David - last time I checked, the Royals had zero minor leaguers in MLB.com's top 100. What's more concerning is that Keith Law agreed with them.
Those facts, combined with my own personal experiences as a Royals fan for more than a half century now, make it extraordinarily difficult for me to get interested at all in anyone currently toiling in the Royals minor league system. Nice things said about some of our coaches by outsiders don't help much.
Sure, the occasional MLB player will come from the minors despite the Royals problems with coaching and development. (See Maikel Garcia and Vinnie, both of whom are sort of unicorns among young Royals. "I hope we get more unicorns" is not a viable strategy, IMO.) But do they have an actual SYSTEM in place that will create a consistently productive pipeline to the big leagues? I have a great deal of trouble believing that.
Of course, you are far more optimistic than I am so please tell me: what am I missing? Is there any legitimate reason for hope in this area? (By "legitimate" I mean something more substantial than "well, if John Doe fixes this problem and that problem and the other problem he might make it to MLB.")
I think on the pitching side, things have changed quite a bit from last year to this year, which isn't going to show results right away and there's no guarantee, but everyone I've spoken with said Royals pitching prospects look different. The development system has been iffy at best. There's no doubt about that. The hope is that they are actually working on pitch development (which they literally almost never did before). They are preaching what other good organizations are preaching for the first time since they were one of the good organizations.
It's up to you if you want to believe in that or not. If you don't, then you better hope they spend some money/make some trades (which I think they will, maybe for the wrong reasons, but that's okay). If you do, then we should see the results later this year probably. Alec Marsh is an example of some changes and him finding success in the upper minors. Anthony Veneziano is another. In the lower minors, you've got Mozzicato and Sandlin and Cameron and others. I can't see the future, so I don't know if it'll work, but doing something different is a good first step at the very least.
Thank you for that. Believe it or not I'm not a complete grumpy old curmudgeonly skeptic. You've given me enough encouraging info for me to stay interested at least for now.
I am skeptical with young prospects as well. I think there are some signs that they are capable of developing, but my concern is if they can even identify a quality prospect that will fit with them
Two other pieces I'd like to see the Royals shopping
- Brady Singer, as a reliever with starter upside
- Dairon Blanco, as a base stealer / 5th outfielder
I also would be pleased as punch if the traded Salvy and this is probably the very last chance to do so. I don't need to see his decline in a Royals uniform on historically bad teams. He can come back for Royals HoF induction or George Brett's job (whatever that is) or anything he wants. The legacy of 14 and 15 is tainted though by the absolute decades-long trainwrecks before and after. Just having someone around to remember the good ole days doesn't do anything for me anymore cause it just reminds me how fleeting they were.
I struggle with shopping Singer right now. You're trading at his absolute lowest point. If you don't think it can get better, sure, dump now, but it's hard to imagine trading a guy who has struggled all year after his season last year and not getting at best half of what they would have gotten in the winter. Assuming teams believe they could reach him, they'd be lining up for him, but they'd also offer up a whole lot less. I think the better bet is to see if you can't figure something out with him and shop him in the offseason. He can still be marketed as a reliever with starter upside then.
Blanco, sure, if you can get something for him, do it, especially with all the outfielders they have needing time. I don't think you're getting a whole lot, but also, who cares?
On the Salvy front, I feel like a broken record, but I don't think he has nearly the value that many believe, especially at this deadline. First of all, teams really don't like trading for catching in a playoff race. I mean, a team that is desperately in need of some offense will and it does happen, but it's just very difficult for catchers to learn a pitching staff on the fly in crunch time. Add in that Salvy is 33 with a pretty extensive injury history and makes a crapload of money and I just don't think the return is what many believe it would be. They can pay down the salary and probably get something quality or include him in a deal and either dump the salary and get less or pay it down and get more, but it's just not the market that a lot of people make it seem.
I am done with Singer, but it would be galling to see him succeed somewhere else after sellng low. I guess the Royals could still get some value from him as a reliever.
Good points on Salvy! I've adjusted my expectations.
Thanks David, May just have been a time thing but noticed you left off the Marlins and the Cardinals. Maybe, the Cards aren’t adding this trade season…but man, if we could pick up one of their outfielders I think that could help. Ideally, it would have been Singer. With the way he has thrown chances are they aren’t interested in any starters we have at the moment. Marlins, Garcia (SS) screams Marlins to me right now. The interesting thing is Garcia fits on the roster right now which is more than some of these other guys. But you have to move something to get something and the Marlins should be in on a SS at some point here. Garcia/Melendez for something of equal value back would make a lot of sense with them.
I just don't think what the Marlins are looking for sets up especially well for what the Royals are going to be trading. We can talk all day about Garcia or Salvy and the fit there, but I'd be pretty surprised if either get traded, especially right now.
As for the Cardinals, I don't think they're trading, so I didn't even really consider them.
Salvy isn’t going anywhere. Should he…..yes but he won’t be. That one is what it is…no point getting riled up on that one. I’d like to see him in the playoffs again though before he is done.
I mean, maybe he should. I also don't know what the return is there. Like I said above, I don't think the market is what a lot of people believe it is.
I noticed you mentioned it as well in the article. But my biggest pet peeve is hearing this front office say major league talent back. You don’t have to say anything, just say best available talent back in return. The fact that they continue to say it means they whole heartedly believe that is what they need and that very much concerns me.
I think that until there are actions to speak louder than the words, the words are all we can judge, but I think I've been pretty consistent in my thoughts that I don't especially care what any GM says.
Agreed, my only issue with any GM saying it is when people call, what do you think they are going to throw around? They are going to toss around names that are close to major league ready because that’s what you’ve put in the press. He’s almost speaking into existence. But anywho. We’ll find out.
I would say it's a pretty good bet they'll be active. They've been active for awhile now. They've moved on from nine guys just from last year's Opening Day roster and 22 players who appeared in a game for them last year.
Is it odd that they have announced the counter move to Eaton yet? It hadn't occurred to me that anyone might be interested in the OF right now, but maybe an upcoming trade in works?
I also doubt there is a worthwhile market for Salvy. The only thing I could stretch is that they package him with Chapman, as Salvy seems to be the Aroldis whisperer
Ha I had been looking for it but didn't think to check Anne Rogers feed. Yeah I thought maybe the off day but as the day went on I hoped and dreamed for, well, hope. thanks for the knowledge as always!
Generally speaking, if they send someone down without a corresponding move, it's just that they either don't know who they're bringing up yet or they're activating someone off the IL.
David - last time I checked, the Royals had zero minor leaguers in MLB.com's top 100. What's more concerning is that Keith Law agreed with them.
Those facts, combined with my own personal experiences as a Royals fan for more than a half century now, make it extraordinarily difficult for me to get interested at all in anyone currently toiling in the Royals minor league system. Nice things said about some of our coaches by outsiders don't help much.
Sure, the occasional MLB player will come from the minors despite the Royals problems with coaching and development. (See Maikel Garcia and Vinnie, both of whom are sort of unicorns among young Royals. "I hope we get more unicorns" is not a viable strategy, IMO.) But do they have an actual SYSTEM in place that will create a consistently productive pipeline to the big leagues? I have a great deal of trouble believing that.
Of course, you are far more optimistic than I am so please tell me: what am I missing? Is there any legitimate reason for hope in this area? (By "legitimate" I mean something more substantial than "well, if John Doe fixes this problem and that problem and the other problem he might make it to MLB.")
I think on the pitching side, things have changed quite a bit from last year to this year, which isn't going to show results right away and there's no guarantee, but everyone I've spoken with said Royals pitching prospects look different. The development system has been iffy at best. There's no doubt about that. The hope is that they are actually working on pitch development (which they literally almost never did before). They are preaching what other good organizations are preaching for the first time since they were one of the good organizations.
It's up to you if you want to believe in that or not. If you don't, then you better hope they spend some money/make some trades (which I think they will, maybe for the wrong reasons, but that's okay). If you do, then we should see the results later this year probably. Alec Marsh is an example of some changes and him finding success in the upper minors. Anthony Veneziano is another. In the lower minors, you've got Mozzicato and Sandlin and Cameron and others. I can't see the future, so I don't know if it'll work, but doing something different is a good first step at the very least.
Thank you for that. Believe it or not I'm not a complete grumpy old curmudgeonly skeptic. You've given me enough encouraging info for me to stay interested at least for now.
I am skeptical with young prospects as well. I think there are some signs that they are capable of developing, but my concern is if they can even identify a quality prospect that will fit with them
Two other pieces I'd like to see the Royals shopping
- Brady Singer, as a reliever with starter upside
- Dairon Blanco, as a base stealer / 5th outfielder
I also would be pleased as punch if the traded Salvy and this is probably the very last chance to do so. I don't need to see his decline in a Royals uniform on historically bad teams. He can come back for Royals HoF induction or George Brett's job (whatever that is) or anything he wants. The legacy of 14 and 15 is tainted though by the absolute decades-long trainwrecks before and after. Just having someone around to remember the good ole days doesn't do anything for me anymore cause it just reminds me how fleeting they were.
I struggle with shopping Singer right now. You're trading at his absolute lowest point. If you don't think it can get better, sure, dump now, but it's hard to imagine trading a guy who has struggled all year after his season last year and not getting at best half of what they would have gotten in the winter. Assuming teams believe they could reach him, they'd be lining up for him, but they'd also offer up a whole lot less. I think the better bet is to see if you can't figure something out with him and shop him in the offseason. He can still be marketed as a reliever with starter upside then.
Blanco, sure, if you can get something for him, do it, especially with all the outfielders they have needing time. I don't think you're getting a whole lot, but also, who cares?
On the Salvy front, I feel like a broken record, but I don't think he has nearly the value that many believe, especially at this deadline. First of all, teams really don't like trading for catching in a playoff race. I mean, a team that is desperately in need of some offense will and it does happen, but it's just very difficult for catchers to learn a pitching staff on the fly in crunch time. Add in that Salvy is 33 with a pretty extensive injury history and makes a crapload of money and I just don't think the return is what many believe it would be. They can pay down the salary and probably get something quality or include him in a deal and either dump the salary and get less or pay it down and get more, but it's just not the market that a lot of people make it seem.
I am done with Singer, but it would be galling to see him succeed somewhere else after sellng low. I guess the Royals could still get some value from him as a reliever.
Good points on Salvy! I've adjusted my expectations.
Thanks for puttin in the time to give us these names. We'll see if it pays off soon, I guess.
Thanks David, May just have been a time thing but noticed you left off the Marlins and the Cardinals. Maybe, the Cards aren’t adding this trade season…but man, if we could pick up one of their outfielders I think that could help. Ideally, it would have been Singer. With the way he has thrown chances are they aren’t interested in any starters we have at the moment. Marlins, Garcia (SS) screams Marlins to me right now. The interesting thing is Garcia fits on the roster right now which is more than some of these other guys. But you have to move something to get something and the Marlins should be in on a SS at some point here. Garcia/Melendez for something of equal value back would make a lot of sense with them.
I just don't think what the Marlins are looking for sets up especially well for what the Royals are going to be trading. We can talk all day about Garcia or Salvy and the fit there, but I'd be pretty surprised if either get traded, especially right now.
As for the Cardinals, I don't think they're trading, so I didn't even really consider them.
Salvy isn’t going anywhere. Should he…..yes but he won’t be. That one is what it is…no point getting riled up on that one. I’d like to see him in the playoffs again though before he is done.
I mean, maybe he should. I also don't know what the return is there. Like I said above, I don't think the market is what a lot of people believe it is.
I noticed you mentioned it as well in the article. But my biggest pet peeve is hearing this front office say major league talent back. You don’t have to say anything, just say best available talent back in return. The fact that they continue to say it means they whole heartedly believe that is what they need and that very much concerns me.
I think that until there are actions to speak louder than the words, the words are all we can judge, but I think I've been pretty consistent in my thoughts that I don't especially care what any GM says.
Agreed, my only issue with any GM saying it is when people call, what do you think they are going to throw around? They are going to toss around names that are close to major league ready because that’s what you’ve put in the press. He’s almost speaking into existence. But anywho. We’ll find out.
I honestly don't know if that's true or not. I would guess conversations take place pretty separate of the media.
Thanks for the good information, David. I just hope they are active and do something, as I think this team needs a good shakeup.
I would say it's a pretty good bet they'll be active. They've been active for awhile now. They've moved on from nine guys just from last year's Opening Day roster and 22 players who appeared in a game for them last year.
Is it odd that they have announced the counter move to Eaton yet? It hadn't occurred to me that anyone might be interested in the OF right now, but maybe an upcoming trade in works?
I also doubt there is a worthwhile market for Salvy. The only thing I could stretch is that they package him with Chapman, as Salvy seems to be the Aroldis whisperer
It was always Isbel coming off the IL. They just announced it, but they generally do it that way on off days.
Ha I had been looking for it but didn't think to check Anne Rogers feed. Yeah I thought maybe the off day but as the day went on I hoped and dreamed for, well, hope. thanks for the knowledge as always!
Generally speaking, if they send someone down without a corresponding move, it's just that they either don't know who they're bringing up yet or they're activating someone off the IL.
(and oh yeah great call on Waters - read the article late and that night he came on)