Year Two of the Matt Quatraro tenure. Time to take a step up this year. Active in free agency and trades this offseason. A new look pitching rotation and bullpen. Will the young players take the leap up offensively? Bobby Witt extension? New stadium? Will Vinny recover from injury? Salvy taking aim at the Royals record book? Will Cole Ragans turn into the best Royals starting pitcher since Greinke 1.0?
Free Agents/Trades Acquisitions
Seth Lugo, SP
Michael Wacha, SP
Kyle Wright, SP
Hunter Renfroe, OF/DH
Will Smith, RP
Chris Stratton, RP
Nick Anderson, RP
Adam Frazier, 2B
Garrett Hampson, INF/OF
Matt Sauer, RP [Reply]
My buddy is an avid Twins fan and he thinks the Royals will be second in the Central this year. He thinks they added enough pieces to win quite a few more games and really likes our starting rotation.
Has the frame to carry a little more weight/raw power and still maintain 30 SB speed. He gets a little too eager at times but seems to have a solid feel for the zone and good hands.
I don't think he's likely to ever be a 'traditional' 3b type with an .800 OPS and 30 homers. But I think you may see him develop into a 15 homer guy who challenges 20 one year, puts up a .780 OPS and steals 30 bases with tolerable K/BB numbers. I don't think he's a leadoff hitter, but he could be a lot of fun around the 7 hole.
I dunno - I started watching him a bit last year and he just seems to be quite a bit more talented than the prospect hounds thought. There are some loud(ish) tools there. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
I like Maikel Garcia.
Has the frame to carry a little more weight/raw power and still maintain 30 SB speed. He gets a little too eager at times but seems to have a solid feel for the zone and good hands.
I don't think he's likely to ever be a 'traditional' 3b type with an .800 OPS and 30 homers. But I think you may see him develop into a 15 homer guy who challenges 20 one year, puts up a .780 OPS and steals 30 bases with tolerable K/BB numbers. I don't think he's a leadoff hitter, but he could be a lot of fun around the 7 hole.
I dunno - I started watching him a bit last year and he just seems to be quite a bit more talented than the prospect hounds thought. There are some loud(ish) tools there.
Yep. I've always been high on him. He's really a SS playinh 3B so hes really good over there and will get better. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
I like Maikel Garcia.
Has the frame to carry a little more weight/raw power and still maintain 30 SB speed. He gets a little too eager at times but seems to have a solid feel for the zone and good hands.
I don't think he's likely to ever be a 'traditional' 3b type with an .800 OPS and 30 homers. But I think you may see him develop into a 15 homer guy who challenges 20 one year, puts up a .780 OPS and steals 30 bases with tolerable K/BB numbers. I don't think he's a leadoff hitter, but he could be a lot of fun around the 7 hole.
I dunno - I started watching him a bit last year and he just seems to be quite a bit more talented than the prospect hounds thought. There are some loud(ish) tools there.
I would love to see him settle in at second base. [Reply]
Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry:
I would love to see him settle in at second base.
I think he'll mature out of the position.
He's not a small guy. And if you wanted to put another 10 lbs of muscle mass on him you probably could. You do that and he's not going to be as lithe as you'd like to see at 2b.
Now if the Royals have a hot-shit 3b prospect they need to clear a spot for, you do that (I truly have no idea). Or ultimately if Witt moves off SS and back to 3b (which seems likely as he matures). But that's a hell of along ways off.
I just think you hope to get 2-3 years of added offensive development and another 2-3 years thereafter of a really nice, if unconventional, offensive weapon at 3b. Anything beyond that is gravy. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
I think he'll mature out of the position.
He's not a small guy. And if you wanted to put another 10 lbs of muscle mass on him you probably could. You do that and he's not going to be as lithe as you'd like to see at 2b.
Now if the Royals have a hot-shit 3b prospect they need to clear a spot for, you do that (I truly have no idea). Or ultimately if Witt moves off SS and back to 3b (which seems likely as he matures). But that's a hell of along ways off.
I just think you hope to get 2-3 years of added offensive development and another 2-3 years thereafter of a really nice, if unconventional, offensive weapon at 3b. Anything beyond that is gravy.
He is a natural shortstop but he isn't replacing a generational talent like Bobby Witt. Very serviceable third baseman. I just think with his glove and bat, he would be elite at second base. Body type he could put some muscle on but judging by his cousins - Escobar and Ronald Acuna maybe not a whole lot. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
I think he'll mature out of the position.
He's not a small guy. And if you wanted to put another 10 lbs of muscle mass on him you probably could. You do that and he's not going to be as lithe as you'd like to see at 2b.
Now if the Royals have a hot-shit 3b prospect they need to clear a spot for, you do that (I truly have no idea). Or ultimately if Witt moves off SS and back to 3b (which seems likely as he matures). But that's a hell of along ways off.
I just think you hope to get 2-3 years of added offensive development and another 2-3 years thereafter of a really nice, if unconventional, offensive weapon at 3b. Anything beyond that is gravy.
Yeah, Garcia just is a really nice player. Not going to be a superstar or a centerpiece, but an above-average starter who contributes in a lot of ways.
I think he could handle 2nd if they can get a bigger bat that plays at 3B, but he's so good defensively there, it's not a major priority. [Reply]
I’d love to see Maikel Garcia settle in to a Joe Randa type of career, except with more defensive flexibility on the infield and more speed. I think he’s pretty close already. [Reply]