Royals Likely Headed for Rebuild

[steveno89]

If they don't deal Sale and Eaton, they probably would have been close to moving on from Avisail too, if not at least platooning him. Now they're either looking at a decent player moving forward or a guy that they can trade for a small package too.

 

The Sox are among the teams best positioned to make noise moving forward. 2018 will be fun watching the kids, and 2019 could be a really great year, especially if they're able to bring in one of the top free agents.

 

Best case scenario? Yes, 2018 we show progress and 2019 take that step forward.

 

I'm still a bit skeptical as young players often need time to adjust to the mlb level. I see our bullpen being a big question mark in 2018 as we really do not have anything reliable in that regard right now. Sure we can supplement the pen with a free agent or two, but we still need to develop 3-5 quality arms ourselves for relief.

[Balta1701]

Best case scenario? Yes, 2018 we show progress and 2019 take that step forward.

 

I'm still a bit skeptical as young players often need time to adjust to the mlb level. I see our bullpen being a big question mark in 2018 as we really do not have anything reliable in that regard right now. Sure we can supplement the pen with a free agent or two, but we still need to develop 3-5 quality arms ourselves for relief.

Miller and Kimbrel are both FAs after 2018. We clearly have more work to do, but I keep circling those names even before I circle position players.

[Dam8610]

Miller and Kimbrel are both FAs after 2018. We clearly have more work to do, but I keep circling those names even before I circle position players.

 

I'd want Machado before either of them. Part of the reason for that being I think the White Sox prospects/young MLBers are going to provide all the relief pitching they need. I think one of Fulmer and Lopez will end up as a late inning power arm, then you have Burdi and Vieira who are already close to being ML ready relievers (with the injury caveat on Burdi, of course) and MiLB starters in Cease, Dunning, Adams, Guerrero (who probably won't be here post Rule V), Stephens, Clarkin, Flores, and even guys like Danish and Lambert who could take pen spots since they'll ideally be competing for 1 or at most 2 starting spots between them. This doesn't take into account talented relievers like Bummer, Fry, and Cooper who could get a shot as well. That's 15 guys for 7 slots, most of which are in AA or higher. I'd call that an area of relative depth for the organization, while 3B is a organizational weakness from top to bottom unless you believe in Burger's ability to stick at 3B.

[caulfield12]

The Royals obviously hadn’t planned on losing Ventura...they just made some woeful decisions.

 

Ian Kennedy contract

Soler for Wade Davis

Alex Gordon falling apart

 

Perez, Merrifield, Bonifacio...not much of an offensive core. Cuthbert and Mondesi will get extended playing time, Soler gets his last shot.

 

Duffy and then Herrera has value if he can rebound in the first half and show more dominant stuff. Minor and Alexander will draw some interest as lefties out of the pen.