Five Royals Predictions For 2011

Francoeur hits .185 and gets released. Moves to Japan.

and will catch more often than Brayan Pena is horrible news I think your third prediction will definitely happen, and Matt Treanor will almost be as hated as Jason Kendall by the end of the year.

I agree on Cabrera being traded, but think he carries his weight until then, while Francoeur ends up platooned or on the bench after a quarter.

Agree on Davies and think that is why Crow was kept and that what will happen is Crow and SOS will clean up after Davies for about eight starts, then Crow and Davies switch places, Davies getting his chance to throw three decent innings a couple of times a week while Crow becomes a starter.

Treanor is the replacement for Kendall and I don’t think Kendall comes back, instead keeps getting extended on IR, then gets released.

I think Gordon and Kila both have good enough seasons, but probably won’t be enough to keep Kila beyond the Hosmer call-up in June or Gordon ahead of Myers and Eibner when the time comes. Both will be playing for trade value, Kila probably taking his 15 hrs and .360 OBP to greener pastures.

September call-ups will depend on the Royals’ record, I think Hosmer actually comes up around the break, and Myers may get a peek, but better ETA will be ’11.

As for young pitchers, I see Chen and Francis as trade bait and Monty and Duffy, maybe Teaford up when SOS gets sent down, coming up before the break.

1) I think he does get traded, and if he can sustain some hitting consistency akin to his spring training, then we might be able to get something. Cain replaces him on the roster and we move on. Then again, why not also trade off Francoeur? He’s no long term solution for the team either. Cain/Dyson in CF sounds good to me. I think Gordon can stick in LF, so that leaves right, which can be Myers’ when he is ready. Meantime, you keep a veteran in there (pick one) or use a Hosmer out there some time?

2) This is probably Davies last year as a Royal regardless, unless he proves himself to be something more than he has been, which could be done through more consistency. Can he be more consistent? Maybe, but if not, he’s not that hard to replace. Just about any method (internal, trade, FA, etc.) should do.

3) I don’t think we will get rid of Pena this year unless someone in the minors is ready to go. I simply think Treanor’s here until Kendall gets back and is healthy. That said, moving on to point 4….

4) I think Gordon’s put in the work this offseason to put him in the best position for a great year, and if you are the Royals, he’s a more key guy to your overall success than Kila, given depth at the 1B position organizationally. Maybe one of these guys can play RF and you can keep two. Otherwise, let the trading begin.

5) I don’t see Myers as a possibility until 2012, but Hosmer is almost a given for a September call up. Ok, call me crazy, but if Kila kills the ball, do they give Hosmer some starts in RF or LF and use him in the OF maybe? Moose seems obvious since all you really have to do is move Betemit, which again seems like an obvious trade candidate. I say Monty comes up, moving Chen back to being the long man in the pen (I still don’t care for SOS).

As far as what we trade for, I’d put a lefty reliever on the list because despite the craptastic nature of some of our trade chips (Getz), we should be able to swing that. Damned if I know what else we get. I’d say starting pitching, but I am highly skeptical we would get anything but something just as tepid as what we have now.

I’d like to see the Royals go after a top rotation starter, but I realize that’s like asking someone to climb Everest. Realistically, worst starter goes, Chen goes to the pen and we sign another innings eater. I’m waiting for the rest of the lefty assault….

I too would like to see Davies in a relief role. I don’t think Gordon will be better than Kila for one, and wouldn’t Gordon have more trade value if he some how has a great start to the season considering he was the 2nd pick and all?

its gonna be a long day