces.

If they move Hosmer, you certainly hope he ends up being more Casey Kotchman than Justin Morneau.

I still believe Hosmer can be a superstar, and I love the guy (attitude, game, personality, etc - he's the type of player you love to see on your team). But I'd rather see them move him in a deal that makes THIS team more complete during this window and gives them a real chance to win.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Dr. Johnny Fever

IMO Volstad is just a stab in the dark like Paulino was. If you find something that's great, if not, so long.

That's what I hope. Take a few more of those (Mike Pelfrey/Jair Jurrjens/etc) and if you get something out of it, great. If not... oh well, you tried.

Kyle McClellan is someone I'd be interested in. Always pitched middle/late relief for St. Louis, and I know he's had arm trouble, but he has strikeout stuff and never has really gotten a shot as a starter. Might work, who knows?

In other news... apparently, the Angels ARE exploring Trades for Danny Haren (and Santana, too). I'll repeat my long-held stance:

Trade for Danny Haren (lottery-ticket arm, AAAA filler, intriguing position prospect with low floor but decent ceiling). They have a good relationship with the Angels.

Re-sign Guthrie.

Sign another legitimate MLB starter in FA (Sanchez will be harder now that Detroit is in the mix and he pitched so well in the postseason)

Go to work in 2013 with some experienced guys in spots 1-2-3 and a bunch of comp. for 4-5 (and depth). Then, when Duffy/Paulino/Lamb are back, you can wait until they're ready rather than hoping they are saviors.

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by Dr. Johnny Fever

I'm not disagreeing with you but Butler can barely play first. With Hosmers crappy year he might be the guy I'd make available but PART of me says Myers simply because we have nothing to go on at the major league level.

Fire away.

Well Myers showed that he can out HR 3/4 of the Royals lineup alone. Yes that was at minor league ball...but the guys a gamer.

I don't wanna trade Hosmer either....I think he can turn it around and when he does he's gonna be one of the best in the league at his position.

But god damn this team needs pitching more than any other team in MLB. And you simply can't compete in the bigs w/o it, or even going half assed for that matter.

[Dr. Johnny Fever]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

Well Myers showed that he can out HR 3/4 of the Royals lineup alone. Yes that was at minor league ball...but the guys a gamer.

I don't wanna trade Hosmer either....I think he can turn it around and when he does he's gonna be one of the best in the league at his position.

But god damn this team needs pitching more than any other team in MLB. And you simply can't compete in the bigs w/o it, or even going half assed for that matter.

I don't want to trade Myers or Hosmer. Just trying to look at the situation without homer glasses... which is hard to do.

[sedated]

A lot of Royals “news” being discussed today on the radio, and no one here is jumping off bridges?

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

Hosmer's gonna be a stud.

Is he though? Im starting to get the feeling that hes going to be "solid" but not a Superstar like everyone originally thought. Kind of like another Alex Gordon.

[Jenson71]

Originally Posted by sedated

A lot of Royals “news” being discussed today on the radio, and no one here is jumping off bridges?

What's happening?