Final Roster Projection: Everybody!

I'm putting two articles together to be one super article that gives the entire roster in one place.

Here we are with just three sleeps remaining before Opening Day and the Royals roster is a puzzle with just a few pieces still out of place. That’s why I’m here. In previous iterations, I’ve divided up the bats from the arms, but no more. Right here is what I think the 26-man roster will look like. And the great thing about this edition is that we’ll know just how wrong I am pretty quickly because the roster will be announced soon.

For stats, I’ve used PECOTA, ZiPS and spring stats in previous versions. Today, I’m going with the 2020 numbers, so settle in.

Catchers

This one hasn’t changed once since the start and, if everyone stays healthy, likely won’t change during the season. Maybe they’ll add a third catcher at some point, but this is the duo.

First Base

This is the one where I’m the least confident. Carlos Santana is without a doubt, unequivocally the Royals first baseman. The question is if they keep another bat on the bench who also plays first primarily. I think yes, but I’m not terribly confident it’s McBroom. The new right fielder and Mike Matheny’s comfort level with McBroom as a pinch hitter is why I went with him, but it could absolutely be Ryan O’Hearn and I wouldn’t think twice.

Second Base

Well this is different. Where we once had Nicky Lopez and Hanser Alberto with Bobby Witt, Jr. forcing his way into the conversation, we now have Whit Merrifield and Alberto with Lopez finding his way to the minor leagues yesterday after an absolutely brutal spring. Merrifield is an okay outfielder, but I think he’s a better second baseman. While he’s not Lopez defensively, I think this is the best defensive alignment for the Royals they can put out there on the whole and it boosts the offense, so it’s a win-win.

Third Base

Yeah, it’s Hunter Dozier. But it might be Witt at some point this year. But for now, it’s Dozier.

Shortstop

And yeah, this is Adalberto Mondesi. His backup right now with Lopez getting sent down is Alberto, so that’s something to watch for given that Mondesi has had some injury issues, but if the Royals are comfortable with Alberto in there for a day or two and can always recall Lopez if it’s anything longer term, that should be no problem. The reports on Mondesi this spring have been bonkers good, so maybe this is the year he figures out. I’m not necessarily counting on it, but maybe.

Outfield

Left field and center field have been set since the day the Royals acquired Andrew Benintendi and Michael A. Taylor has had an absolute monster of a spring. But right field, as we noted above, has shifted. And it’s shifted in a way I didn’t expect. Kyle Isbel is going to get his shot, and I think he’s ready and it’s deserved. He’s had a fantastic spring. Maybe a few too many strikeouts, but he’s shown good strike zone awareness, some pop and an ability to go get the ball. He’s got the speed for center, so the Royals have three guys who can play center patrolling their outfield and a fourth in Jarrod Dyson who can help out against some tough righties for Taylor and come in on defense if the Royals need a pinch hitter for Isbel against lefties.

Designated Hitter

Maybe Jorge Soler gets more time in the outfield than he should, but he’s a DH and needs to stay there as much as possible.

Starting Rotation

The four of Brad Keller, Mike Minor, Brady Singer and Danny Duffy will start the year with a fifth to come on April 14th. My guess right now is that will end up being Jakob Junis, but if the Royals like the progress they see from Kris Bubic at the alternate site, he could slot back into the rotation as was expected at the start of the season. I wouldn’t get too attached to anyone in this rotation throughout the year because there will be some moves to keep arms fresh and not pump up their innings too high throughout the season. I think there’s a very good chance we see starts from Ervin Santana this year as well as Daniel Lynch, Jackson Kowar, Carlos Hernandez and maybe Austin Cox and even Asa Lacy, among others.

Bullpen

This is a really interesting unit to me. Greg Holland has looked good this spring. If he can maintain even like 85 percent of what he was last year with Scott Barlow, Jesse Hahn and Josh Staumont, that’s a really solid back of the bullpen. I’m worried a bit about Wade Davis as he just didn’t show much swing and miss stuff in Surprise, but Santana sure did. He earned his way onto this spring. If he can stay mid-90s with that off-speed stuff in short spurts, he could work his way into the late inning hierarchy in a hurry.

I’m very curious to see how Jake Brentz looks. If he can be effective, you’re looking at a left-right duo with he and Staumont who can both bring it 101+. I’m also not completely sold on Brentz over Richard Lovelady with the addition of Isbel since he’ll require a 40-man move as well. I think Hernandez, who could get some starts this year, just missed this group.

So there it is. My final projection for the roster. The Royals have been known to surprise last minute, so I’m excited to see how close this actually is, but just remember. The Opening Day roster is but a moment in time, so these names will change throughout the year, but it’s always extra cool to be able to wave to the (limited) fans on the first base line when announced on that first day of the season.