OMD’s 2018 Shadow Royals - The Simulation

Once again, the general manager with the unenviable task of taking the reins in the Offseason Simulation held here at Royals Review is Old Man Duggan, a man so beset with mental illness at the prospect of trying to fix the mess in which this organization is mired that he’s begun referring to himself in the third person.

A recap with explanations will follow, but this thread will be where the mad Old Man’s moves will be updated throughout the sim.

Internal roster decisions

• Mike Minor opted out of his half of the mutual option for 2018
• Qualifying offers extended to Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Lorenzo Cain, and Mike Minor - all qualifying offers were declined by the players
• Arbitration was offered to the four arbitration-eligible Royals, Kelvin Herrera, Brandon Maurer, Nate Karns, and Mike Morin

Trade #1

The Shadow Royals trade Whit Merrifield to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for right-handed reliever Keynan Middleton and prospects Brandon Marsh (outfield) and Jaime Barria (right-handed starting pitcher).

Trade #2

The Shadow Royals trade Ian Kennedy, pitching prospect Josh Staumont, and $8MM in 2018, $4MM in 2019, and $4MM in 2020 for right-handed reliever Chris Beck.

Trade #3

The Royals send Kelvin Herrera to the World Champion Houston Astros for first baseman A.J. Reed and right-handed starting pitching prospect Rogelio Armenteros.

Trade #4

The Royals send Bubba Starling to the Baltimore Orioles for Chris Davis, Tanner Scott, Anthony Santander, Milton Ramos, and Jomar Reyes. The Royals will just pay Davis’s salary for the first three years in Kansas City, meaning Baltimore picks up what Davis is due 2021 and beyond.

Trade #5

The Royals ship Danny Duffy to the Texas Rangers for infielder Jurickson Profar, second baseman / outfielder prospect Willie Calhoun, and right-handed starting pitching prospect Ariel Jurado.

Update #1

Trade #6

The Royals move Joakim Soria, $4MM owed Soria in 2018, and $1MM to cover the buyout of the mutual option in 2019 to Toronto for catching prospect Max Pentecost and left-handed starting pitching prospect Ryan Borucki.

Update #2

Trade #7

The Royals send Brandon Maurer and $3.8MM to cover his 2018 salary to Colorado in exchange for Rockies’ outfield/first base prospect Jordan Patterson, first base/third base prospect Tyler Nevin, and outfield prospect Daniel Montano.

Free Agent Signings #1 and #2

The Royals sign Wily Peralta to a minor-league deal worth $750K if added to the 25-man roster with a player opt-out clause if not added to the roster by June 1.

The Royals sign Jaime Garcia to a two-year, $14MM deal. Someone has to throw baseballs for the Royals, right?

Update #3

Free Agent Signings #3, #4, #5, and #6

Royals agreed to terms on:

• Hisashi Iwakuma - split minor-league deal, becomes $1MM if added to the 25-man roster with $750K performance bonuses with every 10 starts he makes at the major-league level and a player opt-out clause if not added to the 25-man roster by June 1
• Peter Moylan - one year at $1MM
• Dustin McGowan - minor-league deal
• Joe Blanton - one year at $1MM

Trade #8

The Royals send Scott Alexander to Houston. The Astros send maligned former top prospect and first baseman Jon Singleton (who is owed $2MM in 2018 and has a $500K buyout on the first of three successive club options in 2019), outfield prospect Gilberto Celestino, and right-handed pitching prospect Cristian Javier to Kansas City.

Update #4

Trade #9

The Royals free up the logjam at first/right field, sending Brandon Moss, $6.25MM in 2018, and $1M to cover the buyout on the option in 2019 to the Tigers for right-handed relief pitching prospect Adam Ravenelle.

Update #5

Free-agent Signing #7

The Royals inked Tom Wilhelmsen to a minor-league deal.

Update #6

Free-agent Signing #8

The Royals inked Bud Norris to a one-year deal for $1MM with $200K performance bonuses for every eight games finished.

Trade #10

The Royals send Paulo Orlando to Miami. The Marlins send back reliever Shawn Kelley and left-handed pitching prospect Jordan Guerrero, who they obtained from the the White Sox.

Updates to continue as warranted.

Unleash your rage, children.