It seems like things are on track. Longoria would be a good add because of his experience, both with the postseason and dealing with adversities. I also think he will probably only play about 100 games this season. There are some intriguing arms on the free agent market this year. If we could sign at least one, that will help a lot. Besides Barlow, I wasn't very impressed with anyone in the pen last year. Maybe they could move Heasley or Bubic to the pen, or even both. Many young pitchers learned how to pitch there.
Coleman is absolutely part of that bullpen and he was good last year. Richard Lovelady was added back to the 40-man yesterday. He was very good in 2021 before the injury and had four excellent games after coming back at the end of last year. Staumont has a track record, but he's a question mark. They are likely to put a starter or two in there and sign a guy or two, but there are arms I think you're missing there.
They are saying all the right things….and appear to be doing all the right things. I’d just like to see that first move or trade as verification……that they realize this roster needs work. I think we’ll get there…..but until then….just that little ping of doubt yet.
I think them moving on from guys like Zuber, Weaver, Speier, etc. shows it. I think it's out now, but I was on the RR podcast and mentioned that I think the biggest moves will be to improve the bottom of the roster this winter.
I almost mentioned this the other day when you t(alked about the top free agents. I watched this piece on MLB network in which they discussed the fact of too many shortstops for available spots. I got to thinking about the Royals getting in on Swanson if maybe they might get for around 20 million per year .He could be your right handed batthat they need. I would love to see them get in on one of these top end guys. Just a crazy thought. Don't kill me too much.
I personally think they're wrong in saying that it's too early to spend. The young guys in the majors in 2022 means they need to be prepared to compete in 2024 or 2025 at the latest or else they risk wasting their inexpensive window and this, to me, is the time to spend some money. I'd love to see them go after Swanson, and maybe the market falls back for him and they do, but I don't see it happening.
I know KC was pretty bad last year as far as their record showed but I really don't think they're that far off. A couple of bats, a couple of starting pitchers and a few relievers and this is a different team. I think they need to stay away from mediocre or average players. It really doesn't help their situation. They had a lot of rookies last year and about half of them need more time in the minors. Some probably just won't make it so it makes sense to me that if your going to sign or trade for someone get someone decent. Stay away from high strikeout low walk guys and stay away from reclamation projects. They only reclamation project I'd take a chance on would be synderguard. (Don't know if I spelled that right but I don't have time to look it up). He pitched decent last year after Tommy John and held up for the entire season. I think he'll be better this year. I've said this before. Players like Witt and pasquintino and maybe even Melendez (who I'm not that high on) would benefit from a couple of good veteran bats protecting them and I'm not including Perez who I think is on his way down and strikes out too much. I'm talking about guys who get on base. We need a couple of good starting pitchers and I don't mean someone 32 to 36 years old. Someone to build on. Relievers are a dime a dozen so it's just a matter of finding the right ones that fit this team. Right now coaching should be the number one priority especially pitching. I think you're going to see a big jump with this team if they can get the right pieces. Some of these young guys will be better next year. Some will be worse. Brady singer will have to at least duplicate last year before I declare him as finally arriving. Bubic to me is a quit a ways off. He needs to learn to throw a good slider and throw that curveball less. He walks way too many then hangs that curveball. I not high on the curveball anyway. I think it's a risky pitch and very few pitcher can put it where they want. A slider on the other hand can miss all day long. That's the point. Its starts off looking like a strike then hits the dirt. Most of the young guys including relievers need to work on that. I think they can make some decent trades if they throw in some young guys along with guys like dozier and Taylor. I'm not high on pratto but I think some other teams might be. Especially teams with small parks. He just strikes out way too much and probably always will. Look back in royal history. The good team we had (with the exception of the 14 and 15 teams) had good pitching and line drive gap hitters who took walks and didn't strikeout a lot. This is a big park. It doesn't make sense to have high strikeout homerun guys because most of them will be hurt by the large park. Most line drive gap hitters eventually will hit with some power as they age. Anyway that's what I think. I've been watching baseball since 76 and I think I've picked up a few things
Just to be a contrarian: Billy Butler was a line drive gap hitter, a genuine doubles machine and we all thought his power would come along sooner or later. Surely bunches of those doubles would eventually turn into home runs, right? Oops.
But in general I think you've nailed a lot of key points. I've been watching baseball since '65 and you're right: you have, indeed, picked up a few things!
I don't think olivares or Isbell are the answer for the outfield. Isbell is a very good fielder but he can't hit. Olivares can hit but can't field and gets hurt too much. It guys like this that I think would be good trade bait if they traded Taylor and dozier with them. Teams might take Taylor and dozier if they threw in a few youn guys like these guys. I would include Melendez in with that group. I'm not high on him at all. He walks a lot and hits a few home runs but he just can't hit and he's a bad defensive player. They have enough young players that I think they can afford to trade some of these young guys if they can get a good player in return. I'm tire of seeing the royals trading guys and getting nothing in return
Thanks for the insight! Maybe the Royals resign Gallagher, he was released. I believe a new pitching coach can help some of the arms in the bullpen - Garrett, Cuas are 2 that come to mind. People talk about Oliveras and his defense, but how many teams have an outfielder that they replace in late innings for defense. I believe he will be an asset offensively, if healthy for a year. Isbel is a opposite of Oliveras, defense but little offense. I believe I read Giolito is available and I like him. Is it worth a gamble to sign Duffy? Again, the new coaches and a greater use of analytics could make a difference in what we have.
Yeah, I wouldn't be too surprised if Gallagher is back and I do agree that it's hard to evaluate really anyone on the staff without knowing who the pitching coach is going to be, but I also believe that they'll make a good hire. Why? I don't know, I just feel good about it.
I've seen some talk that Giolito might be available as well, but how much are you giving up to a division foe for a guy who's a free agent after the season and is coming off a down year? I can't imagine the juice would be worth the squeeze there. But I would definitely give Duffy a minor league deal at this point and hope for the best. They need so many innings that they can't afford to not uncover every stone.
I've been saying for quite a long while that Salvy, as much as we love him, should NOT be regarded as untouchable. Of course that was back when I was still believing the hype about MJ being some sort of catching savant.
You mentioned that the Royals are looking for a backup catcher. Does that mean that the "MJ behind the plate" experiment is officially over? Or maybe officially on hold at least for now? That would obviously make retaining Salvy more important, at least in the short term.
I understand that coming off an injury-plagued season isn't the best time to trade anyone. I still think Salvy could bring them a nice haul of prospects in return. But only if SOMEBODY could be counted on to catch 120 games for them next year. Your thoughts, David?
I don't know if MJ behind the plate is over or on hold, but I think they want him to be focusing on the outfield for the timebeing. In my opinion, when you want someone focusing on a non-catcher position, they generally don't come back to focusing on catching, but you never know I suppose.
While Salvy would bring back a decent amount in a trade, I have my doubts of what it might be. The number of catchers in baseball who can actually hit is super low, but I think it's tough to sell $64 million for age 33-35 seasons for a catcher with as much wear and tear as he has. The last four seasons, he's played 57% of the total games the Royals have played. Take out 2019 and it's obviously much better, but he played 62% of games in 2020 and 70% in 2022. Generally, teams aren't going to assume that gets better. So it just makes it super difficult to gauge what he could possibly bring back. My guess is Royals fans would want a top-3 organizational prospect, a top-10 and then a couple in the 12-20 range. I think he would bring back a 5-8 range, 12-16 range and a flyer. Not sure if that's enough.
It is more difficult to make it work with Click than with Powers, just because Click held a top spot and Powers didn't, so they could bring Powers in as AGM if they wanted to while I doubt Click would agree to that. I think what's most likely with Click is that he catches on somewhere, maybe as an advisor, and then jumps to a GM or President job next winter. I'd love it for the Royals to take a chance on that and I know the Royals obviously are interested in what the Rays and Astros have done, which makes Click make a lot of sense. Powers is intriguing as a Dodgers guy previous to joining Houston. He'd be a great addition as well.
It seems like things are on track. Longoria would be a good add because of his experience, both with the postseason and dealing with adversities. I also think he will probably only play about 100 games this season. There are some intriguing arms on the free agent market this year. If we could sign at least one, that will help a lot. Besides Barlow, I wasn't very impressed with anyone in the pen last year. Maybe they could move Heasley or Bubic to the pen, or even both. Many young pitchers learned how to pitch there.
Coleman is absolutely part of that bullpen and he was good last year. Richard Lovelady was added back to the 40-man yesterday. He was very good in 2021 before the injury and had four excellent games after coming back at the end of last year. Staumont has a track record, but he's a question mark. They are likely to put a starter or two in there and sign a guy or two, but there are arms I think you're missing there.
They are saying all the right things….and appear to be doing all the right things. I’d just like to see that first move or trade as verification……that they realize this roster needs work. I think we’ll get there…..but until then….just that little ping of doubt yet.
I think them moving on from guys like Zuber, Weaver, Speier, etc. shows it. I think it's out now, but I was on the RR podcast and mentioned that I think the biggest moves will be to improve the bottom of the roster this winter.
I almost mentioned this the other day when you t(alked about the top free agents. I watched this piece on MLB network in which they discussed the fact of too many shortstops for available spots. I got to thinking about the Royals getting in on Swanson if maybe they might get for around 20 million per year .He could be your right handed batthat they need. I would love to see them get in on one of these top end guys. Just a crazy thought. Don't kill me too much.
I personally think they're wrong in saying that it's too early to spend. The young guys in the majors in 2022 means they need to be prepared to compete in 2024 or 2025 at the latest or else they risk wasting their inexpensive window and this, to me, is the time to spend some money. I'd love to see them go after Swanson, and maybe the market falls back for him and they do, but I don't see it happening.
I know KC was pretty bad last year as far as their record showed but I really don't think they're that far off. A couple of bats, a couple of starting pitchers and a few relievers and this is a different team. I think they need to stay away from mediocre or average players. It really doesn't help their situation. They had a lot of rookies last year and about half of them need more time in the minors. Some probably just won't make it so it makes sense to me that if your going to sign or trade for someone get someone decent. Stay away from high strikeout low walk guys and stay away from reclamation projects. They only reclamation project I'd take a chance on would be synderguard. (Don't know if I spelled that right but I don't have time to look it up). He pitched decent last year after Tommy John and held up for the entire season. I think he'll be better this year. I've said this before. Players like Witt and pasquintino and maybe even Melendez (who I'm not that high on) would benefit from a couple of good veteran bats protecting them and I'm not including Perez who I think is on his way down and strikes out too much. I'm talking about guys who get on base. We need a couple of good starting pitchers and I don't mean someone 32 to 36 years old. Someone to build on. Relievers are a dime a dozen so it's just a matter of finding the right ones that fit this team. Right now coaching should be the number one priority especially pitching. I think you're going to see a big jump with this team if they can get the right pieces. Some of these young guys will be better next year. Some will be worse. Brady singer will have to at least duplicate last year before I declare him as finally arriving. Bubic to me is a quit a ways off. He needs to learn to throw a good slider and throw that curveball less. He walks way too many then hangs that curveball. I not high on the curveball anyway. I think it's a risky pitch and very few pitcher can put it where they want. A slider on the other hand can miss all day long. That's the point. Its starts off looking like a strike then hits the dirt. Most of the young guys including relievers need to work on that. I think they can make some decent trades if they throw in some young guys along with guys like dozier and Taylor. I'm not high on pratto but I think some other teams might be. Especially teams with small parks. He just strikes out way too much and probably always will. Look back in royal history. The good team we had (with the exception of the 14 and 15 teams) had good pitching and line drive gap hitters who took walks and didn't strikeout a lot. This is a big park. It doesn't make sense to have high strikeout homerun guys because most of them will be hurt by the large park. Most line drive gap hitters eventually will hit with some power as they age. Anyway that's what I think. I've been watching baseball since 76 and I think I've picked up a few things
Just to be a contrarian: Billy Butler was a line drive gap hitter, a genuine doubles machine and we all thought his power would come along sooner or later. Surely bunches of those doubles would eventually turn into home runs, right? Oops.
But in general I think you've nailed a lot of key points. I've been watching baseball since '65 and you're right: you have, indeed, picked up a few things!
I don't think olivares or Isbell are the answer for the outfield. Isbell is a very good fielder but he can't hit. Olivares can hit but can't field and gets hurt too much. It guys like this that I think would be good trade bait if they traded Taylor and dozier with them. Teams might take Taylor and dozier if they threw in a few youn guys like these guys. I would include Melendez in with that group. I'm not high on him at all. He walks a lot and hits a few home runs but he just can't hit and he's a bad defensive player. They have enough young players that I think they can afford to trade some of these young guys if they can get a good player in return. I'm tire of seeing the royals trading guys and getting nothing in return
Thanks for the insight! Maybe the Royals resign Gallagher, he was released. I believe a new pitching coach can help some of the arms in the bullpen - Garrett, Cuas are 2 that come to mind. People talk about Oliveras and his defense, but how many teams have an outfielder that they replace in late innings for defense. I believe he will be an asset offensively, if healthy for a year. Isbel is a opposite of Oliveras, defense but little offense. I believe I read Giolito is available and I like him. Is it worth a gamble to sign Duffy? Again, the new coaches and a greater use of analytics could make a difference in what we have.
Yeah, I wouldn't be too surprised if Gallagher is back and I do agree that it's hard to evaluate really anyone on the staff without knowing who the pitching coach is going to be, but I also believe that they'll make a good hire. Why? I don't know, I just feel good about it.
I've seen some talk that Giolito might be available as well, but how much are you giving up to a division foe for a guy who's a free agent after the season and is coming off a down year? I can't imagine the juice would be worth the squeeze there. But I would definitely give Duffy a minor league deal at this point and hope for the best. They need so many innings that they can't afford to not uncover every stone.
I've been saying for quite a long while that Salvy, as much as we love him, should NOT be regarded as untouchable. Of course that was back when I was still believing the hype about MJ being some sort of catching savant.
You mentioned that the Royals are looking for a backup catcher. Does that mean that the "MJ behind the plate" experiment is officially over? Or maybe officially on hold at least for now? That would obviously make retaining Salvy more important, at least in the short term.
I understand that coming off an injury-plagued season isn't the best time to trade anyone. I still think Salvy could bring them a nice haul of prospects in return. But only if SOMEBODY could be counted on to catch 120 games for them next year. Your thoughts, David?
I don't know if MJ behind the plate is over or on hold, but I think they want him to be focusing on the outfield for the timebeing. In my opinion, when you want someone focusing on a non-catcher position, they generally don't come back to focusing on catching, but you never know I suppose.
While Salvy would bring back a decent amount in a trade, I have my doubts of what it might be. The number of catchers in baseball who can actually hit is super low, but I think it's tough to sell $64 million for age 33-35 seasons for a catcher with as much wear and tear as he has. The last four seasons, he's played 57% of the total games the Royals have played. Take out 2019 and it's obviously much better, but he played 62% of games in 2020 and 70% in 2022. Generally, teams aren't going to assume that gets better. So it just makes it super difficult to gauge what he could possibly bring back. My guess is Royals fans would want a top-3 organizational prospect, a top-10 and then a couple in the 12-20 range. I think he would bring back a 5-8 range, 12-16 range and a flyer. Not sure if that's enough.
Thank the for your - as usual - thoughtful and thought-provoking response! Ditto for your reply to my comments about Click and Powers!!
Astros ownership appears to have made a monumentally stupid decision by refusing to retain James Click and his assistant GM, Scott Powers.
Could it be? Might one or both of them really be headed our way? My guess is that one way or another we'll have an answer soon.
It is more difficult to make it work with Click than with Powers, just because Click held a top spot and Powers didn't, so they could bring Powers in as AGM if they wanted to while I doubt Click would agree to that. I think what's most likely with Click is that he catches on somewhere, maybe as an advisor, and then jumps to a GM or President job next winter. I'd love it for the Royals to take a chance on that and I know the Royals obviously are interested in what the Rays and Astros have done, which makes Click make a lot of sense. Powers is intriguing as a Dodgers guy previous to joining Houston. He'd be a great addition as well.