David, I agree that the Royals should try to find another bat even before another reliever. Also, if I was the Royals’ manager, I would give Velazquez every opportunity to be the DH. I have been a Royals fan since the beginning in 1969 and rarely have I seen a power hitter consistently hit balls out of the K as he did last season. I cannot remember any cheap homers he hit? It has been a wet winter in AZ as I received 3 inches of rain in Tucson last week due to the El Niño so bring your umbrella to spring training!
Oh I think another reliever makes a lot of sense. I just don't think the high price for a closer makes sense.
On Velazquez, he's coming in to spring as a favorite to get 500+ plate appearances, but we've seen mirages over two months before and I appreciate that players are going to have to earn their jobs.
I agree that everyone should earn their position. That tenet should be the foundation of the new Royals after finally spending some money for pltchers!
Man, so last week you say third baseman….now we are hearing a closer? I want to believe it….but I just can’t get there. The only thing that makes sense to me….and yes, we are speculating here…..is that they are actively working the phones on trades. And that’s great. But to me, the math doesn’t quite add up. If you want a reliever, get Stanek…and all he costs is cash.
So to me, here is what’s going down.
1.) Talking about a third baseman because they are working on something with Garcia. If they move him, it only makes sense you talk to a bunch of third baseman left on the market to see what we have and what that would potentially look like if do move Garcia.
2.) Closer. Looking to trade Melendez and a starting pitcher isn’t looking to be in the cards. Ok then, let’s pivot. What would a package look like for a solid reliever that is maybe on a team looking to cut some payroll.
I’d be looking for a starter, but it is entirely possible that isn’t in the cards. But the only way I genuinely see them adding a big bat third baseman or a back end bullpen piece is if trades come together for the few guys that have value. We can argue what Melendez value is…but I can see him for a back end reliever that is maybe on a team looking to shed payroll. I don’t see him for a legit MLB starter tho. Like I said, this makes me feel good about them getting in front and trying to make some trades. It’s all just talk till something happens tho. I like discussing tho.
I think the big takeaway, like you say, is that they are definitely not satisfied just being done. They may end up not doing anything more, but it's not for lack of trying. I get the idea that it's just talk until something gets done, but in a winter where they've spent $100 million and added nearly a quarter of a big league roster, I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.
I just don't think anyone is off limits other than BWJ right now and I'm really curious what happens when we get closer to spring and teams/players get a little more desperate.
I’m not down on them for not getting anything done. It’s just until something happens they haven’t yet. Which is fine. Definitely feel like they are trying which is a refreshing relief. Here’s a question tho. But rumblings about a third baseman and a closer now. If they get a 10m a year closer. I’m a little concerned they don’t have a great read on where they are at. But you get a back end closer and sign say Chapman. You are going for it at it makes a whole lot more sense. IDK, there are still plenty of options of unsigned relievers who would help. And then, if you do go for it……that to me means you aren’t signing BWJ cause this all feels maybe a year earlier. But I wouldnt’ complain I guess, do what you gotta do to get that stadium built. Lol.
I get what you're saying, but my point is that they've gotten a lot done. Every team tries to make moves, but not many have made the moves the Royals have this year.
But I don't think any of this has anything to do with their thoughts on signing BWJ long-term. It's like saying you're buying bananas at the store because you're not sure they'll have your face wash in the pharmacy section. Just totally separate things going on.
Yes and no. If you know he isn’t signing you go for it while you have him. Which would explain this year if they do add what the rumblings are. It’s all speculation. I’ll just be happy if they keep adding. Nothing to control or fret over. He either signs at some point or he doesn’t. Personally, my hope is he told them to put together a better team or he isn’t signing anything. At that’s what they are trying to do.
Most importantly, have you heard any rumblings about the Royals being in on Bellinger. 1 for 30mil type deal. Maybe 2 for 55m if he isn’t getting his long term deal yet?
I love that you're giving away NLBM memberships as a prize for subscribing. I haven't been back there for far too long - maybe this weekend I'll fix that.
I didn't buy Rosenthal's article about KC trying to trade for a closer. Nothing about it made sense to me. I really don't want them to spend player capital resources on a cast-off or a short-term solution unless there's truly a reason to believe they're going to contend. If there is a deal, I'd hope it's for someone with a few years of team control (which makes it a lot less likely to be an established closer).
Regarding the stadium, it's funny how the tone shifts depending on the forum. If your only barometer of public opinion was the Kansas City subreddit, you'd think this is going to lose by 30 points. The support is more split in the KC Royals subreddit. I think the anti-stadium voices are louder but hopefully fewer in number.
I just don't get the report either from Rosenthal. I keep trying to think how the game of telephone got to the point that one (or likely multiple) of his sources told him that the Royals are on a closer. Maybe they've been talking trades and have asked for a reliever as part of a deal? I just don't know.
Agreed on the stadium stuff. Reddit is an interesting place for that because I've noticed that exact thing. And the Chiefs subreddit is pretty quiet, though probably because there are more imporant things going on there. If they put up odds on Draft Kings, I'll be putting some serious money on it passing in April.
I think trying to trade for or sign an established closer would be an incredible misuse of their priorities. I’m hoping that was leaked to Rosenthal by the Royals as a distraction from what they should be focusing on: starting pitching prospects and a left handed power hitting outfielder. If they want to spend some money, spend it on Bellinger and/or extending Witt, not a closer on a team that didn’t even win 60 games last season.
The report just doesn't make sense to me, but I've changed my tune a little bit on relievers over the years just from talking to guys who have been in it before. Losing leads late is pretty demoralizing and I do believe that winning helps aid in development. Or at least not losing when you should be winning. All that said, if they can get Puk for Nick Loftin or something, sure, go for it. I just wouldn't devote the capital to get someone like Williams or Clase.
A.J. Puk for Melendez and a lower level prospect makes some sense to me actually. Looks like he’s a free agent in 27. Moving Melendez makes the outfield roster work better. Puk could be used as a back end reliever OR as Miami is doing, stretched out to a potential starter.
I believe I read somewhere once that Joe Torre said the most important position in baseball is the closer. I think that can be true, assuming you have a team that will be closing enough that blowing a save or two will be the difference between sitting at home and the playoffs. I don't think we're there yet.
IMO, if we could add another bat, starter and maybe a reliever then we are playoff ready. They don't have to be top-shelf, just someone good enough to ride the 'cascade effect' and bump JL from the rotation, get Stanek and find a better bat - I don't care if it's a one-year high cost rental b/c we know we can flip them at the trade deadline if we aren't in contention. I think 2 of 3 of these can be done on the cheap, and for now, I'm with you, let's not do it on the closer.
Now... if we get close to the trade deadline and we're 5 games in front... let's go back in time and put all the chips in the middle of the table.
Yeah, I think it's easy to say that when your closer is Mariano Rivera. And I do think there's more importance to the closer role than many believe, but on this team, I'm fine with riding the hot hand or trying to determine if McMillon can do it or McArthur or even Will Klein.
The division helps to be in contention like I wrote about a couple of weeks ago, but I wouldn't be giving up a lot to get a role that probably doesn't make a huge, huge difference.
I ?think? I remember you mentioning being in position to be a possible wildcard near the end of the season would maybe not be the best place to be in, bc instead of trading for future assets, the royals would want to hold on to for playoff chance. But devils advocate, what is the cost of a 1 year contract for a solid reliever versus the gambled return in either trade deadline asset or playoff revenue? (yes, my Saturday night out means home by 8:30)
What I was saying is if they’re in shouting distance with enough of a shot to get in but not an especially great shot that they’d be better off continuing to build for the future. And I don’t care if they spend big money to sign a free agent closer (with the evergreen caveat that the big money doesn’t prohibit any future moves) but I don’t think they need to be trading players for a “proven” closer on a team that still needs a lot to go right just to win 81 games.
On the stadium issue, I'm all for progress but if the vote passes, it's at best, a lateral move and at worst, a debacle on steroids. Kauffman is a beautiful stadium, very functional and should be for a number of years. To destroy a fully functional and beautiful stadium simply breaks my heart. The proposal has so many unanswered questions on parking, downtown congestion, location, cost, etc. I've been a STH for 20 years and simply go to the games to watch baseball and not get caught up in any bar/restaurant scene. If the Royals vote was a stand alone issue, I think it would fail miserably but they are riding the coattails of the wildly successful and well organized Chiefs. Chief fans trump Royals fans in huge numbers thus, it'll probably pass. David, thanks for posting the informal survey. Was surprised with the results. BTW: keep up the good work on your informative writings.
Well stated David. Extortion of a loyal fanbase, combined with Western Civilization waste, there are few things worse in this world. The stadium is beautiful and one-of-a-kind. Can they build something more beautiful - perhaps, but the question is why. And we all know the answer to that question.
The money and whatever doesn’t really matter. But we seem pretty full on light hitting utility infielders already. What’s the point unless you hear something on the trade front.
I would assume there’s a trade coming, but I don’t know of anything. I don’t like the deal regardless of the next move because I’m just not an Adam Frazier fan. If I had to guess, I’d say Massey is part of a trade for a closer, but again, that’s not based on hearing anything.
yeah gotta agree. This one just doesn’t make any sense to me. It’s not like Frazier is an on base machine. They keep getting the same offensive profile guys and it’s just odd. Do I care about a utility infielder for a few million as a fan. No, of course not. But can Loftin/Hampson not already do this? Clearly, Samad Taylor just needs to go. Excited for possible trade news though.
Keep in mind depth. You’ve been on that train for a long time and now there is at least one guy with legit big league experience who will be in AAA ready to go if needed. So I don’t think Taylor needs to go outside of if some team really wants him and will give up value for him.
Sounds like we are very much in the agreement that Frazier isn’t actually very good? He doesn’t get on base and is VERY BABIP dependent.
I’m leaning toward the multiple trade scenario now though. I just don’t think they are trading Massey and Melendez to the same team. Just a thought though. Who knows.
David, I agree that the Royals should try to find another bat even before another reliever. Also, if I was the Royals’ manager, I would give Velazquez every opportunity to be the DH. I have been a Royals fan since the beginning in 1969 and rarely have I seen a power hitter consistently hit balls out of the K as he did last season. I cannot remember any cheap homers he hit? It has been a wet winter in AZ as I received 3 inches of rain in Tucson last week due to the El Niño so bring your umbrella to spring training!
Oh I think another reliever makes a lot of sense. I just don't think the high price for a closer makes sense.
On Velazquez, he's coming in to spring as a favorite to get 500+ plate appearances, but we've seen mirages over two months before and I appreciate that players are going to have to earn their jobs.
I agree that everyone should earn their position. That tenet should be the foundation of the new Royals after finally spending some money for pltchers!
Man, so last week you say third baseman….now we are hearing a closer? I want to believe it….but I just can’t get there. The only thing that makes sense to me….and yes, we are speculating here…..is that they are actively working the phones on trades. And that’s great. But to me, the math doesn’t quite add up. If you want a reliever, get Stanek…and all he costs is cash.
So to me, here is what’s going down.
1.) Talking about a third baseman because they are working on something with Garcia. If they move him, it only makes sense you talk to a bunch of third baseman left on the market to see what we have and what that would potentially look like if do move Garcia.
2.) Closer. Looking to trade Melendez and a starting pitcher isn’t looking to be in the cards. Ok then, let’s pivot. What would a package look like for a solid reliever that is maybe on a team looking to cut some payroll.
I’d be looking for a starter, but it is entirely possible that isn’t in the cards. But the only way I genuinely see them adding a big bat third baseman or a back end bullpen piece is if trades come together for the few guys that have value. We can argue what Melendez value is…but I can see him for a back end reliever that is maybe on a team looking to shed payroll. I don’t see him for a legit MLB starter tho. Like I said, this makes me feel good about them getting in front and trying to make some trades. It’s all just talk till something happens tho. I like discussing tho.
I think the big takeaway, like you say, is that they are definitely not satisfied just being done. They may end up not doing anything more, but it's not for lack of trying. I get the idea that it's just talk until something gets done, but in a winter where they've spent $100 million and added nearly a quarter of a big league roster, I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.
I just don't think anyone is off limits other than BWJ right now and I'm really curious what happens when we get closer to spring and teams/players get a little more desperate.
I’m not down on them for not getting anything done. It’s just until something happens they haven’t yet. Which is fine. Definitely feel like they are trying which is a refreshing relief. Here’s a question tho. But rumblings about a third baseman and a closer now. If they get a 10m a year closer. I’m a little concerned they don’t have a great read on where they are at. But you get a back end closer and sign say Chapman. You are going for it at it makes a whole lot more sense. IDK, there are still plenty of options of unsigned relievers who would help. And then, if you do go for it……that to me means you aren’t signing BWJ cause this all feels maybe a year earlier. But I wouldnt’ complain I guess, do what you gotta do to get that stadium built. Lol.
I get what you're saying, but my point is that they've gotten a lot done. Every team tries to make moves, but not many have made the moves the Royals have this year.
But I don't think any of this has anything to do with their thoughts on signing BWJ long-term. It's like saying you're buying bananas at the store because you're not sure they'll have your face wash in the pharmacy section. Just totally separate things going on.
Yes and no. If you know he isn’t signing you go for it while you have him. Which would explain this year if they do add what the rumblings are. It’s all speculation. I’ll just be happy if they keep adding. Nothing to control or fret over. He either signs at some point or he doesn’t. Personally, my hope is he told them to put together a better team or he isn’t signing anything. At that’s what they are trying to do.
It absolutely could be a sign of that without knowing any additional information, but I'm telling you one has absolutely nothing to do with the other.
Most importantly, have you heard any rumblings about the Royals being in on Bellinger. 1 for 30mil type deal. Maybe 2 for 55m if he isn’t getting his long term deal yet?
I love that you're giving away NLBM memberships as a prize for subscribing. I haven't been back there for far too long - maybe this weekend I'll fix that.
I didn't buy Rosenthal's article about KC trying to trade for a closer. Nothing about it made sense to me. I really don't want them to spend player capital resources on a cast-off or a short-term solution unless there's truly a reason to believe they're going to contend. If there is a deal, I'd hope it's for someone with a few years of team control (which makes it a lot less likely to be an established closer).
Regarding the stadium, it's funny how the tone shifts depending on the forum. If your only barometer of public opinion was the Kansas City subreddit, you'd think this is going to lose by 30 points. The support is more split in the KC Royals subreddit. I think the anti-stadium voices are louder but hopefully fewer in number.
I just don't get the report either from Rosenthal. I keep trying to think how the game of telephone got to the point that one (or likely multiple) of his sources told him that the Royals are on a closer. Maybe they've been talking trades and have asked for a reliever as part of a deal? I just don't know.
Agreed on the stadium stuff. Reddit is an interesting place for that because I've noticed that exact thing. And the Chiefs subreddit is pretty quiet, though probably because there are more imporant things going on there. If they put up odds on Draft Kings, I'll be putting some serious money on it passing in April.
I think trying to trade for or sign an established closer would be an incredible misuse of their priorities. I’m hoping that was leaked to Rosenthal by the Royals as a distraction from what they should be focusing on: starting pitching prospects and a left handed power hitting outfielder. If they want to spend some money, spend it on Bellinger and/or extending Witt, not a closer on a team that didn’t even win 60 games last season.
The report just doesn't make sense to me, but I've changed my tune a little bit on relievers over the years just from talking to guys who have been in it before. Losing leads late is pretty demoralizing and I do believe that winning helps aid in development. Or at least not losing when you should be winning. All that said, if they can get Puk for Nick Loftin or something, sure, go for it. I just wouldn't devote the capital to get someone like Williams or Clase.
A.J. Puk for Melendez and a lower level prospect makes some sense to me actually. Looks like he’s a free agent in 27. Moving Melendez makes the outfield roster work better. Puk could be used as a back end reliever OR as Miami is doing, stretched out to a potential starter.
I like it, see if it can happen boys!
Miami makes so much sense to trade with. They are just being turds.
They do make a lot of sense and there's some real matches between the two teams. We'll see what happens, I guess.
I believe I read somewhere once that Joe Torre said the most important position in baseball is the closer. I think that can be true, assuming you have a team that will be closing enough that blowing a save or two will be the difference between sitting at home and the playoffs. I don't think we're there yet.
IMO, if we could add another bat, starter and maybe a reliever then we are playoff ready. They don't have to be top-shelf, just someone good enough to ride the 'cascade effect' and bump JL from the rotation, get Stanek and find a better bat - I don't care if it's a one-year high cost rental b/c we know we can flip them at the trade deadline if we aren't in contention. I think 2 of 3 of these can be done on the cheap, and for now, I'm with you, let's not do it on the closer.
Now... if we get close to the trade deadline and we're 5 games in front... let's go back in time and put all the chips in the middle of the table.
Yeah, I think it's easy to say that when your closer is Mariano Rivera. And I do think there's more importance to the closer role than many believe, but on this team, I'm fine with riding the hot hand or trying to determine if McMillon can do it or McArthur or even Will Klein.
The division helps to be in contention like I wrote about a couple of weeks ago, but I wouldn't be giving up a lot to get a role that probably doesn't make a huge, huge difference.
I ?think? I remember you mentioning being in position to be a possible wildcard near the end of the season would maybe not be the best place to be in, bc instead of trading for future assets, the royals would want to hold on to for playoff chance. But devils advocate, what is the cost of a 1 year contract for a solid reliever versus the gambled return in either trade deadline asset or playoff revenue? (yes, my Saturday night out means home by 8:30)
What I was saying is if they’re in shouting distance with enough of a shot to get in but not an especially great shot that they’d be better off continuing to build for the future. And I don’t care if they spend big money to sign a free agent closer (with the evergreen caveat that the big money doesn’t prohibit any future moves) but I don’t think they need to be trading players for a “proven” closer on a team that still needs a lot to go right just to win 81 games.
On the stadium issue, I'm all for progress but if the vote passes, it's at best, a lateral move and at worst, a debacle on steroids. Kauffman is a beautiful stadium, very functional and should be for a number of years. To destroy a fully functional and beautiful stadium simply breaks my heart. The proposal has so many unanswered questions on parking, downtown congestion, location, cost, etc. I've been a STH for 20 years and simply go to the games to watch baseball and not get caught up in any bar/restaurant scene. If the Royals vote was a stand alone issue, I think it would fail miserably but they are riding the coattails of the wildly successful and well organized Chiefs. Chief fans trump Royals fans in huge numbers thus, it'll probably pass. David, thanks for posting the informal survey. Was surprised with the results. BTW: keep up the good work on your informative writings.
Well stated David. Extortion of a loyal fanbase, combined with Western Civilization waste, there are few things worse in this world. The stadium is beautiful and one-of-a-kind. Can they build something more beautiful - perhaps, but the question is why. And we all know the answer to that question.
Making my first trip to NLBM in February. Looking forward to it.
David, why are the Royals signing Adam Frazier?
The money and whatever doesn’t really matter. But we seem pretty full on light hitting utility infielders already. What’s the point unless you hear something on the trade front.
I would assume there’s a trade coming, but I don’t know of anything. I don’t like the deal regardless of the next move because I’m just not an Adam Frazier fan. If I had to guess, I’d say Massey is part of a trade for a closer, but again, that’s not based on hearing anything.
yeah gotta agree. This one just doesn’t make any sense to me. It’s not like Frazier is an on base machine. They keep getting the same offensive profile guys and it’s just odd. Do I care about a utility infielder for a few million as a fan. No, of course not. But can Loftin/Hampson not already do this? Clearly, Samad Taylor just needs to go. Excited for possible trade news though.
Keep in mind depth. You’ve been on that train for a long time and now there is at least one guy with legit big league experience who will be in AAA ready to go if needed. So I don’t think Taylor needs to go outside of if some team really wants him and will give up value for him.
Sounds like we are very much in the agreement that Frazier isn’t actually very good? He doesn’t get on base and is VERY BABIP dependent.
I’m leaning toward the multiple trade scenario now though. I just don’t think they are trading Massey and Melendez to the same team. Just a thought though. Who knows.
Yeah, I don’t like Frazier as a player at all. I think the trade market is going to be pretty interesting around baseball over the next month.