1) I like the Taylor signing. No, it's not a world-changer, but it is the Royals proactively addressing the centerfield situation. With no certain replacement currently on the roster or in the minors, and the trade and free agent markets iffy, you've at least bought great defense. If Isbel or someone suddenly blossoms, Taylor is a (slightly expensive) Jarrod Dyson-type fourth outfielder, or traded.
2) Why do the Royals insist on the contact play with a man on third?!?!?! When Benintendi hit that ball, I automatically looked at home, expecting to see Lopez gunned down.
3) Salvy should get more consideration than he will for MVP. The only reason Ohtani should beat him is that he is an anomaly; a two-way player. Vlad, Jr. is probably the third candidate, and Salvy's stats are equal or better. If they truly voted for the Most Valuable Player for his team, it is hands-down Salvy. Possibly leading the league in homers, and probably leading in RBI aside, his hitting has been incredibly clutch, and his defense (runners thrown out) is top-notch.
I'm a big fan of the Taylor signing for one reason - it's the best option available for all the reasons you pointed out; the FA market is expensive or dry, the trade market is very expensive and Taylor's price is right. The other thing you didn't mention here is that he appears to be by all accounts, a damn good teammate as well. We're the Royals, we won't have All-Stars up and down the lineup, but, as you did point out, if he's our 8 or 9 hitter that will play.
Like everyone else who bleeds Royal blue, I'm interested to figure out what is going to happen to this roster. I'm all for hoarding assets and glad that we have them - but I'm not sure where we're going to put them all. With the Taylor signing I'm pretty sure we return every position player we have. Santana probably won't get cut b/c of salary alone - we'll look to get something from him and we still need room for BWJ, Pratto, Isbel looks here to stay, Melendez looks ready to come up, etc.
Even if we run Santana (unlikely) and move on from O'Hearn (also unlikely given the fact that we can't seem to separate from him), you'd still need spots.
In the arms race I also agree with you on Holland and he stays. I also think Santana has earned another curtain call. Davis obviously has to go but he's the only one for certain that I see that won't be back. Kowar will start in AAA. Past those two certainties there's still gonna be a lot of worthy arms to slot.
Thankfully, trimming this roster for next year looks much more challenging than in years past.
Personally, I feel like we finally have an owner who will spend and the player collateral that we can package together something exciting and swing for the fences on a trade for another MVP level talent or a true Ace. Payroll is only $90M and Sherman's comfort level seems to be North of that by another 20M or so based upon what I've gathered.
I do not like the Taylor signing. As you probably know I am a Kyle Isbel supporter. I am afraid he'll end up in Omaha again. He has nothing left to prove in AAA. I do not like to young guys with upside playing in the minors, take Whit for example. He 27 or 28 before they gave him a chance. The league is full of 20 year old stars because they were given a chance. Soto, Devers, Albies, Ocuna, Trout and others. I am afraid they are going to leave Pratto in AAA next spring too. They are going to try to give Santana a chance to prove himself. I agree with Mr Hunt, I sure hope Salvy gets lots of MVP consideration. The contact play also drives me crazy along with the bunting. Lopez had me yelling at the tv last night in the first inning. At least he ended up walking. Thanks, as always I enjoyed your post, even though we do disagree on the Taylor signing.
Opening Day Lineup - Whit, Nicky, Salvy, Benny, Mondesi/MJ/Bobby/Pratto in some order 5-8, Taylor. On defense, depending on how they deploy Whit/Nicky/Bobby, and how they deploy/use Mondi, some time for Isbel in RF. Smart to sign Taylor, a bird in the bush, as #9 hitter, with all others (except maybe Mondi) expected to be average or above hitters (after some settling in time for our Omaha 3). I hope we will be smart to dump Carlos Santana (as we do not want to block prospects when they are ready, unless there is a legitimate reason to believe that Pratto may be a little behind the other two with his strikeout numbers). I like the idea that we keep Ervin Santana and Greg Holland to continue to mentor our young starters and relievers.
Quick thoughts:
1) I like the Taylor signing. No, it's not a world-changer, but it is the Royals proactively addressing the centerfield situation. With no certain replacement currently on the roster or in the minors, and the trade and free agent markets iffy, you've at least bought great defense. If Isbel or someone suddenly blossoms, Taylor is a (slightly expensive) Jarrod Dyson-type fourth outfielder, or traded.
2) Why do the Royals insist on the contact play with a man on third?!?!?! When Benintendi hit that ball, I automatically looked at home, expecting to see Lopez gunned down.
3) Salvy should get more consideration than he will for MVP. The only reason Ohtani should beat him is that he is an anomaly; a two-way player. Vlad, Jr. is probably the third candidate, and Salvy's stats are equal or better. If they truly voted for the Most Valuable Player for his team, it is hands-down Salvy. Possibly leading the league in homers, and probably leading in RBI aside, his hitting has been incredibly clutch, and his defense (runners thrown out) is top-notch.
I'm a big fan of the Taylor signing for one reason - it's the best option available for all the reasons you pointed out; the FA market is expensive or dry, the trade market is very expensive and Taylor's price is right. The other thing you didn't mention here is that he appears to be by all accounts, a damn good teammate as well. We're the Royals, we won't have All-Stars up and down the lineup, but, as you did point out, if he's our 8 or 9 hitter that will play.
Like everyone else who bleeds Royal blue, I'm interested to figure out what is going to happen to this roster. I'm all for hoarding assets and glad that we have them - but I'm not sure where we're going to put them all. With the Taylor signing I'm pretty sure we return every position player we have. Santana probably won't get cut b/c of salary alone - we'll look to get something from him and we still need room for BWJ, Pratto, Isbel looks here to stay, Melendez looks ready to come up, etc.
Even if we run Santana (unlikely) and move on from O'Hearn (also unlikely given the fact that we can't seem to separate from him), you'd still need spots.
In the arms race I also agree with you on Holland and he stays. I also think Santana has earned another curtain call. Davis obviously has to go but he's the only one for certain that I see that won't be back. Kowar will start in AAA. Past those two certainties there's still gonna be a lot of worthy arms to slot.
Thankfully, trimming this roster for next year looks much more challenging than in years past.
Personally, I feel like we finally have an owner who will spend and the player collateral that we can package together something exciting and swing for the fences on a trade for another MVP level talent or a true Ace. Payroll is only $90M and Sherman's comfort level seems to be North of that by another 20M or so based upon what I've gathered.
So what's it gonna be Lesky?
I do not like the Taylor signing. As you probably know I am a Kyle Isbel supporter. I am afraid he'll end up in Omaha again. He has nothing left to prove in AAA. I do not like to young guys with upside playing in the minors, take Whit for example. He 27 or 28 before they gave him a chance. The league is full of 20 year old stars because they were given a chance. Soto, Devers, Albies, Ocuna, Trout and others. I am afraid they are going to leave Pratto in AAA next spring too. They are going to try to give Santana a chance to prove himself. I agree with Mr Hunt, I sure hope Salvy gets lots of MVP consideration. The contact play also drives me crazy along with the bunting. Lopez had me yelling at the tv last night in the first inning. At least he ended up walking. Thanks, as always I enjoyed your post, even though we do disagree on the Taylor signing.
Opening Day Lineup - Whit, Nicky, Salvy, Benny, Mondesi/MJ/Bobby/Pratto in some order 5-8, Taylor. On defense, depending on how they deploy Whit/Nicky/Bobby, and how they deploy/use Mondi, some time for Isbel in RF. Smart to sign Taylor, a bird in the bush, as #9 hitter, with all others (except maybe Mondi) expected to be average or above hitters (after some settling in time for our Omaha 3). I hope we will be smart to dump Carlos Santana (as we do not want to block prospects when they are ready, unless there is a legitimate reason to believe that Pratto may be a little behind the other two with his strikeout numbers). I like the idea that we keep Ervin Santana and Greg Holland to continue to mentor our young starters and relievers.