Comments on: Things Just Got More Interesting

By: KCRoyalman

KCRoyalman — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 23:37:41 +0000

This article is spot on but I do think it was a good trade but you know this all too well since we are twitter friends mostly cause of my pure unadulterated hatred

By: Nick Scott

Nick Scott — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 16:29:07 +0000

“Why can’t I compare what we got to the package of players: Butler, Kila, Lamb, and Duffy”

You certainly can, but they don’t compare to the talent of the guys you listed. But Goldstein has lamb as the #2 royals prospect and duffy as the #7. Butler is an all-star caliber offensive player.

I’m with you, I like the trade. But I don’t think the players are that good.

By: Wayland

Wayland — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 16:21:10 +0000

Nick: Why can’t I compare what we got to the package of players: Butler, Kila, Lamb, and Duffy. Wasn’t it Goldstein who said that the pitchers that we got are going to slide into our system as the #8 and #9 prospects. Lamb and Duffy are 7 and 10, so that looks pretty much like the same return. Butler is a good hitter, but we are still waiting to see more power from him and he will start to cost more money, we have Hosmer coming and Kila is a question mark.

Maybe everyone should go look at a Brewers blog and see what their passionate fans are saying about the trade. There might be a little more optimism, but I am only guessing that is the case because they are looking to make a run at the NL Central. What are things going to look like for the Brewers in 3 years when their farm system is completely empty? They went for broke.

No one can say that we did not get back some guys with some real promise. Not to mention, we can sock away around $25M to spend when we are ready to win the division in 2013.

By: Sean

Sean — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 16:12:47 +0000

The trade is what is is. It had to happen. We got two guys in their mid 20′s with upside of pretty good and a couple wild cards for an elite ace (getting rid of Yuni does make this deal sweet in that regard). It would have been nice to have gotten more but we were pushed in a corner. What happened here to begin this soap opera?

What happended to the management philosophies of a few years ago? You know when we were out bidding ourselves for the likes of Kyle Farnsworth and Juan Cruz? You know when GMDM was threatening KC employees with their jobs if any speculations or rumors leaked about what guys they were in on? I wish this Greinke situation could have stayed in house to give us the leverage that trading a “Greinke” for equal value requires. I do believe we got pigeon holed into a Baird situation. Requiring only up the middle help (which I know we need) definately limited the trading partners. I guess I just wish the whole thing was handled differently. This was way too public and dramatic.

It is what it is and it’s behind us now. Hopefully the guys help us out and we form a great organization moving forward. Greinke was my favorite player as well and I wish him the best. He is going to filet the National League. Hopefully our return sticks in the big leagues for years to come. I’ve never truly gotten over the Beltran fleecing a few years back. Hopefully this deal will never serve as a comparable.

By: Nick Scott

Nick Scott — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 16:09:29 +0000

“what are your thoughts on the 2011 projected starting rotation, as of today?”

In short: not very good, but intriguing. Guys are auditioning for jobs in 2012, thats for sure.

By: Stevo-sama

Stevo-sama — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 16:05:25 +0000

nice write-up Nick…so now that this deal is done, what are your thoughts on the 2011 projected starting rotation, as of today?

By: Ted

Ted — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 15:46:21 +0000

kcghost: Goldstein already adjusted our top 11 after the trade, ranking Jeffress at #8 and Odorizzi at #9. As he says, this is more a comment on the strength of the Royals’ farm system than on the talents of these players. Odorizzi, for instance, he thinks would be an easy top-3 prospect in most farm systems. That is quality.

Yes, Odorizzi is probably three seasons away from contributing at the big-league level, but it is always good to have a steady stream of talent in the pipeline, rather than one big prospect dump that you hope all contribute at the same time. Look at the Rays and how they are able to trade ML parts to fill holes because they have so much talent still arriving from the minors.

Also, about Odorizzi, John Sickels, among others, is rating him as a B+ prospect. To compare, both Lamb and Montgomery get B+ ratings from Sickels. Danny Duffy is the only Royals pitcher with a higher rating from Sickels…an A-.

Also, for comparison, Kyle Drabek get an A-/borderline B+. Jesus Montero gets an A. Jurickson Profar gets a B+/borderline A-. Martin Perez gets a B+. Tanner Scheppers gets a B. Engle Beltre gets a B-.

We don’t know what was available to the Royals, but these are some of the “marquee” names mentioned; Odirizzi compares well in Sickels’ ratings to all of them.

Our farm system is better with him in it.

By: Nick Scott

Nick Scott — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 15:36:38 +0000

waylan, I think that kcghosts criticisms are valid. While I clearly like the trade more than him, his points are on the mark. I do think that comparing the players received to butler, kila, duffy and lamb is not fair either. I’d rather have any three of those players than the four we just received. I’m high on the trade, but not that high.

By: Waylan

Waylan — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 15:33:22 +0000

kcghost: Sounds like you should become a Brewers fan. I’m pretty sure that this move was ran by ownership and they signed off on it. It their money and their team and investment. I’m pretty sure that Dayton didn’t also need to check with kcghost for approval on this trade. Did you look at how highly rated Escobar was coming into last season? The guy had a tough rookie season so you are saying that he is no good. Go look up Ozzie Smith’s stats in his first TWO SEASONS! Wow, that guy was a bust!

Also, if you were the GM of the Royals. Lets say that Felix Hernandez goes out and has a less than stellar year in 2011. I’m not talking a less than Cy Young season, but not even an all star type season. Then it comes out that he had social anxiety issues as well in the past. Would you trade: Billy Butler, Kila, Duffy and Lamb to get 2 seasons of Hernandez? Thats pretty much the package that the Brewers gave up. I’m guessing that you would say no because we always will look at our players and prospects in higher regard than anyone else will.

By: Nick Scott

Nick Scott — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 14:47:09 +0000

kcghost, I’m not saying we have to like it, but we do kind of have to accept it. We can and will debate the merits of the trade on and on. In my article, I wasn’t attempting to make anyone love the trade. I was just trying to see some of the impact we could see and write about how things will be interesting in 2011. Not necessarily better, but more interesting.

I think that we probably over-value Greinke a bit, but he’s clearly a great pitcher. I don’t know if DM could have gotten a better deal. Maybe he could, maybe he couldn’t. Maybe things would have gotten better if he’d waited, maybe they’d have gotten worse.

If the brewers had a sure-fire all-star, they wouldn’t be trading him. Not for two years of a pitcher, any pitcher. A 21 year old automatic all-star is more valuable than 2 years of greinke, which is why we would be overjoyed if that were the return.

personally, I like the deal. Kevin Goldstein who was on the podcast this week said he likes this package better than what the rangers could have offered. I don’t know the systems well enough to comment, but his word is good enough for me.