This is probably the Royals last shot to make the playoffs, before they become the Royals we are use to. So hopefully they are buyers. I hate getting rental players, but I think they may have to, if they want a shot at the playoffs.
Royals
- Thread starter beerdawg69
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Zobrist and Cueto acquisitions proved the Royals will go for it, if the right opportunity is out there.
Don't look for the Royals to make any major trades. They don't have much in the minor leagues to deal away. They may add a bullpen arm or back of the rotation starter - nothing that would cost them much.
Dayton Moore has said not to rule out re-signing some of these guys. I'll believe it when I see it. In any case, if they reached the postseason again this year it would be hard to complain about anything they've done the past 5 years or so. Not to mention it would be almost unprecedented to make the postseason after a start as bad as theirs.
Dayton Moore has said not to rule out re-signing some of these guys. I'll believe it when I see it. In any case, if they reached the postseason again this year it would be hard to complain about anything they've done the past 5 years or so. Not to mention it would be almost unprecedented to make the postseason after a start as bad as theirs.
These guys know it's their last go around as a team, I expect them to make a push.
Sell, sell, sell. This team isn't winning shit. The rotation isn't very good and the bullpen sucks. If we sacrifice the next five years for a shot with this squad I'm going to be pissed. I don't want to watch five years of crap baseball.
No matter what they do the next five years could be typical Royals baseball.
Incorrect. The rotation is decent. I would take Duffy, Vargas & Kennedy vs. any of the AL's top 3. Hammel is what he is, a back end guy & the 5 spot is a mystery. Good thing is, back end guys are cheap at the trade deadline. As for the bullpen, Soria has bounced back decently this year, Hererra has regressed, but is still a weapon, and Alexander & Moylan are good middle innings guys. Also, Zimmer is waiting in the wings, and could be called up for relief duty at any time. You could also find another middle relief guy at the deadline for relatively cheap. What the Royals need desperately is a DH who can hit. That is where the deadline deal needs to made ASAP. They can't wait around seeing if Soler can hit this year (he won't), and Moss has proven he is worthless. Cut your losses with these 2, and get someone who can hit .250 or greater this year. Do these few things, and the postseason is within reach this year. Worry about the next 5 years later.
Sure. But I'd feel much better about the future if we used the free agents to stock a relatively depleted prospect pool.
Duffy is the only 'real deal' pitcher in that bunch. Vargas has pitched to his ceiling (which is great) but doesn't show well against better lineups. Hammel? Meh. The bullpen is not very good; certainly not good enough to make a run into the playoffs. We have a crowded division I doubt we win and the wildcard is stacked as well. It would be a huge mistake to roll the dice, while sacrificing all the prospects we could gather, to try and make a run this year. It's not happening.
Your wife should divorce you and remarry ASAP. I'm sure you will probably be dead in 5 years.
If you pay attention at all to Dayton Moore you know he's not selling. His stated goal is to be competitive every year. Not always a playoff team, but no bottoming out with 100 loss seasons. Now, if they lose 10 of the next 14 I'd be okay with trading 1-2 guys if you're getting a good haul. But that's unlikely. A big factor in not selling is they are negotiating a new deal with Fox and tanking and playing in front of an empty stadium would harm those talks. The Indians MIGHT run away with the division, but they've got issues too.
That sounds great for the cameras but he didn't build a championships roster by going all in every year. On the contrary, he built it with a slow accumulation of a veterans, draft picks, acquisitions, and trades. I don't see why you won't try and emulate that formula over the next few years given that the Royals might sign Moose or Hosmer after this year. It's not even clear that either want to stick around in their prime to lose a lot of games.
I disagree. The talent they currently have accumulated in the last year of their contracts make this an action year. If they continue the momentum built before the All-Star break for the next couple weeks, mortgage a few years to make a playoff push. If they tank the next couple weeks, start dumping the guys in the last year of their contract for prospects. The organization isn't built for sustained success. I think most baseball observers will acknowledge that given the market size and fan base, leading to a much smaller payroll. The rest of the league has adjusted to moneyball, and they need to take this opportunity while they have it.
That being said, Dayton Moore has expressed his reluctance to dump the likes of Cain, Moose, Hosmer, and Escobar at the trade deadline because they "deserve" to finish their contracts with KC. I don't agree with him on that, just reporting what I've read. I think he owes to the players and the owner if he cares that much to let them be traded at the deadline to contenders (compassion for the players) and accumulate prospects for the future (compassion for the owner). It's a win-win scenario if they happen to go on a skid soon.
On another note, I don't think they'll catch the Indians. Will need to rely on the wild card IMO, and they'll face stiff competition in their own division from Minnesota.
It would be stupid to sell out now. New tv deals coming and you would basically negate all the bargaining chips built up over the past few years. Royals have a terrible tv contract and more roster money can be made with a better deal...only way they get it is another run with good audience.
And as far as baseball goes, its also stupid to sell out this team. Bullpen needs a little help but this team could absolutely win the division. Why risk all that for the "maybe" being able to have a chance again ten years from now woth unknown players? Nope.
And as far as baseball goes, its also stupid to sell out this team. Bullpen needs a little help but this team could absolutely win the division. Why risk all that for the "maybe" being able to have a chance again ten years from now woth unknown players? Nope.
I love the Royals as much as the next fan, I mean, hell I was just out at The K last night feeling good until Beltre hit a 3 run dinger. Then of course Napoli was brought in for one reason and one reason only, and he got the job done. That said, this team isn't making the playoffs. They are going to make it interesting, and much like last year I think they'll be in and out of it until the math is insurmountable, which could be mid-September. But they just don't have the horses to keep up with the true playoff teams this year. Getting swept by LA should be proof enough. The only hope KC has to make the playoffs is to win the division. The Wildcard is too much of a long shot the way the AL is falling out this year.
The Royals desperately need Gordon and Soler to pull their weight. I don't think Gordon hit one out of the infield all night last night. Both are below .200, and each should be up around .270-.280 with double digit home runs to be truly pulling their weight. We have no dominant closer. Our best is Herrera, and truth is, he's a set up guy, not a closer, and he just hasn't been as dominant this year. Soria... well 'nuff said. The starting rotation would have been solid with Ventura, Duffy, Vargas and Kennedy with Hammel as a 5th, but the loss of Ventura put a great deal of pressure on the starters. The Pen is suspect at best, just see last night against the Rangers.
I would love to keep Hosmer, Cain, and Moustakas, just because they're great players and they've help rebuild this club, and really it has helped reshape a baseball city that had died out. But realistically it's not happening. The recipe that Moore used 10 years ago, was to pick up 1st rounders in Hosmer, Moustakas, and Gordon, and build around them. It took 10 years. I remember there were times I was ready to throw in the towel on all three players, but they developed and there's a chance a couple of them could be Hall of Famers. Moore almost needs to do that again. Deal off Hosmer, Cain, and Moose for a bunch of 1st round picks, and rebuild.
The Royals desperately need Gordon and Soler to pull their weight. I don't think Gordon hit one out of the infield all night last night. Both are below .200, and each should be up around .270-.280 with double digit home runs to be truly pulling their weight. We have no dominant closer. Our best is Herrera, and truth is, he's a set up guy, not a closer, and he just hasn't been as dominant this year. Soria... well 'nuff said. The starting rotation would have been solid with Ventura, Duffy, Vargas and Kennedy with Hammel as a 5th, but the loss of Ventura put a great deal of pressure on the starters. The Pen is suspect at best, just see last night against the Rangers.
I would love to keep Hosmer, Cain, and Moustakas, just because they're great players and they've help rebuild this club, and really it has helped reshape a baseball city that had died out. But realistically it's not happening. The recipe that Moore used 10 years ago, was to pick up 1st rounders in Hosmer, Moustakas, and Gordon, and build around them. It took 10 years. I remember there were times I was ready to throw in the towel on all three players, but they developed and there's a chance a couple of them could be Hall of Famers. Moore almost needs to do that again. Deal off Hosmer, Cain, and Moose for a bunch of 1st round picks, and rebuild.
The last 5 games have been a disaster, its like watching the 90's Royals all over again. I really thought they would refocus and get their crap together but its been the total opposite. with the deadline just 6 days away decisions need to be made.
I don't think baseball teams can trade first round picks, can they? The way to acquire picks would be to keep them through the season, lose them in free agency and get compensatory picks at the end of the 1st round.
I agree with your post though. Ultimately, my wish would be for a small market team like the Royals to be able to keep their absolute best and most irreplaceable players. To me, that's Hosmer, Perez, and Cain. I think the Royals made a mistake signing Gordon if it means that they have to let Cain and/or Hosmer go in order to keep Gordon. Trading Gordon would be nice but he's bottomed out his trade value after signing the big deal.
signing Gordon was a lose/lose for the Royals imo. He is a fan favorite and a local kid. In his prime he was a very good and solid player but he is on the back end of his career which means he would be over paid for production. Basically he is being over paid now for being underpaid his first 5 years. Sometimes you have to let stars go late in their career and take the PR hit for the good of the team.
I like Gordon too, a great Husker, a good person who always does the right thing. He is the professional in a sport with few professionals. Its a business though.
I like Gordon too, a great Husker, a good person who always does the right thing. He is the professional in a sport with few professionals. Its a business though.
Felt the exact same way, though I was glad they did it, it wasn't a good deal for the Royals.
I wouldn't call Gordon a lose/lose. Maybe on the field, yes. But I understand Dayton Moore's mentality so overall I'd say no. I've heard Moore speak 4 times since the Series, and his entire mentality is around culture. He wants to and has built a culture that players want to come to. He wants players to realize it's about more than just money. $25M in KC is better than $40M in NY or LA. Why? Lower cost of living, better schools, big city with a small town feel, better cultural work environment, more support from the organization in terms of work/life balance, the "family" atmosphere. Gordon and Perez realize this and Moore is trying to find more talented players that fit that mold. Think about it this way. The Royals are essentially trying to do what Nebraska Football does. Both are smaller market, mid-west teams. We have all of the same mid-west stereotypes working against us. Lincoln is a college football town, KC is a baseball town. Both are trying to recruit players in the same manner. You're trying to sell a culture as opposed to selling "sex appeal" like the bigger market programs. It's a tougher sell, but overall it nets better overall quality players. And while it doesn't win the championships that other programs may gain, it does provide a competitive product that fans can be proud of, and occasionally it provides championships.
I personally was hoping the Roylas would cut Gordon loose and re-sign Zobrist after the Series, but Moore was adamant that Gordon was priority #1. I totally understand that, and on principle completely support that mentality. Gordon is a local kid. He's a fan favorite. He did everything the organization asked, and he was gracious and humble about it. When they asked him to move to the outfield because they had a better 3 bagger in Moustakas, he did it. When they asked him to demote to Triple A Omaha and work on his swing, he could have gone the Free Agent Route. But he didn't, he went to Omaha, fixed his swing and became an invaluable piece of the 2014 and 2015 teams. He's talented, and when his career is over, I'm pretty sure he has a spot in the Royals front office. He's the guy who helped revive and organization in a way that hasn't been seen since George Brett. It's a tough pill to swallow because his production this year is pretty crappy. But at the end of the day I think Gordon brings a lot of intangibles to the table, that will help the Royals well beyond his playing years.
Also, while I'm at it, here is what I feel is order of importance at the deadline...
A Bat. Moss has had a good couple of games, but doesn't wipe out how terrible he was the entire 1st half. I'd say look for a bat who can play some outfield in the best case, in case Moss does somehow continue to hit.
Starting Pitcher. They have to get someone in the #5 spot. Karns injury was brutal to the staff. I don't know the options there, but they have to find someone.
Relief Pitcher. After the 1st too, if you can find a cheap middle innings pitchers who is having a solid year, go for it. Definitely do not overspend here though. The bullpen isn't as bad as some people make out to be.
A Bat. Moss has had a good couple of games, but doesn't wipe out how terrible he was the entire 1st half. I'd say look for a bat who can play some outfield in the best case, in case Moss does somehow continue to hit.
Starting Pitcher. They have to get someone in the #5 spot. Karns injury was brutal to the staff. I don't know the options there, but they have to find someone.
Relief Pitcher. After the 1st too, if you can find a cheap middle innings pitchers who is having a solid year, go for it. Definitely do not overspend here though. The bullpen isn't as bad as some people make out to be.
Yeah...that's what it looks like.
Rumor down here in KC is that we are buying. Buckle up.
Such a weird season for the Royals. When they were sitting at 10-20, there was a story that there had been 55 teams since the WC era that had started that poorly and only 1 made the playoffs (2001 Oakland). So it seemed inevitable that KC would be selling off parts.
But somehow they rebounded, despite giving away 3 innings every night with Escobar, Gordon, and Moss/Soler in the lineup. Those guys have bounced back (except Soler, who has been a complete disaster to this point and is in AAA) and began contributing a bit on offense. Their rotation is far from spectacular, but is solid. The bullpen has also been solid.
The biggest plus is that Cleveland has been floundering around most of the year, too - so KC is in it. They're a veteran team that knows how to win. It's easy to envision them going on a run and winning the division. Unfortunately, it's also easy to envision them playing poorly at the wrong time and coming up short.
But somehow they rebounded, despite giving away 3 innings every night with Escobar, Gordon, and Moss/Soler in the lineup. Those guys have bounced back (except Soler, who has been a complete disaster to this point and is in AAA) and began contributing a bit on offense. Their rotation is far from spectacular, but is solid. The bullpen has also been solid.
The biggest plus is that Cleveland has been floundering around most of the year, too - so KC is in it. They're a veteran team that knows how to win. It's easy to envision them going on a run and winning the division. Unfortunately, it's also easy to envision them playing poorly at the wrong time and coming up short.
Well, tied for the 2nd Wild Card spot after another W.
Looking at the schedule we have only 28 home games left to 37 road games, headed for a 9 game road trip and this will probably be the turning point of the season.
Need to win 2 of the next 3 series and probably need to take 5 or 6 of the next 9.
Looking at the schedule we have only 28 home games left to 37 road games, headed for a 9 game road trip and this will probably be the turning point of the season.
Need to win 2 of the next 3 series and probably need to take 5 or 6 of the next 9.
After the Brett Championship management in that day spent capital on free agents (many named Davis) that apparently were more interested in Kansas City cash than Kansas City fans and playing the ball they were paid for. We sank into a team of 100 losses holding off mathematical elimination by the All Star break and others complaining about rules allowing a KC Royal in the All Star game just because it is a MLB rule. I agree with you. This team is 2 games over .500 and only 2 games out. This team after The Ace's untimely death was built around solid pitchers with injury history and it has bitten hard with injury. This is no time to spend youth again.
I wonder what the cost would be on Iglesias from the Reds. Probably too steep.
A SP and a bullpen arm should be priority.
A SP and a bullpen arm should be priority.
Cahill will fill in as the 5th starter well, Buchter should give some good innings and Maurer has decent stuff and I think he could thrive not in a closer role, but could give Herrera a break down the stretch if needed.
Great start to the road trip, bullpen is coming together well and the roster has been added to nicely.
Great start to the road trip, bullpen is coming together well and the roster has been added to nicely.
