Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star answered a number of Royals-related questions during an online chat with fans today. Here are a few of the more notable items…
- The Royals' highly-touted farm system has more depth than ever, so Dutton explains that this wave of prospects will be different than past (failed) "youth movements" in Kansas City. "Will some guys flop? Absolutely," Dutton writes. "But the depth is so good that not ALL of them will flop. Some should be really good."
- Dutton thinks Mike Moustakas will be in the majors by June, but Eric Hosmer may be a September call-up at best since K.C. wants to give Kila Ka'aihue "an extended look."
- Speaking of Ka'aihue, Dutton notes that if Hosmer lives up to expectations, the question for Kansas City becomes whether Ka'aihue or Billy Butler is the better long-term DH. You'd expect Butler would have the edge given his proven hitting abilty and recent contract extension, but that team-friendly deal (four years/$30MM, plus a 2015 team option) could make Butler very attractive on the trade market.
- Moustakas' arrival could turn Wilson Betemit into "trade bait," but Dutton notes that Betemit could take over at second if Chris Getz can't handle the job.
- The Royals have no interest in Michael Young. He's both too costly and would block "high-quality alternatives" from the minors at various infield positions.
- "The Royals appear committed to opening the season with Melky Cabrera in center," Dutton writes. Kansas City signed Cabrera before they acquired Lorenzo Cain from Milwaukee, but Dutton notes that Cain could he called up from the minors should he play well. Cabrera is only slated to earn $1.25MM in 2011, so the Royals wouldn't be sending a lot of money to the bench if Cain usurped the center field job. Dutton mentions later in the chat that the Royals can be flexible with Cain since he has minor league options left.
- Dutton thinks the Blue Jays and Braves will regret trading minor league left-hander Tim Collins. The 21-year-old was sent to Atlanta in the Yunel Escobar deal last summer and then became a Royal at the trade deadline as part of the package that sent Kyle Farnsworth and Rick Ankiel to the Braves.
- "It's a long shot" that the Royals would try to sign Zack Greinke after the right-hander's contract expires after 2012.
The Royals system might be the most awesome thing on this planet.
Um…slimjims?
no
I don’t believe you understand. SLIMJIMS!!!!!!
nope
Fine. Some just can’t be persuaded.
I got love for Melky (no hideo nomo) but after his failure in Atlanta there’s no reason to think he’s better than Cain. Melky should be a 4th OF’er for them instead.
I like Kila and I think he would be a good pickup on the low low for a team looking for a good 1B/DH bat. I think he’s going to be a very solid Jason Giambi/Jim Thome type. Good power and a high OBP.
Wait wait wait… the Royals have no interest in Michael Young because he’d block more deserving alternatives, but they’re starting Melky Cabrera over Lorenzo Cain?
Young doesn’t play center. Royals have better prospects at the positions Young pretends to play.
the royals are a stacked farm system, but not in the outfield. I can’t think of any high profile type guys besides Cain who is borderline high profile prospect. I suppose Wil Myers qualifies if you consider him an OFer not a C. Royals farm strength is really the pitching and 3 elite bats who all happen to be infielders. I know some royals fans is gonna tell me that i know nothing and undervaluing guys like Giavotella or whatever, but Pitching and those 3 bats ARE the farm. The rest is gravy.
Myers is an OF.
Well as of a month ago he is. A corner one though.
yep…and from now on. i have a feeling that the royals wont worry too much about having an elite all around player in CF. I think Moore is dead set on having a great defensive CF first and foremost….which will be fine if he can get good to great hitting out of his corner spots.
Melky is cheap and under contract for one season. And didn’t require giving any players up.
And no, Melky is not playing instead of Cain. You’ve got it backwards.
Not according to Dutton.
I hate you disqus.
I didn’t read that part. Sorry guys (and MVP), but if thats the case, which I bet it isn’t, it’s ridiculous.
Melky could start the season in CF, be traded for anything and then Cain (with a slightly delayed arbitration clock) takes over CF and actually improves the team. If Melky flops, then he’s released, Cain takes over CF and improves the team. Win/win for the club.
What could you possibly expect in return for Wilson Betemit? Just the comfort in knowing hes not on your roster should be enough.
If he comes anywhere close to replicating that .297/.378/.511 Slash line from a year ago then I can imagine there could be a lot of interest. He’s a brutal defender though.
Bet doesn’t have GREAT trade value, but if 2010 wasn’t a fluke, but instead an awakening, then despite his lack of defensive skill he would help a lot of teams as a super utility guy with some power and possible OBP prowess, again assuming his .889 ops wasn’t a fluke. Sort of like a 2010 Bautista type player.
Dutton was talking about Aviles filling in for Getz.
Aviles is going to start over Getz… and Betemit’s defense at 2B is abysmal. Getz is going to be a utility infielder and pinch-runner; he can steal bases for sure, but his bat is pretty poor. I don’t know which team Dutton is covering, but Aviles and Betemit will almost certainly both be in the Opening Day lineup with Getz on the bench.
Everything I’ve seen so far is pointing to Aviles starting at 3rd with Getz starting at 2nd. The Royals are taking to heart the fact that their defense was one of the worst in the league and seem to be putting an emphasis on defense even at the cost of hitting.
Kila will likely start at first and Escobar is definitely starting at short. Kila is a much better defender than Butler and Aviles is an absolute defensive upgrade over Betemit at third. Infield defense looks solid on paper.
I agree, Betemit would be an absolute horror show at 2B. I disagree about Getz though, I think he’s gonna get every opportunity to earn the starting 2B job out of spring training.
Not according to Dutton.
Yeah, I’m sure the Braves will regret trading Collins even though they arguably have the most starting pitching depth in the game outside of Kansas City……A midget reliever isn’t going to brake them….
Ankiel and Farnsworth both sucked, sure. But Ankiel was responsible for the Braves first playoff win since 2005, at least.
Kimbrel’s 17.42 K/9 laughs at Marmol’s puny 15.99 K/9.
(Yes I know Kimbrel pitched 20.2 innings and Marmol pitched 77.2)
And Marmol giggles at Kimbrel’s 7.0 BB/9 š
Has Marmol realized that he had a 7.9 BB/9 in 2009 and 6.0 BB/9 last year yet?
Kimbrel’s 17.42 K/9 laughs at Marmol’s puny 15.99 K/9.
(Yes I know Kimbrel pitched 20.2 innings and Marmol pitched 77.2)
Collins is nasty, if the kid was even just 6-foot he would be getting future-closer hype. As it his he has a disgusting resume. He will only be 21 for the majority of the season, and perhaps threw the best ball of his career in 20-innings at the minors’ highest level last year. Just because the Braves have one of the best pitching-deep systems in recent memory, doesn’t mean the Royals didn’t get great value in this deal. Have you guys seen the price on relief-pitchers this year? This kid will help them this year, he will be cheap for a long time, and the way that good bullpen arms get ranked by Elias, when its time for KC to cut bait they will likely get a high pick or two.
Who’s saying the Royals didn’t get good value in the trade? I mean, they got rid of Ankiel AND Farnsworth and acquired a promising reliever, nobody is blaming the Royals. My point, as well as others is that the Braves aren’t going to ‘regret’ trading a reliever any time soon. They’ve got plenty of arms and it was unlikely that Collins had a spot in the pen for 2011 anyway. If Kimbrel can’t cut it and Collins establishes himself as an elite closer, then yeah, they’ll probably regret it a little bit.
But chances are he won’t end up as an elite closer. He’s got good stuff and great minor-league numbers, but so do a ton of other pitchers.
You have to admit, some of those posts make it sound more anti-collins than pro-Ankiel, Farnsworth. I was just sticking up for the little guy (haha and not just figuratively!!!), because I think he will end up much more than just a footnote on the “transactions” section of Kyle Farnsworth’s Baseball-Reference page. I agree, I don’t think he will end up a great closer, and obviously the Braves and Jays BOTH felt good enough about their futures to include him in trades. I just think KC will be the beneficiaries. Also, a ton of pitchers do have great minor league numbers…. but when you peel away those that are old for their level, those who don’t have big-league stuff, and guys who haven’t done it in the higher levels, the numbers really start to dwindle.