The Royals’ rebuild won’t be a lengthy endeavor if general manager Dayton Moore has his way. The veteran front office exec addressed the media today and covered a number of offseason-related topics (links via Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star and Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com), making clear that the Royals don’t plan to tank in an effort to improve their farm system.
“I think when you create a mindset that we’re rebuilding, you somehow build in or make an excuse that’s it’s OK to lose baseball games,” said Moore. “It’s not. … That’s our responsibility — to win games.”
That said, Moore also emphasized that restoring his minor league system to its once-elite levels is the team’s top priority. Several years of picking at the back end of the first round and trades for some veteran players (e.g. Ben Zobrist, Johnny Cueto) have contributed to a depleted Kansas City farm system. The balance of striving for continually increased levels of competition while also seeking to bolster the farm won’t be easy to strike, though, especially not with so many teams throughout the league aggressively gunning for one extreme end of the spectrum or the other.
The Royals are reportedly looking to cut payroll by as much as $30-35MM from their recent record levels of spending, leaving little in the way of budget room for free agents. Much of that payroll paring will be organic, it should be noted. The Royals already saved money by during the 2018 season by shipping out impending free agents like Kelvin Herrera, Mike Moustakas, Jon Jay, Lucas Duda and Drew Butera. In 2018, Kansas City was also on the hook for all of Travis Wood’s salary despite having traded him to the Padres in 2017, plus part of their prior obligations to the also-traded Joakim Soria and Brandon Moss.
At present, Jason Martinez of Roster Resource and MLBTR projects the Royals at $90.325MM on the books for the 2018 season, including arbitration projections from MLBTR’s Matt Swartz and also including pre-arb players. The Royals seem likely to non-tender Brandon Maurer ($3.1MM projection) and could conceivably cut loose any of Nate Karns ($1.375MM projection), Cheslor Cuthbert ($1.1MM projection), Brian Flynn ($1MM projection) or Jesse Hahn ($1.7MM projection). Jettisoning that whole group would result in an estimated $8.275MM worth of salary off the books, which could create some flexibility to add roster help while still remaining in their reported target range of $85-90MM.
If there’s an area the Royals will add, be it via free agency or via trade, it seems likely to be the bullpen — an area in which Moore bluntly said his team “need[s] better options.” Kansas City relievers posted a disastrous 5.04 ERA on the season as a whole, adding in the lowest K/9 mark of any big league bullpen (7.31), the sixth-highest BB/9 (4.15) and the sixth-highest HR/9 (1.28).
[Related: Kansas City Royals depth chart]
As for the lineup, Moore said he doesn’t expect much turnover, as the team is “prepared to go forward” with in-house options for the most part. To some extent, that’s understandable. Catcher Salvador Perez, upstart shortstop Adalberto Mondesi and second baseman Whit Merrifield are all quality options at their positions. Ryan O’Hearn obliterated right-handed pitching in his late-season promotion and could be paired with Hunter Dozier in a first-base platoon. Alex Gordon rebounded to some degree and is locked into left field with a $20MM salary. The Royals will want to get looks at Brett Phillips, Brian Goodwin and Jorge Bonifacio in the outfield, and Jorge Soler hit well when healthy in 2018.
On the whole, that doesn’t paint an especially promising outlook, though Moore expressed confidence in the manner in which his team finished. Of course, much of the team’s 20-14 record in its final 34 games looks attributable to multiple series against lackluster Twins and Tigers clubs, plus a series against the Orioles and another against the White Sox. It’ll be up to a large group of unproven players to deliver on Moore’s show of faith. If the Royals are to somehow achieve the goal of simultaneously improving on the field and in the farm system, they’ll need numerous players to step forward in the same manner that Mondesi did in 2018, as Moore’s comments don’t indicate that there’s much hope for outside help on the horizon.
I’m excited for the future, especially the starting pitching that came around!
Don’t know them as well as I’d like. Who stands out to you?
I know this is late to the party, but Keller had a very good rookie season. Fillmeyer and Lopez are both young and each had several good starts but were inconsistent. Junis had a bit of a rough year but ended up with a 4.2 era after several strong starts down the stretch. If Duffy and/or Kennedy bounce back and the young guys keep progressing the rotation should be markedly better than 2018.
I would also like to see what a healthy Soler can do, he was almost to All Star caliber when broke his foot
All star caliber? Lmao bro come on
From a Cub fan i can say he looks like a slugger but can’t stay healthy and when he does he just doesn’t hit expectations. I’d compare him to Randall Simon, few walks, few Ks, some power. Love his arm though
The fact that we need bullpen help next year is why I’m surprised we didn’t get a look at Lovelady or Staumont in the final month of the season.
I wonder if its bc they didnt want to start their “time”
I can almost guarantee you that is why. It makes sense. Now their careers don’t start until at least 2019.
Proper use of fan terms in “they” and “their vs the ridiculous “we”. God it sounds so needy when people say..we,our,or us. Go ahead and whine saying how fans have the right to say we…no not part of the team.
Name a GM, Manger, or Player who has publicly stated their disdain for fans saying “we” and you may have a case. Teams repeatedly strive to make fans feel they are part of the game. Get over it.
I don’t know any “GM, Manager, or Player” personally and more than likely neither do you. Fans buy tickets, merchandise, and watch games from home that doesn’t mean they’re part of the team. Perhaps a reality check is needed.
A reality check certainly is considering fans have been saying “we” for decades. It’s also been decades since teams have used “We are the Champions” when winning a title encouraging fans to join in. Shortly after that the Pirates used “We are Family” encouraging fans to feel a part of it….that is reality.
Fans can feel a part of cheering for said team all they want, but to think they have anything to do with the inner workings of the organization, is ridiculous. Fans have no say, unless you’re a stock holder in the Packers of course.
” but to think they have anything to do with the inner workings of the organization, is ridiculous.” Please show where I said anything of the sort.
I said what is well known….teams rely on their fans and encourage them to feel part of the experience….part of the team. Never did I say they had anything to do with “the inner workings”.
There are marketing companies that specialize in helping teams make the fans feel part of it and I have never seen any team employee shout at the crowd to stop singing “We are the Champions”, have you?
BTW, neither you, or I, have the right to tell someone how the can and can not root or refer to their favorite team.
Then people should say, they need this or their best chances are…vs we need or our best chances when discussing a teams workings. This is the internet where rights don’t matter.
I always find this to be one of the weirdest things that people try to put their foot down about. You must either live a really good or a really bad life if this is the thing the kind of thing that you care about and admonish people for
“Then people should say, they need this or their best chances are…” and some people should remove the stick from their……
@Slevin Sorry to have offended you so severely.
Why don’t people refer to a team as their favorite, instead of in third person form? What can’t we all just get along?
Slevin, he made a great point. HIS team needed bullpen arms, & it shocked him, didn’t go after two promising bullpen arms, whom theoretically could be had, due to situations.
“God it sounds so needy…” “Go ahead and whine…” The irony is killing me.
Your rebuttal didn’t add to the intelligent discourse Lol. And he APOLOGIZED to you; Watching this exchange gave me nothing but respect for you, Mr. mizzourah87.
Glass houses bro. Funny how you post about birthdays of someone the article isn’t about, as just one example. I’ll take his word being it was with him, and not you.
Yeah, but at least I stuck to baseball. And my response was meant to engage the convo; I added to his LAD/BOS WS predic. Funny how only chose to single me out. Glass houses, bro
“I’ll take his word being it was with him, and not you.”
Dude..Just look at the indent!! It was a direct reply to him. And a cool baseball fact, just learned, and wanted to share. Sorry, posting off-topic, I figured that’s why you were made with the “Wow” (TF) could mean anything…kinda saw chance could something positive
I think D-Moore’s a pretty bright guy….he’ll get ’em back again. Gonna be a while tho……
A few more years of tanking while Glass “wets his beak.”
Typical…..
You don’t have the slightest idea what your talking about!
It will be another 7 year “5 year” rebuild like last time
Yea, MLB has such great parity…
So let me get this straight… a 104 loss season was when they’re NOT tanking?
What part of discussing 2019 did you not comprehend?
The Royals did a great job in 2018 coming up with good young players no one had heard of –
Pitchers – Keller, Junis, Lopez, and Fillmyer
Infielders – Mondasi (a Lindor clone), O’Hearn (who did hit lefties OK, he will get better), Dozier
OF – Bonifacio, Herrera, Phillips, (traded for) Goodwin
As the season went along Dozier got better @ 3B and hit better
Phillips had the best OF arm I saw in MLB this year. A sensational CF and RF. Extremely athletic – another base stealer to go along with Mondasi, Merrifield and others. Coaches have to square away his hitting.
Look forward to seeing Kelvin Gutierrez that they got from the Nationals @ 3B .
Royals are again being built on defense, speed and athleticism. The coaches are working on this group becoming smart, fundamentally strong players. The farm system is hardly dead. Players will be matriculating up to the ML roster over the next 3 years.
Saw the last Royals team that fooled the pundits. It’s happening again. I loved watching Royals games for most of 2018’s second half. The Tampa Bay Rays are the AL’s coming team in 2019. The Royals will follow them a year or two later.
And just today DM said on the record that the Royals were seriously looking at Luke Heimlich as an asset. There’s a step in the right direction, huh?
A good maneuver, for sure.
Did the Zobrist/Cueto trades really set the Royals back that much though? I don’t remember what they gave for Zobrist, but I know the players they gave up for Cueto amounted to a whole lot of nothing
They gave up Sean Manaea and Aaron Brooks (P) for Zobrist
He’s saying all the right things, but just not buying it.
Man, $20 million for Gordon. That hurts for a small-market team.
I don’t understand why a team like the Royals or Tigers or Twins don’t just go crazy with signings and trades this year to try to contend. That division is so vulnerable right now. Indians are the best team there by default. It’s pretty obvious now. If they don’t do anything then maybe the Sox start now and sign Machado and 2 starters and a top of the line closer. Maybe Kimbrel of Boston let’s him go. I’m actually looking forward to seeing what the Sox do this offseason, are they ready yet or content waiting?
So wasting resources to win the crummiest division in baseball only to get eaten alive by the Bosox or Yankees or Astros …
Yes why not? You never know in the playoffs, and it’s not wasting resources it’s called trying to contend. Do you think they want to lose every year? I didn’t say empty the farm just try and compete.
The because going crazy with spending just because there’s a 1 year window when the division is terrible makes it highly like you wind up with multiple albatross contracts down the road when the rest of the division isn’t so terrible
The risk/reward calculation for committing a few hundred million dollars in payroll for what’s likely an early playoff exit is just not that appealing.
It wouldn’t take much to contend in the AL Central. I agree with you. Plus KC would have money off the books after 2019 with Gordon. I’d be looking to deal Kennedy also.
It seems as though if there was a reputable 3rd baseman on hand, KC could quietly have a quality (quality being high70’s – low80’s wins) season in 2019 & they should have another fat draft if upper management selects well so the future is brighter than the way it looked as recent as July so only time will tell! I’m sure it’s not realistic but Marwin Gonzalez would be a great fit from my POV…
It would depend on two things:
– Development of their young pitchers
– How far the rebuilding AL Central teams are
That division may be the most vulnerable for shock in 2019.
No doubt! There needs to be continued progress from Keller, Junis, Fillmyer, & it would be nice to start the clock on Oakes who needs a crack! That said, I would really be down with a young 3rd sacker that’s more accomplished than Doz or Cuth who in my opinion, are just platoon options at best with a left handed hitting 3B getting the majority of at bats. Daniel Descalso would be an interesting candidate in FA (along with Gonzalez from Hou) but that said, I’d really like them to pursue a player like Anderson from Miami or Camargo from ATL to man third for the foreseeable future.
They have nicky(?) Lopez in thriple A that has had solif numbers thru out the minors and is a top 10 prospect i do believe that could play 3rd and close if not mlb ready