Assign Rusty Kuntz to work with all the possible outfielders and infielders to see if we have any average/above average outfielders in our system (no one off limits for the Rusty Project except for guys like MJ (and, to me, Pratto), who are just too good and too close at other positions. This is like the Manhattan Project, only to see if we have and can develop any CF and corner OFs in house who can be worthy (or complementary) parts of our next championship core. The currency of baseball is not pitchers, but it finding enough for a championship core, and then to keep them coming. With high quality scouting and development teams to pull it off. And look for an OF (hopefully CF) college guy with a good bat as well to hopefully supplant Michael Taylor sooner than later.
Benny to me seems no more than an average to slightly above average corner outfielder. And, to me, that is not something that you pay big for. And baseball increasingly seems to feel the same way, the other currency of baseball being young good players before they hit the free agent paydays. So, with enough drafting and internal development work with the Rusty Project, we do not pay Benny unless the Project fails.
I agree. He is a decent player, but not a great player. Keeping him long term doesn't seem to be in the Royals best interest, in my opinion. Most of farm is filled with outfielders who's upside are not much better than what he offers. If we get the Benintendi this year who looked more like the end of last year, there is a conversation to be had. Otherwise, letting him walk, or trading him would seem to be the best decision.
Dayton Moore and Royals management have always said pitching and more specific left handed pitching is the currency of baseball. Trading some of the excess arms the team is collecting, could bring back more elite outfield talent, and sooner, than trying to draft or develop the players we will need out there to be competitive. Granted they need to perform better this year. I believe they will. Young arms almost always over throw early in their careers.
If not Rusty then someone who can get the job done, internally if we have it, or hire someone pronto if we don't. And stop looking for guys who can get the job done with just the glove, or just the bat. Thankfully we now seem to be actually looking for guys who can hit as well as field, so no more Bubba's. A good young baseball player can do both well enough, to end up being above average overall. I do hope you are right that some cream will rise this year if we have some. I also hope we draft some. Benny most likely will be a casualty like the others hitting free agency - the superstars will still get paid, but otherwise the league relies on the good young guys before they hit free agency. Now, at some point as that reality hits home, so that the free agency prices drop to equal the arbitration prices for the good young guys, then there will be room for them. And, for that price, then you can give a Benny 2 or 3 years at what would be an arb price for a similarly producing young player. Now, I am all for the new CBA giving those guys the chance for arb earlier, and for the pre-arb bonus pool. The players deserve their fair share.
A couple of thoughts. I think Benintendi's year might have looked better without the injuries last season. Of course, injuries can never be projected, nor can we know what might have been. I just think he's been a decent fit, and would like to see more. I am not a fan of 5-6 year contracts, as there seem to be more downsides and failures than successes. I would be amenable to a shorter extension for Benny at this point. Here's my reasoning: I think sometimes we get caught up in saying "well, he's a solid player, but maybe there's somebody better to play there." That is a big what-if game, and sometimes you are just better to stay with a guy who may not have the highest ceiling, but does seem to have a fairly high floor. He is not likely to carry the team often, but as a complimentary piece in the offense he may fit just fine.
I like Benintendi - a lot. He IS a Gold Glover, on a team that has consistently valued defensive contributions equally with big offensive numbers. I know he is not a great OF - but how many of the guys on the World Series teams were GREAT players? Is having great players really the key? We dismantled those WS teams in fairly short order because those guys got too pricey for KC to keep - and they weren't even "great" players. We can't offer the kind of money that a bigger market team can, and attracting and keeping elite players has not exactly been a strength that the Royals have demonstrated [with the notable exception of George Brett]. And let's never, EVER, repeat the Carlos Beltran trade, shall we? [I'm not comparing Beltran to Benintendi, just pointing out that we have allowed talented people to go in terrible deals just to get "something"]
We have to play the game a bit differently.
At some point, you have to decide that we are going to build around good solid players, and let those players know that you want them here. Benintendi is one of those (IMO). So, in my mind, you offer Benintendi 3/$45 with a couple of options tbd so that he feels appreciated and valued. If he performs well enough that you want to keep him longer, great. If he wants to leave, (or if we aren't happy), then we aren't locked into a long, expensive contract.
I agree with an extension or QO and let him walk. Mid season trades are usually poor returns or salary dumps just like you said.
How does signing Michael Conforto compare to signing Benintendi? I know he is a guy you covet. I also assume it would be an either/or not both situation. And it doesn't matter to me if he plays RF or LF. I assume the other position will be made up of some combination of Whit/Dozier/Isbel/Olivares/O'Hearn.
If the royals are truly committed to playing the young guys and seeing what holes they need to fill then they should trade him regardless of the return and let Isbel play left. That won't happen....but that should happen in a year we are bringing up Witt, Pratto, and MJ. I understand the optics and they have to put a product on the field they can sell. I'm to the point however of play them, lets see what we have, and then make some real moves next offseason. I still think they should get the Red starters. The only way you extend Benentendi is if you make some other moves (Castillo) and say, here's the best team we can possibly field lets go. Where they are now....is a little bit of no mans land though. Not really going to compete for anything this year, but new blood on the way, not entirely sure what holes will be needed to fill besides CF. If we aren't really going to compete this year then move him and play Isbel full time as part of the young crop. That's so anti DM it hurts though. lol
Well David, your going to have to find more to talk about without real baseball. They couldn’t agree to a deal and now we will miss the first few series. If your the players, at this point you might as well hold out as long as it takes.
Assign Rusty Kuntz to work with all the possible outfielders and infielders to see if we have any average/above average outfielders in our system (no one off limits for the Rusty Project except for guys like MJ (and, to me, Pratto), who are just too good and too close at other positions. This is like the Manhattan Project, only to see if we have and can develop any CF and corner OFs in house who can be worthy (or complementary) parts of our next championship core. The currency of baseball is not pitchers, but it finding enough for a championship core, and then to keep them coming. With high quality scouting and development teams to pull it off. And look for an OF (hopefully CF) college guy with a good bat as well to hopefully supplant Michael Taylor sooner than later.
Benny to me seems no more than an average to slightly above average corner outfielder. And, to me, that is not something that you pay big for. And baseball increasingly seems to feel the same way, the other currency of baseball being young good players before they hit the free agent paydays. So, with enough drafting and internal development work with the Rusty Project, we do not pay Benny unless the Project fails.
I agree. He is a decent player, but not a great player. Keeping him long term doesn't seem to be in the Royals best interest, in my opinion. Most of farm is filled with outfielders who's upside are not much better than what he offers. If we get the Benintendi this year who looked more like the end of last year, there is a conversation to be had. Otherwise, letting him walk, or trading him would seem to be the best decision.
Dayton Moore and Royals management have always said pitching and more specific left handed pitching is the currency of baseball. Trading some of the excess arms the team is collecting, could bring back more elite outfield talent, and sooner, than trying to draft or develop the players we will need out there to be competitive. Granted they need to perform better this year. I believe they will. Young arms almost always over throw early in their careers.
If not Rusty then someone who can get the job done, internally if we have it, or hire someone pronto if we don't. And stop looking for guys who can get the job done with just the glove, or just the bat. Thankfully we now seem to be actually looking for guys who can hit as well as field, so no more Bubba's. A good young baseball player can do both well enough, to end up being above average overall. I do hope you are right that some cream will rise this year if we have some. I also hope we draft some. Benny most likely will be a casualty like the others hitting free agency - the superstars will still get paid, but otherwise the league relies on the good young guys before they hit free agency. Now, at some point as that reality hits home, so that the free agency prices drop to equal the arbitration prices for the good young guys, then there will be room for them. And, for that price, then you can give a Benny 2 or 3 years at what would be an arb price for a similarly producing young player. Now, I am all for the new CBA giving those guys the chance for arb earlier, and for the pre-arb bonus pool. The players deserve their fair share.
A couple of thoughts. I think Benintendi's year might have looked better without the injuries last season. Of course, injuries can never be projected, nor can we know what might have been. I just think he's been a decent fit, and would like to see more. I am not a fan of 5-6 year contracts, as there seem to be more downsides and failures than successes. I would be amenable to a shorter extension for Benny at this point. Here's my reasoning: I think sometimes we get caught up in saying "well, he's a solid player, but maybe there's somebody better to play there." That is a big what-if game, and sometimes you are just better to stay with a guy who may not have the highest ceiling, but does seem to have a fairly high floor. He is not likely to carry the team often, but as a complimentary piece in the offense he may fit just fine.
I like Benintendi - a lot. He IS a Gold Glover, on a team that has consistently valued defensive contributions equally with big offensive numbers. I know he is not a great OF - but how many of the guys on the World Series teams were GREAT players? Is having great players really the key? We dismantled those WS teams in fairly short order because those guys got too pricey for KC to keep - and they weren't even "great" players. We can't offer the kind of money that a bigger market team can, and attracting and keeping elite players has not exactly been a strength that the Royals have demonstrated [with the notable exception of George Brett]. And let's never, EVER, repeat the Carlos Beltran trade, shall we? [I'm not comparing Beltran to Benintendi, just pointing out that we have allowed talented people to go in terrible deals just to get "something"]
We have to play the game a bit differently.
At some point, you have to decide that we are going to build around good solid players, and let those players know that you want them here. Benintendi is one of those (IMO). So, in my mind, you offer Benintendi 3/$45 with a couple of options tbd so that he feels appreciated and valued. If he performs well enough that you want to keep him longer, great. If he wants to leave, (or if we aren't happy), then we aren't locked into a long, expensive contract.
I agree with an extension or QO and let him walk. Mid season trades are usually poor returns or salary dumps just like you said.
How does signing Michael Conforto compare to signing Benintendi? I know he is a guy you covet. I also assume it would be an either/or not both situation. And it doesn't matter to me if he plays RF or LF. I assume the other position will be made up of some combination of Whit/Dozier/Isbel/Olivares/O'Hearn.
Benintendi's top similar batter according to Baseball Reference: Kevin Mench.
I don't know what this means other than Dayton righted a wrong.
If the royals are truly committed to playing the young guys and seeing what holes they need to fill then they should trade him regardless of the return and let Isbel play left. That won't happen....but that should happen in a year we are bringing up Witt, Pratto, and MJ. I understand the optics and they have to put a product on the field they can sell. I'm to the point however of play them, lets see what we have, and then make some real moves next offseason. I still think they should get the Red starters. The only way you extend Benentendi is if you make some other moves (Castillo) and say, here's the best team we can possibly field lets go. Where they are now....is a little bit of no mans land though. Not really going to compete for anything this year, but new blood on the way, not entirely sure what holes will be needed to fill besides CF. If we aren't really going to compete this year then move him and play Isbel full time as part of the young crop. That's so anti DM it hurts though. lol
Well David, your going to have to find more to talk about without real baseball. They couldn’t agree to a deal and now we will miss the first few series. If your the players, at this point you might as well hold out as long as it takes.