Great article! I have been waiting for this discussion. I did not agree with signing Mike Minor to any deal. I like Minor and think he is a great bounce back candidate, but I think he impedes the ability to keep another arm on the 40 man roster this winter. Plus, I really wanted to see some trial by fire/I-29 shuttle between the young pitchers all season. And I agree whole heartedly that the best way to maximize this capital and "remove the ifs" (which I love that saying) is to trade for known commodities.
I started thinking about known commodities at a position of need for the Royals. I keep coming back to CF. I look through the list of known commodity CF and I keep coming back to one name - Mike Trout. Now, before you say I am crazy, think about this - the team trading for Trout would have to have the following items for him to waive his full no trade clause: #1 they would have to have the prospect capital to pull it off. I think we definitely check that box especially given the 15 names that need added before the Rule 5 draft this winter #2 they would have to have the payroll flexibility to add a $34,450,000/year to the payroll. According to spotrac.com the Royals only have 4 players under contract in 2022 totaling $28,200,000. Throw in the arbitration eligible players and Perez under an extension and we end up around $80,000,000 before Trout. So I believe the Royals have the payroll flexibility to add Trout. #3 they have to be on the verge of contention. This is agrueable
Accidentally fat fingered the enter button. I continue - This is arguable given that the Royals haven't had a winning season since 2015. With a solid showing this year of 75+ wins, I believe they can show they are a rising team especially given the young talent coming up and check the 3rd box.
So if we check all 3 boxes, the next question is what would it cost? I used the Mookie Betts trade as a reasonable comparison. It was a little more complicated to break down because it was a 3 team trade and the Dodgers took on the David Price contract but here is my best shot. The Royals would receive Mike Trout in exchange for Daniel Lynch, Erik Pena, Jackson Kowar, and Josh Staumont.
I know this is a far fetched, dare to dream scenario, but it is spring training, the Royals are tied for 1st place in the division standings at 0-0, and I would love nothing more than to see my team with arguably the best player in baseball wearing Royal blue.
So first on the Minor point, while he does hold a 40-man spot next season with a two-year deal, they needed innings this season. Don't forget how many issues might crop up from the short season last year. I didn't like the second year on him, but also, if that's what got the innings (and remember, this isn't going to just impact 2021), I at least get it.
On to the Trout part, I would love for him to be a Royal. I think I have a better chance of playing center field for them than Trout does. Sure they can probably pay him and probably put together a package for him that's the right value. But the Angels aren't trading him unless he throws a fit and I don't see that happening any time soon.
Good work Lesky - Like Eli, I've been waiting for an article on this as well and glad you hammered it out in great detail. Like you, I don't see anyway we land Trout or even make a run at him.
Good point on the options not being mutually exclusive. However, I'm pretty sure most of this will be handled via trade. Let's face it, you can't keep all of the young guns down on the farm forever, the owl is already calling their name. And once they get to the Majors, our Minor League system will go from mid-tier to bottom 5 or worse. So how do we prevent that?
Ideally I'd like to see us trade some proven commodities rather than our young talent; Minor if he bounces back, Duffy for sure, Holly if he stays hot and we're not in it, Keller if the price is right.
Let's promote from within and backfill the kids that are coming to the show and put our faith in our drafting and development and keep the players around they we can control the longest and keep payroll within reason.
If we get through this personnel crunch having restocked the Minors and only given up one of who I see as the big 7 (Lynch, Singer, Lacy, Bowlan, Kowar, Pena and Witt Jr. (I don't see anyway BWJ gets traded unless we get Trout lol)) I would say that DM will have done a admirable job.
I saw a few position players on the list of 15 that are not all tha exciting, and probably would not be considered players who could stick with a ML club all season.
I hated seeing Luciano go and would likewise hate to see Morel go.
Great article! I have been waiting for this discussion. I did not agree with signing Mike Minor to any deal. I like Minor and think he is a great bounce back candidate, but I think he impedes the ability to keep another arm on the 40 man roster this winter. Plus, I really wanted to see some trial by fire/I-29 shuttle between the young pitchers all season. And I agree whole heartedly that the best way to maximize this capital and "remove the ifs" (which I love that saying) is to trade for known commodities.
I started thinking about known commodities at a position of need for the Royals. I keep coming back to CF. I look through the list of known commodity CF and I keep coming back to one name - Mike Trout. Now, before you say I am crazy, think about this - the team trading for Trout would have to have the following items for him to waive his full no trade clause: #1 they would have to have the prospect capital to pull it off. I think we definitely check that box especially given the 15 names that need added before the Rule 5 draft this winter #2 they would have to have the payroll flexibility to add a $34,450,000/year to the payroll. According to spotrac.com the Royals only have 4 players under contract in 2022 totaling $28,200,000. Throw in the arbitration eligible players and Perez under an extension and we end up around $80,000,000 before Trout. So I believe the Royals have the payroll flexibility to add Trout. #3 they have to be on the verge of contention. This is agrueable
Accidentally fat fingered the enter button. I continue - This is arguable given that the Royals haven't had a winning season since 2015. With a solid showing this year of 75+ wins, I believe they can show they are a rising team especially given the young talent coming up and check the 3rd box.
So if we check all 3 boxes, the next question is what would it cost? I used the Mookie Betts trade as a reasonable comparison. It was a little more complicated to break down because it was a 3 team trade and the Dodgers took on the David Price contract but here is my best shot. The Royals would receive Mike Trout in exchange for Daniel Lynch, Erik Pena, Jackson Kowar, and Josh Staumont.
I know this is a far fetched, dare to dream scenario, but it is spring training, the Royals are tied for 1st place in the division standings at 0-0, and I would love nothing more than to see my team with arguably the best player in baseball wearing Royal blue.
So first on the Minor point, while he does hold a 40-man spot next season with a two-year deal, they needed innings this season. Don't forget how many issues might crop up from the short season last year. I didn't like the second year on him, but also, if that's what got the innings (and remember, this isn't going to just impact 2021), I at least get it.
On to the Trout part, I would love for him to be a Royal. I think I have a better chance of playing center field for them than Trout does. Sure they can probably pay him and probably put together a package for him that's the right value. But the Angels aren't trading him unless he throws a fit and I don't see that happening any time soon.
Dare to dream Eli - but we aren't getting Trout.
Good work Lesky - Like Eli, I've been waiting for an article on this as well and glad you hammered it out in great detail. Like you, I don't see anyway we land Trout or even make a run at him.
Good point on the options not being mutually exclusive. However, I'm pretty sure most of this will be handled via trade. Let's face it, you can't keep all of the young guns down on the farm forever, the owl is already calling their name. And once they get to the Majors, our Minor League system will go from mid-tier to bottom 5 or worse. So how do we prevent that?
Ideally I'd like to see us trade some proven commodities rather than our young talent; Minor if he bounces back, Duffy for sure, Holly if he stays hot and we're not in it, Keller if the price is right.
Let's promote from within and backfill the kids that are coming to the show and put our faith in our drafting and development and keep the players around they we can control the longest and keep payroll within reason.
If we get through this personnel crunch having restocked the Minors and only given up one of who I see as the big 7 (Lynch, Singer, Lacy, Bowlan, Kowar, Pena and Witt Jr. (I don't see anyway BWJ gets traded unless we get Trout lol)) I would say that DM will have done a admirable job.
I hope Michael Tucker makes the cut, he's red hot right now with his bat.
I assume you mean Taylor and he's the starting center fielder, so no question he'll be on the team and probably batting eighth on Opening Day.
Ha HA, I think when I reposted my comment I I had a brain F---t. I originally said Taylor. We need an edit option on our comments.
I don't think you're wrong there, but I just utilize the platform. Nothing I can do about it unfortunately.
I saw a few position players on the list of 15 that are not all tha exciting, and probably would not be considered players who could stick with a ML club all season.
I hated seeing Luciano go and would likewise hate to see Morel go.