This is just more of the same old teams signing everyone. Boring. And the fact that the Royals won't spend 16 million per year for a quality guy is just plain stupid.
The Royals should be getting involved with both Joc Pederson and Jurickson Profar. We really do need a corner OF, and both of these guys can do that with at least a reasonable amount of pop. Both have good OBP numbers, something that SHOULD be tremendously attractive to a team with historically bad numbers in that department. If you don't get guys on base, you don't score runs. The last time we were near the top 1/3 of the league was 2015 - we've been in the bottom 1/3 since then. We have plenty of young talent that we need to evaluate, but we need to add to that mix to help take some of the weight off guys who are trying to develop into MLB regulars.
They'll likely be in the market for a corner outfielder, but I can't imagine they're going to want to commit more than a year or two on anyone at this point. And I don't have a huge issue with that. They've got Tyler Gentry and Gavin Cross on the way with a ton of options already in the big leagues. Right now, their corner outfield options seem to be Melendez, Olivares, Eaton, maybe Pratto and Isbel. I'd rather give some opportunities to one of them (and Melendez, who I think will be an outfielder who catches occasionally rather than a catcher in the outfield) than commit three or more years to people. I think I'd rather see them go the trade route.
Personally I'd like to see the royals re sign benitendi. He's still young and plays a gold glove left field. His price really isn't that high and we have a lot of players that I think will be gone next year like Taylor, O'Hearn, and possibly Keller and dozier. I think they can afford to sign him and probably a few pitchers. Probably 2 starters and a couple of relievers. They need his bat. A lot of the young guys looked over matched at the plate. We need a couple of good hitters to take some of the pressure off the young guys. Witt would benefit from a good hitter hitting in front and behind him. It would have a ripple effect all the way down the lineup. I know everyone liked seeing all the rookies come up but the last third of the season they were pretty much a triple a team and it showed. If they wait for the young guys to develop at the major league level it's going to be a long wait. They really don't know who's going to develop into good hitters at this point. Witt was good showing speed, power, and the ability to drive in runs but he stunk in strikeouts and walks. He swings at a lot of bad pitches. I also was really not impressed with his fielding. I think he's a much better third baseman than shortstop. I think his arm is too strong at short but perfect at third. Think what he could do with a couple of good hitters protecting him. Same with pasquintino. Although he was impressive he still struck out more than advertised. They said he was a hitter that hit to all fields but all I saw was a guy pulling almost everything. If he's protected in the lineup, especially with his ability to walk, there's no telling what he could do. I think he'll be a much better hitter than Witt. It's going to take time with some of these guys and I'm not sure that the majors is the place to do it. Same with some of the young pitchers
This is just more of the same old teams signing everyone. Boring. And the fact that the Royals won't spend 16 million per year for a quality guy is just plain stupid.
The Royals should be getting involved with both Joc Pederson and Jurickson Profar. We really do need a corner OF, and both of these guys can do that with at least a reasonable amount of pop. Both have good OBP numbers, something that SHOULD be tremendously attractive to a team with historically bad numbers in that department. If you don't get guys on base, you don't score runs. The last time we were near the top 1/3 of the league was 2015 - we've been in the bottom 1/3 since then. We have plenty of young talent that we need to evaluate, but we need to add to that mix to help take some of the weight off guys who are trying to develop into MLB regulars.
They'll likely be in the market for a corner outfielder, but I can't imagine they're going to want to commit more than a year or two on anyone at this point. And I don't have a huge issue with that. They've got Tyler Gentry and Gavin Cross on the way with a ton of options already in the big leagues. Right now, their corner outfield options seem to be Melendez, Olivares, Eaton, maybe Pratto and Isbel. I'd rather give some opportunities to one of them (and Melendez, who I think will be an outfielder who catches occasionally rather than a catcher in the outfield) than commit three or more years to people. I think I'd rather see them go the trade route.
I'd be OK with a Zackh Eflinke combo.
Really rolls off the tongue.
Personally I'd like to see the royals re sign benitendi. He's still young and plays a gold glove left field. His price really isn't that high and we have a lot of players that I think will be gone next year like Taylor, O'Hearn, and possibly Keller and dozier. I think they can afford to sign him and probably a few pitchers. Probably 2 starters and a couple of relievers. They need his bat. A lot of the young guys looked over matched at the plate. We need a couple of good hitters to take some of the pressure off the young guys. Witt would benefit from a good hitter hitting in front and behind him. It would have a ripple effect all the way down the lineup. I know everyone liked seeing all the rookies come up but the last third of the season they were pretty much a triple a team and it showed. If they wait for the young guys to develop at the major league level it's going to be a long wait. They really don't know who's going to develop into good hitters at this point. Witt was good showing speed, power, and the ability to drive in runs but he stunk in strikeouts and walks. He swings at a lot of bad pitches. I also was really not impressed with his fielding. I think he's a much better third baseman than shortstop. I think his arm is too strong at short but perfect at third. Think what he could do with a couple of good hitters protecting him. Same with pasquintino. Although he was impressive he still struck out more than advertised. They said he was a hitter that hit to all fields but all I saw was a guy pulling almost everything. If he's protected in the lineup, especially with his ability to walk, there's no telling what he could do. I think he'll be a much better hitter than Witt. It's going to take time with some of these guys and I'm not sure that the majors is the place to do it. Same with some of the young pitchers