Royals have picked up options on Wade Davis $10 mil & Escobar 6.5 mil, and declined Medlens mutual option. Davis will be a free agent next year.
Morales and Volquez have turned down their mutual offers. 30 homers gone. Both are 33 years old.
Danny Duffy is talking extension. I didn't recognize him, he needs to grow the beard back.
Giants are interested in Greg Holland.
Greg Holland for Madison Bumgarner, sure!
@brooksmd They've also declined the option on Luke Hochever for 2017. DM is tightening up the purse strings to pay others that will soon be FA's, to potential extensions or long term deals. Sure hope not but this team may only be a skeleton of our 2015 WS winner when the waters part in 2018.
@globaljaybird Lightfoot kid had a pretty good game tonite if you didn't get to see it. 12 pts I think.
@Crimsonorblue22 @globaljaybird Blackhawks honor Cubs WS Championship.
@Ralph time to blow it all up and rebuild the farm system.
Trade Davis, Hosmer, Esky and Cain before the deadline this year (providing we aren't in the playoff hunt) and get as big of a haul as we can. If we can unload Gordo's contract, I wouldn't be opposed to that either. Free up "cap" space and rebuild. We have enough mediocre talent to make us look competitive until the new talent arrives. This way we can start a sustainable farm system.
I mean imagine the haul for those guys.
Davis - 3 high level prospects
Hosmer - 3 high level prospects
Cain - 3 high level prospects
Esky - 1 high potential, low level project.
Gordo - 1 high level prospect
Morales - Compensatory Pick - 1st round
Volquez - Compensatory Pick - 1st round
It will leave our lineup with something like:
To me, that is a competitive lineup made for Kauffman stadium. Not a World Series roster, but a lot of speed should do ok in our ball park. Maybe a 75 win team with a lot of home wins. And honestly a team with room to grow. That roster would have 6 of 9 players under 30. As some of those guys mature and come into their own we will have the money to resign them to Long-Term deals. Especially after we get our new TV money.
Of course, we still have to resign a 32 year old Dyson for this to fully take shape. I mean Burns could move to CF and Dozier to LF and we can find a DH/1B guy somewhere. But ultimately, we need to rebuild our farm system and really develop some guys for the future. The last time we traded away a major piece, it was Greinke and we got Esky, Caine and Davis and a World Series from it. So don't snub trade talk immediately. It really is important for small market clubs to move pieces when they are going to yield the highest return.
@Ralph Oh 100% agreed. Personally, I think you have to let them all play right up until the deadline. This group could win another WS next season if the cards fell right.
Hosmer still has 30 HR potential.
Moose has 30 HR potential.
Cain has 25 HR potential.
Gordo has 25 HR potential.
Salvy has 25 HR potential.
This team could honestly be an offensive juggernaut if we actually got everyone firing on all cylinders for a season.
@Kcmatt7 I'd like great years from just a couple of these guys during the same season & 25-30 would likely qualify for "great'. But "if a frog had wings, it wouldn't bump its ass when it hopped". Not likely to keep Cain-injured too much for big bucks, but don't give up on Hos or Moose signing an extension just yet.They picked up Esky & Davis options today. Should they not get that accomplished very soon it may be an advantage to move them (Hos-Moose) before the season is over. Mid season may get a decent trade or FA comp pick. Is too early to blow it all the way up just yet, unless you get some high quality personnel & not just hot air from the trades.
@globaljaybird @brooksmd Zobrist on jimmy kimmel tonight
Hosmer, Moose and Salvy will be the foundation of whatever team the Royals assemble.
@JayHawkFanToo be nice but that's half the payroll on 3 guys.
@JayHawkFanToo I would bet my next paycheck that Hosmer is not going to be a Royal after next season.
@JayHawkFanToo With Boras as his agent, I seriously seriously doubt that. If he repeats his 25 HR and 100 RBI performance we are looking at a 10 year 200-250 mil contract.
@HawkInMizery Yea but Philly has money to spend. They even opened this season with the 9th highest payroll.
Those guys you mentioned were signed in the midst of a World Series potential team. Utley, Howard, Lee, Oswalt, Hammels, Halladay, Rollins, Pence, etc.
That payroll is still biting them in the ass too... FINALLY were able to get rid of all of those hefty contracts.
@HawkInMizery life w/out Hoz?😭
While teams have to look at budgets, they also have to make sure they do not lose the fan base. Losing Hosmer, Moose and Salvy would have huge backlash from the fan base and alienate it big time.
@JayHawkFanToo Salvy is locked up until he is in his 30s. He isn't going anywhere.
Moose I do believe we can and will bring back at a reasonable cost based on his career average and ACL injury.
Hoz's current projected contract is a 7 year contract at $19.2 million a season. This is based off 1B who were similar ages and put up similar numbers and the contracts that they received. I tend to think that his defense and overall athleticism will up his price. Boras does an amazing job at getting extra years out of contracts too.
http://www.spotrac.com/mlb/kansas-city-royals/eric-hosmer-8531/market-value/ ↗
We cannot, as a small market club, spend $20 million on a player per season for 10 years unless they are the second comings of George Brett or Zach Greinke. It will handicap us too much. Any true fan will not take that as a slap in the face as long as we get a good value in return for him. If the offers aren't there, obviously keep him and do what we can to resign him. All I can say is I see 10+ clubs that will be interested in his services and winning that bidding war won't be easy or cheap.
Hosmer has indicated that he would like to stay in KC, so he might be able to stay for a lower salary than he would get somewhere else. I am not saying that he will but it is possible; at some point, players that are well ofF will choose to play in place where they are comfortable and that will contend.
@JayHawkFanToo Just saw on BR that Dayton says the Royals "have a definite interest in re-signing Morales."
I don't think you can keep Moose and Hoz post 2017. Depending on where the Royals are at the trade deadline, if you had to trade one, I'd trade Hoz. He would probably net the most return, and for all the talk Hosmer gets, his numbers are a little underwhelming.
Salvy wins his 4th consecutive Gold Glove. He is the only Royals GG winner this year.
@Crimsonorblue22 i know i'm not thrilled about it either ughhhhh
Morales to Toronto, three years, $33M.
That's tough. I was hoping Royals will be able to sign him. It will be interesting to see how DM now plan for DH position.
@AsadZ
If the Royals did nothing their payroll will increase by about 15 million after arbitration and they want to decrease payroll. All I can see is dump everyone and start over. The 8 million for Infante really hurts.
arbitration estimates look with the current committed salaries
What about cheslor?
@Crimsonorblue22 return of Moose puts him back to Omaha, but Dayton said he could be an alternative to Morales with Cain and Salvy batting on their days off.
@Ralph Don't know if you've seen these trade scenarios or not, but they are at least, interesting to explore. The author did some homework, yet I'm not sure of his accuracy. http://www.royalsreview.com/2016/11/10/13585656/it-is-time-for-a-rebuild-in-kansas-city ↗
The more I think about it, I wonder if that Gordon contract may have been Mr Glass's call & DM just had do it. It hurts maneuverability a lot, as does Omar. If OA signs with someone, how much of his salary to we still have to pay? Also I don't know squat about most of these guys personalities. As good as it looks on paper, these dudes live & work together 6 - 7 months a year.
https://twitter.com/Royals?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw ↗ Kansas City Royals @Royals 7h
7 hours ago
Happy 105th Birthday, Buck! We miss our friend and one of the greatest ambassadors the game of baseball has ever known.
@brooksmd & @Crimsonorblue22 Just off da ticker...Last years opening day starter Edinson Volquez signs free agent deal with Marlins at 2 years 22 mil... That's a helluva bargain for a guy that can give you 175 innings per year. I say sign him for that & take your chances cause you still have all your core guys for at least one more year. if ya aint in it at the all star break, then you can resign yourself to a fire sale. Could quite easily be the last hurrah or another AL Central Title. We're playin with house money till 2017-ya gotta give it your last shot.
http://www.kmbc.com/article/former-royal-edinson-volquez-signs-free-agent-deal-with-marlins/8374419 ↗
@globaljaybird I thought he stunk last year
@Crimsonorblue22 Quite true miss lady, but he didn't have the best of seasons following the colossal WS victory season when he lost his father & biggest supporter on live television & real life before the ultimate judgmental world. But this guy has jurrasically sized cahonies ready for the ultimate rebound, plus, he's only abt 31-32 yrs old which can be a millennium in sports terms What a pup.....hard to recall when I was there, but not only was it good ... it was ALL good. Gotta put it in perspective to our posts going forward.
@wissox I recall you, or another sox fan once said that Chris Sale is untouchable as a trade target, ,but that no longer seems to be true. This copy is from today's MSN Sports: "There is an active trade market for White Sox ace lefty Chris Sale, but a high asking price is holding things up for now.
According to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, five teams are leading the pack for Sale: Washington, Houston, Texas, Boston, and Atlanta. However, the asking price is said to be very high, with Chicago asking Washington for star rookie Trea Turner in preliminary discussions."
That type of trade is exactly how KC acquired 2 Gold Glove starters for there 2 time AL & WS Championships teams. It was Zack Grienke for Lo Cain & Alcedes Escobar. Sometimes these things work well & others not so well. This season KC will be faced with having about 8 guys in the final year of contract, so maybe Moore can turn this thing over again with Whit, Mondesi, Bonaficio & Cuthbert ready for the next step. Realistically I think he can only afford to keep Esky & Moose, & will part with Hoz, Cain & Davis, Teams are also inquiring abt Dyson who will be a FA in 2018 also. I'm thinkin Moore will wheel & deal starters for arms this time around-he just let Volquez go for appx 11 mil & he is good for an avg of 30 starts & 180 innings per.
@globaljaybird I'd be ok with a Sale trade provided it fills some holes with guaranteed young prospects.
@wissox Its what the royals did and it got them a World Series.
If you aren't ready to win, get the biggest package you can for a guy that you'd otherwise pay $25m a year. Which, personally, I don't think anyone is worth that amount of money. Not with the risk of injury and easy risk of underperformance due to lack of motivation at that point. If you can get a huge package from Sale, do it. But as a Royals fan, I hope you don't trade him and use the rest of his good years with an average team.
@brooksmd Don't look now but at the winter meetings the Cubbies are trying to nail down the Royals on a deal for Wade Davis... rumored for Soler. Not quite done yet-the link:
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/210529604/royals-cubs-talk-wade-davis-jorge-soler-swap/ ↗
Here's another link to the continued story about the progression of blockbuster trades from this year's Winter meetings-link:
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/210470788/royals-arent-pressing-for-trades-at-meetings/ ↗
I hope this deal happens.
@Ralph Am streaming local news from there now to get confirmation-likely just a formality. Now I want to see them commit to a 3rd baseman & a center fielder. Cain will be hurt or gone soon, so Dyson is a defensive plus with a decent obp & blazing speed.....whom is a very affordable FA in 2018 also.
They should trade Cain if they can get a good return imo.
@BShark They likely will, but FA compensation picks have been reduced to the team losing the FA. Rumor mill has A's wanting Dyson now, but I wouldn't let him go for anything other than a starting pitcher we could afford. His def is worth about 5 wins a year & we can afford to pay him. Is all about the $$ now to keep from losing 3 or 4 starting position players & right now Dyson is one of them.
@BShark Finally confirmed by Jeffry Flannagan:
http://fox4kc.com/2016/12/07/wade-davis-reportedly-traded-to-chicago-cubs/ ↗
@BShark Trade Cain and Dyson if we can. Both are aging guys that hang their hat on their defensive abilities. Same reason we should have let Gordo walk. At a certain point, you just lose a step. And I'd rather be the team that lets them go and gives up a good year but gets something in return than is stuck with a bad year and nothing in return.
Opening day roster if we traded Dyson and Cain:
C- Salvy
1B - Hos
2B - Cuthbert
3B/DH - Moose
SS - Esky
LF - Gordo
CF - Paulo
RF- Soler
DH/3B - Dozier
Batting Order with projected numbers (except on Dozier, best I could do):
That is a team with some solid pop 2-7. If Dozier or someone else can surprise us and Paulo hits even close to what he did last season, well we are contenders again. Problem is and will continue to be pitching.
Rotaton:
1. Duffy - Solid
2. Kennedy - Solid
3. Ventura - Still waiting for him to grow up and be the player he was billed to be
4. Vargas - Huge question mark
5. Minor/Strahm - No idea how either could do for a full 162 game season.
I just don't know what to think about that rotation.
@Crimsonorblue22 There are always more good looking guys out there to play CF :wink:
@Kcmatt7 said:
Cuthbert - .270 - 15 HR - 62 RBI
Cheslor is not proficient at 2nd. or any other position at the ML level is what I've been told. Likely home for Whit outta Spring training unless Mondesi starts swattin some BB's. Colon is all glove & not enough stick according to some close to the team. Talk is, should they sign Moose to extension. Cuth may be converted to OF or just DH. With no Moose, Cuth is the guy as Mr Dozier barely hit Mendoza & change ..212 at NW Arkansas last year. And Hearn at 1st is a long shot also with 200 K's in 190 games in only 1 1/2 yrs of rookie & A ball. & If ya don't get a decent pitcher for Dyson, at abt 31 years old, we just as well bring up Bonaficio & see how many strikeouts we can mount as a squad. LOL...We really will need to get a decent glove at first too, cause there's no way KC can extend Hos. Sorry@Crimsonorblue22 . He could be a 30 -40 HR guy wit dat short porch in "da Bronx". I gotta gut feeling that's where he will end up. I am not very encouraged by our present minor league talent. That 2 year trip to outer space cost a lot of the future-but I still think it was worth it. you've prob seen this but will post it so others can:
http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2016/#list=kc ↗
@globaljaybird speaking of sorry-ia! You are depressing me! Dat speed gone? Who's the new guy? Injured 2 months? Cain the 2nd? I would have gotten rid of gordo, wanted zobrist!
@Crimsonorblue22 Zobrist didn't want KC. He went where he did want.
@globaljaybird I know, still wanted him
@globaljaybird gonna have to put you down!💪💃
@globaljaybird i don't think we have the pieces to make a run. I'm ready to trade everyone Perez and Duffy included. Restock the farm system and have a team ready in 3 or 4 years.
@Ralph By early June we shouldl all know. From now till then market any of your 2018 FA's for whatever the best offer is & after that unload em all cause you no longer are guaranteed a first round pick when losing one. Which is total BS IMO. Is not likely to move Salvy cause he's so young, affordable, & a fan favorite. They still must have a product that puts fans in the seats to pay expenses so a total makeover won't likely happen right away. It is anything but cheap to attend MLB games anymore. Most all are on tv or streamed anyway.
@Crimsonorblue22 Sorry-ia girl. I didn't mean to give ya da blues ... I'd keep Dyson & Paulo to cover center & extra man. Both can still fly & are affordable for now. But if we can't extend JD at a reasonable rate, move him too & default Paulo to center with Soler in RF. What we really need is starting pitching, & we have some gold glovers to entice trade partners. Ralph makes good sense also, get all the young prospects we can for whomever we set free. And the more, the merrier.
Salvy is the type of player that comes around every 10 years. I heard an interview with an MLB scout that stated that without a doubt he will be the best Latin American catcher ever and one of the best ever, regardless of nationality.
@globaljaybird Unless I have the wrong Hunter Dozier, he hit .296 between NWA and Omaha and also cracked 23 HR. He is a good Spring training away from being ready to go.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=dozier000hun ↗
As far as Cuthbert goes, he makes the routine plays. Nothing flashy, but he was just fine in the field. And as far as a move to 2B...http://kingsofkauffman.com/2016/11/21/cuthbert-playing-second-winter-ball/ ↗
The move makes sense to me. Beef up the middle of the order. I do like Whit, but he is the utility guy we need. That's it. He isn't a great hitter and has shown that.
I honestly don't care what return we get for Cain or Dyson. We just need to bulk up our younger players in the farm system. Preferably I'd like to see us get pitching prospects that our inept staff hasn't touched yet.
@Kcmatt7 Thanks for the stats. The graphics from the MLB/Royals link were not as thorough as your site but said in print nothing abt 2016 at Omaha. His avg was in the metrics, but again, the narrative was not flattering at all. Maybe has not been updated to include 2016 because prior to that, he showed little when floundering in Arkansas. I know the feeling, I'm 15 miles from the state line. Ha!
@globaljaybird This is obviously just me spitballing. I think Dozier starts in AAA again this season and Merrifield starts at 2B. BUT, if Dozier continues to crush, we will have to make the move. And you can't keep Cuthbert's bat out of the lineup. So the only logical move is to take Merrifield out and just make him play the utility role. He should still play about every other day. Whit will be 28 next season, so he's at his ceiling. And we saw it last year. A hot start and a quick cool down. He did hit .280 through about 80 games. So its still not a bad play a 2B. But if there is a better option, a .280 hitter is an exceptional utility guy. And we can keep everyone fresh that way.
Unless you see it a different way maybe? Would you keep Cain and Dyson? Dyson is 32 and will be 33 before the end of the season. He is one nagging injury from being a very below average player. Wouldn't it be best to trade him? Cain will be 31 when the season gets going and he has had multiple years with injuries already. Wouldn't it be best to trade him now if we can land a decent prospect?
If we can't land anything of value for Cain, he is the type of guy you just have to make sure stays healthy all season. Fowler is going to get a deal over the Qualified offer amount. So Cain probably would too. So holding on to Cain makes much more sense if you can't find a decent trade. But Dyson, well it is time to let him go. Especially with us having a crowded outfield now with the Soler trade.
@Kcmatt7 IMO you can get a decent arm for Dyson & can play all OF pos & be a decent leadoff guy. Cain-hurt too much & could be a tremendous DH for many teams- us included. Doubtful he gets more than a 2yr deal on open market but some dummy may just do that. Doubt if it's KC. They "dummied out" on Gordo last year. Funny though, I thought the Infante deal taught them the lesson abt over extending guaranteed deals. We still have some of his money on the payroll in 2017 I believe.
@Kcmatt7 I haven't been up to speed on Royals since we left the metro in Spring, but worked pt for a company with business ties to them for the past couple of years. A few former players would stop in & chat, but mgrs. always got the extra tickets-imagine that. A former utility infielder has mentioned Modesi, Colon, Cuth & Whit often. Says Mondesi is the def fav of the club & Colon the worst offense of the bunch. Also I think you nailed it on Whit. 2nd & 3rd time through the league he fell flat as a pancake. Maybe good role player for the NL.
http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/18230565/washington-nationals-acquire-adam-eaton-white-sox ↗
White Sox are all in on this rebuild.
@Crimsonorblue22 so far this year we've lost Davis, Volquez, Morales and a # of role players. In return we got an outfielder. Next years free agents are.
Lorenzo Cain
Jason Vargas
Mike Moustakas
Alcides Escobar
Danny Duffy
Jarrod Dyson
Eric Hosmer
Clay Mortensen
The Royals have alot of choices. 3 of them are:
-Play out the season and let them walk and go back to years of sub 500 ball,
-sign a couple and hope to play 500 ball
-sell everything while you can get max value and rebuild.
I'm for the rebuild that's why I said sell Salvy. He's a top 3 player at his position with a cheap contract and would likely bring in 3 top prospects. The Royals have abused Salvy over the last 3 years he's caught like 500 more innings than anyone else and had multiple concussions. By the time we have another team ready to contended he will be used up.
@Crimsonorblue22 we ran into him at the Lakewood price chopper. He took a picture with the grandkids and shook hands with everyone. Nice guy, but I really don't know him. Just another player.
@Crimsonorblue22 Last team was, I think Red Sox. Is a pitcher who is under contract for 2017. Think he's been outta BB for a year or 2.
Jarrod Dyson traded to Mariners for RHP Nathan Karns.
Don't know what to say about the trade. Needed to happen after we got Soler. Was either going to be him or Cain.
Karns Put up pretty bad numbers last year and ended his season on the DL I believe. He will be under control until 2021, so I like the trade from that perspective. Karns has an upside still being only 25 as well. If he could find any consistency, he might be a solid rotation piece. Worst-case, he will be a solid bullpen arm.
@Crimsonorblue22 It had to be done... Trading a bench player for a possible starting pitcher is definitely the right move. Especially a 30+ year old speedster who is one blown tire away from being worthless.
@Crimsonorblue22 still have Gore. Younger, faster and cheaper.
@Crimsonorblue22 Well young lady just cause @brooksmd 's Cubs are reigning WS Champs it certainly doesn't mean you, or I, or anyone else can't wear their 2015 WS Champ shirts or hats-HELLO !! Championships is what dat speed did...Wear em proud girl, at least for another year or so... Like I said, I hoped we could get a decent arm for him & hopefully not a damaged one.
Jarrod Dyson
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It's was a blessing from above to be apart of such a class act organization#KcRoyals I really enjoyed every moment I spent as a royal!!!! pic.twitter.com/H1K9zhGEFi
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Jarrod Dyson
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@mrzoombiya
@mrzoombiya I'm going to miss u guys #royalsfans I can't think u enough for sticking with me threw the good and the bad!!!
4:15 PM - 6 Jan 2017
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I'm gonna miss that defense girl cause speed do dat too !!
@globaljaybird Class comments by Dyson. Gonna miss the excitement his speed brought.
@brooksmd Plus is not ALL about speed entirely. Dyson was also very well experienced in situational baseball too. Not just a stat padder that would swipe a base whenever he could, but had savvy enough to know when not to take an unnecessary risk. Also his defense this year in particular was as good as anyone I've seen play OF for KC for ever it seems. This is a fav of mine-as good as it gets. Seattle's getting a helluva high quality man & player IMO.
@globaljaybird he covered for all the hi paid outfielders who were hurt all the time! Hate it!
@Crimsonorblue22 he can't bat either. 3 years ago Dyson was said to be unreliable in the outfield and his bat wasn't good enough. I can't remember a 50th round draft pick doing more than Dyson did and now he's been traded for a pitcher that may end up in the starting rotation.
@brooksmd & @Crimsonorblue22 here's a link to a great story about Bo Jackson. Couldn't resist sending it to you.. I know he was almost super human to watch & wonder WOE he could possibly do next ?!
@globaljaybird Nice find! Great to read about former White Sox players!
I actually was in Kaufmann the day Bo got his 1st major league hit. It was against the White Sox and Steve Carlton believe it or not. Bo's first at bat he hit a long towering flyball over the top of the foul poll! The umpire had to make a judgment call on whether it was fair or foul. Bo was halfway to 3rd when the ump called it foul. The crowd went nuts!
His 2nd at bat he got his 1st hit, an unmemorable infield single.
His 3rd time up the Sox' lefty was throwing a nice game with the good guys up 2-0. Bo came up with no one out, and runners at 1st and 2nd. He came within an eyelash of grounding into a 5-4-3 triple play! I never saw a replay so I don't know how close it actually was, but it was close.
I also saw Bo once in Chicago at old Sox park and he caught a fly ball at the wall. He took one step and threw a strike to home plate! No one hop throw. It was too late to get the runner, but an amazing 350 foot throw.
@globaljaybird @Crimsonorblue22 Royals and Hos agree to $12.25 million extension.
@brooksmd Thx boss. Avoiding arbitration & ugly negotiations. Also Moore ends up with a contract that can be moved. Hoz is set on a mega deal so just maybe he will give a little to be a 👑 Royal for life - Ya think ?! All sh--- aside , he's the one guy of the bunch work the risk of a long term deal... good to very good 😊 O numbers, multiple GG seasons (4) , & young & stud enough to be."Da Man" for the next 7-8 years. Ink em !! We can always tell @Crimsonorblue22 it's just for her !! She'd digit .
@globaljaybird I know it is for me! Still mad about dys!💨💨💨
@brooksmd @globaljaybird yeah! Signed duff to five year deal
Moose should be next
Ace Ventura killed in car wreck, very very sad! Speechless!
Original report was based on a tweeter post but Dominican papers just starting to report. A very tragic and sad event, particularly for Royals fans.
@Crimsonorblue22 @JayHawkFanToo
http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2017/01/22/yordano-venutra-killed-in-an-auto-accident/ ↗
(The misspelling is not by me.)
:'(
Sad to see someone die so young.
Thoughts on the Brandon Moss signing?
Personally, I think it is a spectacular move. Cheap verteran player that should fit will in the lockerroom. And he is very dangerous against Righties. I'm sure the plan is to platoon him at DH. Bet he puts up a career average this season. He also gives us outfield and 1B depth.
@dylans The lineup has some pop this year. Might be the best home run lineup we have ever put together.
Projected Order
- 1 - Escobar - 3 HR
- 2 - Moose- 23 HR
- 3 - Cain - 18 HR
- 4 - Hosmer - 20 HR
- 5 - Soler - 23 HR
- 6 - Moss/Obrien - 25+ HR
- 7 - Salvy - 18 HR
- 8 - Gordon - 16 HR
- 9 - Merrifield/Colon/Mondesi - 5 HR
What I would really like to see, personally, is to play Cuthbert at 2B. If we are going to switch to this all or nothing lineup, can we just commit to it? Cuthbert could be a .280 15 HR guy at 2B. Adding that to this lineup is scary! Not to mention he is a solid utility infielder. And we don't need a utility outfielder this season. At least not to start it. Cuthbert should start at 2B. He is the only one out of all of our options that has proven he can hit at the major league level.
Honestly, this lineup has the potential to score the most runs in the league. A couple of guys need comeback years. A couple of guys are in contract years. That is a recipe for runs.
Pitching should be the only thing that holds us back this season.
Jason Hammel will be a Royal.
@globaljaybird 3 guys in contract seasons tells me we are probably due for a better year offensively.
Team is much better than 71 wins.
Rotation is much better than is currently getting credit. Duffy, Kennedy, Hammel and Vargas should be able to get us through most of the season. All of those guys are 3.8-4 ERA guys.
And we have a lineup with legit pop at 7 of 9 positions. This is a playoff team.
@kraken Lot of different scenarios. Obviously none of them are gone if we are in the playoff hunt at the deadline. But it is also unlikely Hos or Moose get moved at the deadline. Most teams don't trade for a position player at the deadline unless it is a GLARING hole or an injury. So if anyone is going to move at the deadline it is Cain because he can play all 3 outfield spots.
Hosmer. Won't get traded at the deadline. Or at least I find it very unlikely. The Royals will be asking a lot in return for half a season of him. When we could keep him and get a compensation pick.
Cain. I think he would be dealt immediately if we were out of it at the deadline. He is a plus defender at all 3 outfield spots so there are a ton of possible landing spots for a guy like him. I don't think that we will resign him at the end of the season though unless it is like a 4 year 50M deal. He is an injury prone 32 year old. And we have guys locked up at LF and RF. So if he loses a step out in CF he isn't worth it for us.
Moose. He is here to stay. It would have to be the perfect fit for us to deal him at the deadline. A team NEEDS a 3B and we get 2-3 really good prospects in return. I doubt that happens though because he is a guy we can keep around who is a good clubhouse guy. Not to mention that we can move him to 1B for much cheaper than Hosmer and let Chesler take over 3B next season. Keeping Moose is a no brainer to me.
Summary:
- Hosmer - Not gone at trade deadline but gone to free agency. Doubt he will be a Royal next season.
- Cain - Gone at trade deadline - stays if it is the right deal for both parties. 50/50 he is a Royal.
- Moose - Unlikely to be traded - Likely to be resigned. 85% a Royal.
Other guys to look for with the trade deadline:
- Vargas
- Kennedy
- Hammel
Pitchers are always the most likely to get dealt at the deadline. If we are out of it and any of these guys are having monster seasons than they are gone. Especially Kennedy. Royals want out of that contract.