*** Official 2018 Royals Repository ***

[duncan_idaho]

The season is upon us, even if spring is not.

2018 MLB Draft Picks
#18
#33 - Compensation (Eric Hosmer)
#34 - Compensation (Lorenzo Cain)
#40 (Competitive Balance Round A)

018 Draft Names to Watch

RHP Kumar Rocker, N Oconnee HS, Georgia.

Spoiler!

Possibly goes top 10 but is a big, physical SP with ace potential. Moore and co. will be all over him if he slips a bit and could offer top 10 money at No. 16

OF Jarred Kelenic, Waukasha West HS, WI

Spoiler!

Kelenic is the top prep bat, toolsy OF. Royals would be ecstatic to have shot at him.

1B Triston Casas, American Heritage HS (FL).

Spoiler!

Tremendous raw power, best in HS bats. Royals typically like HS arms or HS bats with "special" tools. He qualifies.

RHP Carter Stewart, Eau de Gallie HS (Ga).

Spoiler!

Another big, physical specimen with huge upside. More likely to be available mid-first than Rocker.

ANY Any, Any (Any). Any current top projected pick who slides for injury concerns. Includes current top prospect prospect SP Brady Singer, U of Florida.

Current Prospects to Watch:

OF Seuly Matias - Huge tools. Hit 2 HR in Lexington (A) season opener.

1B Nick Pratto - Top pick in 17 has advanced approach and good glove; needs to start tapping into power in first full year in minors. Also at Lexington.

OF Michael Gigliotti - Good defender in CF, good OBP skills, plus baserunner. Next mainstay in CF for KC, IMO. Advanced college bat also starting at Lexington.

OF Khalil Lee - Probably has highest upside in Royals' system. Could hit 30 HR in majors, could steal 30 bases. Plus defensive ability in RF. Nice test at Wilmington this year.

3B Emmanuel Rivera - Really nice approach and good contact skills. Power is still developing. Also getting a good test at Wilmington.

SP Foster Griffin - Made nice strides in 2017. Needs to continue to progress in 2018. Could be a lefty version of Jakob Junis (good breaking ball that he can really manipulate, OK fastball, good command).

1B Samir Duenez - Duenez still is intriguing, hoping for a step forward in his power production this year at Northwest Arkansas, which would turn him into a legit prospect.

Others to keep an eye on:
SP Gerson Garabito (Wilmington), OF Marten Gasparini (Lexington), C MJ Melendez (Lexington), RP Tyler Zuber (lexington), RP Richard Lovelady (Omaha), SP Dan Tillo (Lexington), SS Nicky Lopez (NWA), SP Scott Blewett (NWA), OF Brewer Hicklen (Idaho Falls),

In general, Lexington and Wilmington are the most interesting spots to watch. Nice depth and a lot of interesting pieces at both.

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

And as for deadline returns ... they’ll get some useful pieces but will need more of a scouting win type to really make it pay off.

Teams just don’t pay for rentals like they used to. Prospects are too valued now. Herrera should fetch a fringe 100 prospect type. That can boom into much more, quickly.

Seuly Matias is a great example of that type of guy. He made one top 100 coming into this year and is almost assuredly going to be on all of them next time around.

Even with the reduced returns, Moore has showed he's willing to take risks and still get a promising player in return. The Wade for Soler trade, while panned by many (including my dumbass) has the potential to end up being a major win for KC. One major lament was that had Wade not got hurt, the return would have been exponentially higher even if the deal was made 6 months earlier - but Soler just might prove to be good enough that even this analysis would be woefully incorrect.

[tk13]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

Nah. He had a clear plan, and it worked. Where he got lucky was that his bounce back, grit and high character acquisitions, (Wade Davis, Morales, Chris Young, Edinson) all came together to kickass in the same year. These types of signings, who more than often flame out for Moore (and Wade even did as a starter) all boosted his homegrown Latin American and Draft heavy team to the promised land.

His core was definitely a product of his scouting and plan of action, however. Now, whether he can adjust to the modern rules of the game remains to be seen, and with his performance so far, the leash needs to be shortening.

It didn't help when MLB clamped down on the draft rules. Dayton had a lot of success going over slot and spending a bunch of money in the draft. I don't know if it actually plays out that way when you statistically hash it out, but it seems like this team hasn't drafted as well since that happened.

[suzzer99]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

I love Baseball, so I’ll keep watching. I obviously didn’t see this kind of collapse coming. Still surprised they’re this bad.

Still see the positives in Merrifield and Herrera and Moustakas developing max trade value for themselves, Soler emerging, Junis, Jason Adam, Brad Keller.

I’m excited to see Mondesi later this year, and possibly Staumont and Lovelady. And to see what happens in the draft.

They’ve been connected a lot recently to Jordyn Adams, a dynamic athlete with a football commitment to North Carolina (WR). He’s a crazy athlete win Buxton/Trout like physical skills.

Why does everyone think we have to trade Whit? Are we not supposed to be good again til 2023 at the earliest? That's depressing.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by tk13

It didn't help when MLB clamped down on the draft rules. Dayton had a lot of success going over slot and spending a bunch of money in the draft. I don't know if it actually plays out that way when you statistically hash it out, but it seems like this team hasn't drafted as well since that happened.

They struggled in the first few years of the new system. Much better results the past few years.

Originally Posted by dlphg9

Dayton is a dipshit who lucked into a WS

The name of a dipshit is listed here, but isn’t “Dayton.”

Originally Posted by Bufkin

Can the same be said for Khalil Lee? I’m a huge fan of this kid but haven’t heard much on him since the off-season.

Lee is having a strong campaign, too. He has drastically reduced his K rate while improving his walk rate and SB success. Wilmington has sapped his HR totals a bit, as it normally does.

Originally Posted by suzzer99

Why does everyone think we have to trade Whit? Are we not supposed to be good again til 2023 at the earliest? That's depressing.

I don’t think they “have” to trade Merrifield. Return would have to be very strong. But he IS 29 and likely to be in a decline phase by 2021, when the team would be getting some of its promising next wave to the majors.

Still, though, if Soler can maintain this and Mondesi develops into a dynamic talent, Merrifield, Mondesi, Soler, and Perez might be something you can build around before 2021.

[RealSNR]

Do we have a prayer of getting a serviceable pitching staff (starting and bullpen) in the next two years? I worry about when the lone bright spots on the team like Merrifield and Soler won't be around

[OKchiefs]

Originally Posted by RealSNR

Do we have a prayer of getting a serviceable pitching staff (starting and bullpen) in the next two years? I worry about when the lone bright spots on the team like Merrifield and Soler won't be around

My fear is that 9/10 times it seems any SP prospect doesn't cut it as a starter and has to be a reliever. Good relief pitchers are nice, but our track record of developing starters is pretty bad.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by RealSNR

Do we have a prayer of getting a serviceable pitching staff (starting and bullpen) in the next two years? I worry about when the lone bright spots on the team like Merrifield and Soler won't be around

Sure. Duffy gets healthy, Junis continues to pitch at this level, Skoglund or Foster Griffin is a serviceable #5... and you’re a decent portion of the way there. That’s a rotation light on top end talent, though.

Bullpen future is bright, I think. Lovelady, Staumont, Adam, Hill is interesting.

[Titty Meat]

Lots of its in your statements Duncan. I also don't think Perez and Duffy will be as good by 2021.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Sure. Duffy gets healthy, Junis continues to pitch at this level, Skoglund or Foster Griffin is a serviceable #5... and you’re a decent portion of the way there. That’s a rotation light on top end talent, though.

Bullpen future is bright, I think. Lovelady, Staumont, Adam, Hill is interesting.

Are we thinking Karns is either done or a BP guy at this point?

[Why Not?]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

I also don't think Duffy will be as good by 2021.

As good as what, exactly?

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by Why Not?

As good as what, exactly?

The prior 7 years.

[OKchiefs]

Duffy said bury me a Royal, so let's bury him.

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by Why Not?

As good as what, exactly?

They were the past few years. I've always thought arm problems would catch up with Duffy and he clearly looks not healthy. As for Sal there's an expectation date on catchers.

[tk13]

Pitchers can be up and down from year to year... look at Herrera this year. Duffy can bounce back. He's completely cratered his value though... which sucks because he's our most valuable trade piece. Even after the game tonight he almost acted like he should go to the bullpen.

[tk13]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

They were the past few years. I've always thought arm problems would catch up with Duffy and he clearly looks not healthy. As for Sal there's an expectation date on catchers.

Maybe, but Yadier Molina is still out here chugging along in his 15th year at age 35. I don't know if Sal can do that, but he's only 28 and he's still playing great. If it's 2020 or 21 before these young guys come up, Salvy could still very well be a productive player. And he's certainly a great influence for young pitchers.

I do think if you trade him you have to get a legit, legit return... not one of these things we're probably going to do with Moose where you trade for someone's 15th best prospect. Otherwise you're better off hanging on to him and selling a few jerseys and giving the fans a favorite player to come to the park and see. At this rate he might have his number out there between the 10 and 20 on the HOF someday.