Early projection on 2010 Royals roster

by Home Run Tony Cogan on Nov 22, 2009 1:06 AM EST

Because I know we can't wait to see who's going to be suiting up for the boys in blue next year, I went through and mocked-up a preliminary roster for the Royals in 2010.

This roster still needs a RF, 5th starter, and LOOGY. I estimated arb awards and have $64.5 million spent thus far. So, assuming our payroll is no more than $75 million, we've got about $10 million to burn. Here's what I've come up with:

Player	Pos	Salary

Buck, John	c	3,000,000.00
Butler, Billy	1b-dh	500,000.00
Callaspo, Alberto	2b	500,000.00
Gordon, Alex	3b	1,000,000.00
Betancourt, Yuniesky	ss	3,375,000.00
DeJesus, David	lf	4,700,000.00
Maier, Mitch	of	500,000.00
TBD	of
Guillen, Jose	dh	12,000,000.00

Bloomquist, Willie	2b-of	1,700,000.00
Ka'aihue, Kila	1b-dh	400,000.00
Getz, Chris	2b	400,000.00
Pena, Brayan	c	500,000.00

Greinke, Zack	rhp-s	7,250,000.00
Meche, Gil	rhp-s	12,400,000.00
Bannister, Brian	rhp-s	2,000,000.00
Tejeda, Robinson	rhp	1,000,000.00
TBD	p

Soria, Joakim	rhp	3,000,000.00
Cruz, Juan	rhp	3,250,000.00
Farnsworth, Kyle	rhp	4,500,000.00
Hochevar, Luke	rhp-s	1,000,000.00
Rosa, Carlos	rhp	400,000.00
Lerew, Anthony	rhp	400,000.00
TBD	lhp

Buyouts (net)		725,000.00
		64,500,000.00

I am assuming that Aviles and Fields start the year in Omaha and that Davies is let go, saving about $1.5 million. Colon is gone. Internal options for the 5th spot include Campillo and I guess Davies if the $1.5 mil can't be spent better elsewhere. I think Hooch needs to go to the bullpen where I believe he'll be more effective. If not, send him back down to AAA and pick up somebody cheap. Needless to say, I don't think this team is very good and maybe would win 75 games, IF Meche and Bannister are healthy. If not, we're basically fucked.

One possible scenario would be that Callaspo takes over as the primary DH, but then what happens with Guillen? I can't imagine him being back in RF next year, but I can't imagine them just flat-out releasing him either. I hope that line of thinking doesn't lead them to part with Callaspo b/c he's one of our best bats and would be a positive contributor at DH.

Another scenario might be that Getz ends up going to AAA and Callaspo backs up 2nd and 3rd while DHing, and Guillen also plays DH and occasionally fills in in RF. Not ideal, but better than playing him there every day.

In either scenario, it seems unlikely that Kaaihue would get much PT. Cutting Guillen would solve a number of problems, but I say let him DH, hope that he rebounds and if he does, trade him for anything then bring up Kaaihue. If he doesn't rebound, you cut him and then bring up Kaaihue. Thoughts?

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Hochevar was about as up and down as it gets this last season.

The overall numbers in the end were bad, but can the Royals really afford to move him to the pen after some of great starts last year? They aren’t going to win 90 games, so I’d start him in the rotation and give him until June/July before making that move.

I used to work with an old man that told me. Son, every workplace has a dumbass, if you don't have one where you work, then I'm afraid you're it.

by Warden11 on Nov 22, 2009 12:26 PM EST reply actions

This lineup is sad.

I would keep Hochy as a starter and not blow the money on a FA. There is a better chance that he will turn things around than Dayton signing a productive starting pitcher. My hope is that Lough has a fantastic spring and that they move him up and start him in RF. With the money saved we could go out and get a SS. Lastly, I think 75 wins is very optimistic and 2010 is going to be another long frustrating season.

by grudz96 on Nov 22, 2009 1:01 PM EST reply actions

Don't forget about Hochevar tipping pitches.

He could be a lot more productive if he can figure out how to fix it.

by AxDxMx on Nov 22, 2009 3:18 PM EST reply actions

I don't think there's any point to speculating where Callaspo is going to play

There’s no way we don’t trade him. Projecting lineups for a bad team in late November is futile (but Fun!). Nonetheless, here’s what I’m thinking:

C – whoever we get for Callaspo/DDJ
1b – Butler
2b – Getz
3b – Gordon
ss – Aviles (after Yuni is allowed to hit .190 for a month)
Lf – Fields gets first crack out of Spring training
Cf – Crisp or Maier or Anderson
Rf – Whoever we get for Callaspo/DDJ or Guillen with Parraz and Lough waiting in the wings

*You think I'm good* "You know, that Farnsworth is pretty good." *You will give me 9 million dollars* "So, Farnsy, how does $9 million sound?"

by jackie ballgame on Nov 22, 2009 4:26 PM EST reply actions

I predict Campillo gets the #5 spot out of spring training

*You think I'm good* "You know, that Farnsworth is pretty good." *You will give me 9 million dollars* "So, Farnsy, how does $9 million sound?"

by jackie ballgame on Nov 22, 2009 4:29 PM EST reply actions

I predict we sign someone crappy to a million dollars

And Campillo takes that person’s job in May.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Nov 22, 2009 10:52 PM EST up reply actions

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure Fields is out of options

I think Aviles has a pretty good chance of starting in Omaha and having to work his way back.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Nov 22, 2009 10:52 PM EST reply actions

This roster still needs a RF, 5th starter, and LOOGY.

Jeff Franceour. Chuck James. Macay McBride. Boom – roster.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Nov 22, 2009 10:55 PM EST reply actions

Everybody seems to be really down

on next year’s team. So am I. What a contrast between this off-season and last one.

Basically what happened is that the GM spent a whole bunch of money on sucky players and didn’t pick up anybody good except Meche, Soria, and Callaspo. Now we’re in a hole that will take several more years to get out of.

It's pronounced Poo-ZHOLS in Catalan.

by Juancho on Nov 23, 2009 3:39 AM EST reply actions

So, basically 10 mil.

To get an OF, SP and C, right? Get a young platoon partner for Pena (someone with some D). Crisp back at 3 mil with an option (and put Mitch on the bench). Sign Bedard or Harden or someone that can get outs with the rest of the money.

Cut Buck. Davies is coming back (maybe in the pen, but still). I’m thinking it’s a mistake to not try Callaspo in RF. Fields, unfortunately, makes this team.

To me, the biggest needs are defense and starting pitching. Crisp in CF and a decent C (Pudge even?) would be a step forward. If you sign a legitimate 3 starter the bullpen will more or less correct itself. I mean, just having Hoch and Davies there will be an improvement over Bale, Mahay, Colon, Gas Cans, Tornado-canes, and whoever else we trotted out there last year.

Also, Campillo, sadly, is an important piece. Tejeda will be exposed as a starter (I hate admitting it, but it’s true) and he’s best served in the pen. A legit 3 pushes Banny and Campillo back to 4-5 where they won’t be overwhelmed. A bullpen of Cruz, Farns, Tejeda, Hoch, Davies, Rosa and Soria looks like a real improvement, at least on paper.

A long post, but I guess I had a lot to say…your analysis of Guillen is exactly right, by the way.

by Dadunca on Nov 23, 2009 9:02 AM EST reply actions

Hoch might have had a completely different year

if the Royal’s best infielder as compared to the average at his respective position wasn’t Billy Butler. Infield defense has to be the first priority—if only we could have back the Yuni trade……

by kcdc1 on Nov 23, 2009 10:33 AM EST reply actions

As of now

I think Davies needs to be moved to the bullpen. He always seemed to have 3 good innings but once the lineup got a 2nd look he was toast.

SP:Greinke,Meche,Bannister,Tejada,Hoch
Bullpen:Soria,Cruz.Farnsworthless, Rosa,Davies,Hughes,other castoffs
C:Pena/Vet back-up
1B:Butler
2B:Getz
SS:Yuni
3B:Gordon
LF:DDJ
CF:Anyone but Anderson or Mitch
RF/DH:Guillen/Fields/Callaspo if he stays
Bench:Willie,Aviles,Kila,Vet Catcher

I really hope Kila and Mike Aviles get another shot. It seems to me that those two could produce the same results as Fields and Getz.

by KCG816 on Nov 23, 2009 5:17 PM EST reply actions

Did Kila have a first shot?

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by Matt Klaassen on Nov 23, 2009 9:03 PM EST up reply actions

Sadly, If Decent

Returns can be had we need to trade DDJ, Bert and probably Banny too. We need to get younger and better in the upper minors. 2010 will nit be the year for the big team.

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on Nov 23, 2009 8:55 PM EST reply actions