Comments on: How Many Players Away?

By: Toby V

Toby V — Sun, 30 May 2010 06:26:43 +0000

I agree with the positions of need stated. For those that feel all of those players are sitting in the minors… I disagree. You may get a few from the minors, but you are still going to need to go out and get the rest as FAs or Trade. Which means you have to spend the money to get one of these types of players or give up someone in a trade. So, which is more likely with this organization? (Spending the money needed or giving up young talent to get a major league impact player?)

By: kcghost

kcghost — Fri, 28 May 2010 14:10:51 +0000

The rub, of course, is we need just about all this talent to develop into real major leaguers. And as we are seeing some of them are really struggling (e.g. Tim Melville and Aaron Crow). I think when Moustakis becomes ready for the bigs Callaspo will be dealt for a reliever. Banking on Derrick Robinson is probably a pipe dream. The kid simply can’t hit.

The problem with the kiddie core is they are still some time away from the bigs. If we are lucky maybe Moose and Monty arrive next year. Maybe Crow will get it together and be up next year also. Maybe we get lucky in this years draft and actually get a guy who is major league ready (yeah, that’s a stretch but the guy we wanted to draft last year, Mike Leake, is already pitching well for the Reds).

Over the last fifteen years the Royals have developed a lot of very good players (Sweeney, Damon, Beltran, Greinke, Butler). The problems started when the Royals were ran by that damn foundation and continued into the Allard Baird years. If the ownership doesn’t spend on developing talent you are toast. That finally seems to be corrected.

We do have at least $20M coming off the books at the end of the year. Maybe $30M if we can find a taker for Gil Meche (not likely). Even with the raises we could acquire something of value. What we have to avoid is another Jose Guillen contract. We simply have to be right about what we buy. It would be nice if we could compete in the Cliff Lee derby but that is utterly out of the question.

By: Clark Fosler

Clark Fosler — Fri, 28 May 2010 02:39:43 +0000

I have to admit that when I started this column, I really thought it would be more than eight players (nine if you want to change catchers). There’s a lot of IFS here, but if the Gordon comes through, if Moustakas, Montgomery, Crow and Coleman get a mid-season promotion to AAA (and hence are ready to make a run at the big league roster next spring), the Royals could actually find themselves maybe just two players away by mid-season of next year.

If…maybe…

By: gbewing

gbewing — Fri, 28 May 2010 01:20:56 +0000

Yes I am believing in Hochevor-I’m seeing enough growth and some consistency. Butler has arrived-he’s now a premier AL hitter capable of a batting title this year and a bat pitcher will start avoiding in our lineup, it’s been awhile

By: CL_on_the_DL

CL_on_the_DL — Thu, 27 May 2010 19:01:55 +0000

An infield/DH consisting of Butler, Kila, Callaspo (at 2nd), Aviles, and Moustakas is a very competitive offensive infield, assuming Kila and Moustakas don’t completely tank at the major league level.

Outfield-wise this team is pretty close, too. Maier continues to be an on-base machine (.350+ and rising as his average continues to rise) and if develops any kind of pop he’d be a league average CF (his slg is .351 though in the minors he usually stayed around .450 – let’s just say he gets up to .380 or .400, mostly on doubles with 10+ HR’s). So that’s a piece of the puzzle particularly if he is flanked by…

Alex Gordon in LF. His 2008 line of .260/.351/.432 isn’t bad for a 2nd year player…it’s just not the 2nd coming of Brett that everyone hoped it would be. If that line trends up (.270/.360/.440) that is the same line as a league average left fielder (for reference, Carl Crawford had a line of .305/.364/.452 and he was right at the middle in OPS last season for LF).

So that leaves RF. With Guillen off the books next season, it may make sense to take another swing at a free agent slugger. If you’re going to have the operation, have the operation. Take a shot at Jason Werth. I don’t know what the market price is (and yeah, it will be high and we’ll have to add years and money to get him in KC), but here’s a guy, who unlike Jacobs has increased his OBP pretty much every year. He’s 31 yrs old this year, so you could run into a logjam at 1st/DH whenever he starts to breakdown defensively in the 4th or 5th year of his deal. You add that bat sandwiched between Butler and Callaspo (or Moustakas) and you’ve got something going.

Kendall hangs out at catcher for another year while the Royals figure out whether Myers or Grandal can catch in 2012 (I’m pulling for Grandal as the pick with Myers moving to outfield).

So for those keeping score, my lineup next year is:

Aviles (SS)
Butler (1B/DH)
Werth (RF)
Callaspo (2B)
Kila (DH/1B)
Moustakas (3B)
Gordon (LF)
Kendall (C)
Maier (CF)

I haven’t addressed pitching, but if your 1-2-3 is Greinke, Montgomery, Hochevar/Crow, that’s a decent start.

So I guess if I’m an optimist, we’re one monster free agent (Werth) and some development (Maier, Moustakas, Kila, Gordon, Montgomery) away from contending in 2011.

Don’t even get me started about 2013.

By: fb0252

fb0252 — Thu, 27 May 2010 17:36:52 +0000

would one think that after 15 years of near #1 draft choices that some talent would be on the way. why would any organization get credit for that? what happens to “the process” if and when the royals ever start winning games. that being said, i think this roster is way underrated and under peforming–5 solid starters, good closer, good tejada and one of higher BAs in the league. and, they’re losing. how can that be?

By: airgoesit

airgoesit — Thu, 27 May 2010 17:10:52 +0000

With a legit #2 starter and 2 average bullpen arms (in place of the revolving door parade of AAA/AAAA retreads) this is a .500 team in this division. I have to believe with a decent 25-35 HR, .280-.300 bat in the outfield or at 3B/1B and a healthy, defensive infield they could be within spitting distance of the Twins next year and ready to take the leap with Montgomery, Crow and Moose cutting their teeth in 2012. Maybe they get lucky and fall into a legit SS/2B opposite Aviles through FA. I don’t even think that is a stretch scenario. One of the other 5-6 prospects (Kila, Robinson, etc) has to pan out to solidify depth at the majors as well.

By: Nick Scott

Nick Scott — Thu, 27 May 2010 16:52:55 +0000

While at times it may not seem like it. This club has come a LONG way since 2006. That team was seriously 13 or more players away from contention. Just look at that team compared to this team. It is a night and day difference. I think that that year was the absolute rock bottom for this franchise.

By: Jon Daniels

Jon Daniels — Thu, 27 May 2010 16:13:07 +0000

Totally agree with all that with one exception. Royals MUST trade for, sign, or develop a legitimate long term solution behind the plate. Kendall will not be catching when this team contends, and if Pena IS catching, I don’t think the team will contend. I know a guy named Max Ramirez who you all would love! Or, there’s this guy in AAA named Saltalamacchia who is a perfect fit for you (if you can teach him how to throw the ball back to the pitcher). Call me!

By: Greg

Greg — Thu, 27 May 2010 16:10:01 +0000

We would have to increase payroll significantly to add an impact player. Guillen, Farnsworth and others come off, but Greinke gets a 6 mil raise, most of the other players are getting raises (Yuni +1 mil, Kendall +1.75, etc), DDJ option?, and surely some of the arbitration eligible players are in line for quite a bit more money. Someone with more knowledge of those situations can probably add insight.

I don’t see Dayton spending a giant chunk of money on a position player, but maybe he’d go shopping for solid starter?