Thanks David, so happy to start to see a clearer plan now and some roster churn. I don’t even really care the return at this point. Some of these arms will work, some won’t and that’s fine. I will care a little more about the return for Barlow though. A little worried they try and trade Barlow specifically for a third baseman…which just get the best deal you can and not worry about a specific position. Does Garret have much trade value. One of these lefties probably get moved…but I’m just not sure which one has all that much value or you just moving a ehh bullpen arm for a ehh bullpen arm which is fine I guess.
I might be the only one not all that excited to see Greinke return….at least if it is a two year deal. And maybe that’s the hold up and the royals will wait him out on a one year deal. But for two…..he made it work last year but a lot of smoke and mirrors. The Royals are at least interesting this week. Better than most of the offseason.
I decided to look for every player the Royals have moved on from this offseason.
Gabe Speier
Sebastian Rivero
Nate Webb
Jake Brentz
Brent Rooker
Wyatt Mills
Ryan O'Hearn
Michael Taylor
Adalberto Mondesi
If you include Greinke (and I know that will likely be reversed soon), that's 25% of the 40-man out the door AND they've overhauled the front office and on-field coaching staff.
So the moves are happening! I don't believe either trade happens if Dayton was still the GM. As electric as a player Mondesi is, the key word is PLAYER! You not a player if not playing. Good luck to the lad. Michael A., from everything I heard, was a PROFESSIONAL! Hate to see him go, his skill set is what the Royals need in CF. And what happened to the adage of trades within the division? This Chapman signing is confusing. Most deals are consummated quickly, but maybe there is a medical issue? All the pitchers on the roster, I feel, will clear itself out with the new staff. I think a number of them will finally be sent packing. I, for one, am hoping better coaching will lead to more success. Sure can't be much worse than Eldred was!
Got an album for the day, Head East - Flat As A Pancake. My 2nd favorite album from the seventies. Thanks, as always, for your insight!
So, who is your best guess for 3B on Opening Day? Lopez, assuming he's still here? Eaton? Is Garcia a realistic option with a strong spring or are we thinking more down the road on him? Anyone they might be targeting outside the org? (Please don't say Dozier. Please don't say Dozier... I know it sounds like I'm bagging on Dozier, but I'm not. Maybe he could have a role in this org if he puts it all together again, but I don't think it's at 3B.)
For me I will always pair Mondesi and Whit Merrifield. It is a shame that Mondesi's roster spot on the WS team in 15 along with Omar Infante blocked Whit Merrifield who at that point likely proved in the minors that he could play at a comparable level as Infante and had, in retrospect, much higher upside than Mondesi had.
Mr. Lesky, I want to apologize in advance for the lengthy comment, but this is great stuff (your article, not my comment!).
First off, I always feel the adrenaline flowing when I know Spring Training is near. I consider myself a huge baseball nerd and the amount of quality content you've delivered during the off-season scratches that baseball "itch" for someone like me. I'm a relatively new subscriber to Inside the Crown, and this kind of stuff is a game-changer when I'm craving some baseball content in the middle of an NFL-dominated news cycle. I was actually producing "The Homestretch" with Sterling Holmes when you were a guest on the show, so that's how I found your work. That, and Twitter, of course. Anyways, thanks for your work!
Now, a quick Mondesi thought and a couple different questions:
I'm always going to be a Mondesi believer, and it pained me to see him go yesterday. A couple friends of mine used to work as bat boys and then on the equipment staff in the Royals locker room when we were still in college, and they all had great things to say about the super-friendly guy he is, on and off the field. Even though I have a personal grudge against big spenders like the Red Sox, I'm going to root for Mondesi to become the star-caliber player I think he can be. It just didn't work out, and it was time for the Royals to rid themselves of the constant "worry" that comes with Mondesi on the field. They're no longer handcuffed by him, if that makes sense, which is a positive thing moving forward.
- When it comes to Aroldis Chapman, is it normal for his signing to be unofficial this long? Just curious if it's a health concern or something else.
- Also, are you familiar with how one might be able to watch the World Baseball Classic? I definitely want to tune in to see Bobby Witt on the same team as Mike freakin' Trout.
- I'm anxious to learn what the potential opening day lineup might look like. Is MJ Melendez really going to be a leadoff hitter for years to come? I see him more as a 4 or 5 hole hitter, maybe even in the 2 spot given his ability to get on base. I know the lineup will feature MJ, BWJr, Sal, and Vinnie at the top. Is MJ leading off for lack of better options?
- Finally, when it comes to the starting rotation, what should we expect? I'm confident we can pencil in Singer at the top, Greinke if he re-signs, and probably Lyles based on the contract he signed. Other than that, I'm dumbfounded.
Is Keller staying in the pen? Will Lynch be an automatic? Needless to say, the starting staff worries me.
I LOVE the overhaul the organization has done to the pitching development/coaching staff, but how much can we really expect things to improve in year 1? Not sure you can elevate the pitching performance a ton, maybe there's just not enough talent there to begin with. That's my big question about this upcoming season, and no doubt what I'll have my eye on.
Overall, this offseason has encouraged me as a Royals fan. With the moves and changes they've made, I am optimistic for the first time in awhile. It feels like they have a PLAN! Finally! The young hitters and potential lineup gives me confidence, so I'm definitely going to have fun to watching them at the plate, but the Pitching staff is what I think we should really keep a watchful eye on.
Thanks your work again! And sorry about the laundry list of questions, I think I'm just anxious for Opening Day.
Thanks David, so happy to start to see a clearer plan now and some roster churn. I don’t even really care the return at this point. Some of these arms will work, some won’t and that’s fine. I will care a little more about the return for Barlow though. A little worried they try and trade Barlow specifically for a third baseman…which just get the best deal you can and not worry about a specific position. Does Garret have much trade value. One of these lefties probably get moved…but I’m just not sure which one has all that much value or you just moving a ehh bullpen arm for a ehh bullpen arm which is fine I guess.
I might be the only one not all that excited to see Greinke return….at least if it is a two year deal. And maybe that’s the hold up and the royals will wait him out on a one year deal. But for two…..he made it work last year but a lot of smoke and mirrors. The Royals are at least interesting this week. Better than most of the offseason.
I decided to look for every player the Royals have moved on from this offseason.
Gabe Speier
Sebastian Rivero
Nate Webb
Jake Brentz
Brent Rooker
Wyatt Mills
Ryan O'Hearn
Michael Taylor
Adalberto Mondesi
If you include Greinke (and I know that will likely be reversed soon), that's 25% of the 40-man out the door AND they've overhauled the front office and on-field coaching staff.
Transactional.
So the moves are happening! I don't believe either trade happens if Dayton was still the GM. As electric as a player Mondesi is, the key word is PLAYER! You not a player if not playing. Good luck to the lad. Michael A., from everything I heard, was a PROFESSIONAL! Hate to see him go, his skill set is what the Royals need in CF. And what happened to the adage of trades within the division? This Chapman signing is confusing. Most deals are consummated quickly, but maybe there is a medical issue? All the pitchers on the roster, I feel, will clear itself out with the new staff. I think a number of them will finally be sent packing. I, for one, am hoping better coaching will lead to more success. Sure can't be much worse than Eldred was!
Got an album for the day, Head East - Flat As A Pancake. My 2nd favorite album from the seventies. Thanks, as always, for your insight!
So, who is your best guess for 3B on Opening Day? Lopez, assuming he's still here? Eaton? Is Garcia a realistic option with a strong spring or are we thinking more down the road on him? Anyone they might be targeting outside the org? (Please don't say Dozier. Please don't say Dozier... I know it sounds like I'm bagging on Dozier, but I'm not. Maybe he could have a role in this org if he puts it all together again, but I don't think it's at 3B.)
For me I will always pair Mondesi and Whit Merrifield. It is a shame that Mondesi's roster spot on the WS team in 15 along with Omar Infante blocked Whit Merrifield who at that point likely proved in the minors that he could play at a comparable level as Infante and had, in retrospect, much higher upside than Mondesi had.
Mr. Lesky, I want to apologize in advance for the lengthy comment, but this is great stuff (your article, not my comment!).
First off, I always feel the adrenaline flowing when I know Spring Training is near. I consider myself a huge baseball nerd and the amount of quality content you've delivered during the off-season scratches that baseball "itch" for someone like me. I'm a relatively new subscriber to Inside the Crown, and this kind of stuff is a game-changer when I'm craving some baseball content in the middle of an NFL-dominated news cycle. I was actually producing "The Homestretch" with Sterling Holmes when you were a guest on the show, so that's how I found your work. That, and Twitter, of course. Anyways, thanks for your work!
Now, a quick Mondesi thought and a couple different questions:
I'm always going to be a Mondesi believer, and it pained me to see him go yesterday. A couple friends of mine used to work as bat boys and then on the equipment staff in the Royals locker room when we were still in college, and they all had great things to say about the super-friendly guy he is, on and off the field. Even though I have a personal grudge against big spenders like the Red Sox, I'm going to root for Mondesi to become the star-caliber player I think he can be. It just didn't work out, and it was time for the Royals to rid themselves of the constant "worry" that comes with Mondesi on the field. They're no longer handcuffed by him, if that makes sense, which is a positive thing moving forward.
- When it comes to Aroldis Chapman, is it normal for his signing to be unofficial this long? Just curious if it's a health concern or something else.
- Also, are you familiar with how one might be able to watch the World Baseball Classic? I definitely want to tune in to see Bobby Witt on the same team as Mike freakin' Trout.
- I'm anxious to learn what the potential opening day lineup might look like. Is MJ Melendez really going to be a leadoff hitter for years to come? I see him more as a 4 or 5 hole hitter, maybe even in the 2 spot given his ability to get on base. I know the lineup will feature MJ, BWJr, Sal, and Vinnie at the top. Is MJ leading off for lack of better options?
- Finally, when it comes to the starting rotation, what should we expect? I'm confident we can pencil in Singer at the top, Greinke if he re-signs, and probably Lyles based on the contract he signed. Other than that, I'm dumbfounded.
Is Keller staying in the pen? Will Lynch be an automatic? Needless to say, the starting staff worries me.
I LOVE the overhaul the organization has done to the pitching development/coaching staff, but how much can we really expect things to improve in year 1? Not sure you can elevate the pitching performance a ton, maybe there's just not enough talent there to begin with. That's my big question about this upcoming season, and no doubt what I'll have my eye on.
Overall, this offseason has encouraged me as a Royals fan. With the moves and changes they've made, I am optimistic for the first time in awhile. It feels like they have a PLAN! Finally! The young hitters and potential lineup gives me confidence, so I'm definitely going to have fun to watching them at the plate, but the Pitching staff is what I think we should really keep a watchful eye on.
Thanks your work again! And sorry about the laundry list of questions, I think I'm just anxious for Opening Day.