Royals Rumblings - News for December 18, 2017

Royals Rumblings - News for December 18, 2017

In his mailbag column, Rustin Dodd writes about the rebuild (with a nice hat tip to Shaun Newkirk.

But to that end, the next two to three seasons will be dedicated to developing players that could be part of that window or acquiring low-cost assets that could then be flipped for players that could be part of that window. And, of course, the next two to three years will be dedicated to acquiring high draft picks that could speed up the process.

The Royals could have five picks in the top 50 in 2018. That’s a good start. But high picks (and large bonus pools) in 2019 and 2020 could help as well.

So, yes, the Royals should definitely listen to trade offers for all their best assets, sentimentality be damned. But while there could be some motivation to move Kelvin Herrera, Scott Alexander and Whit Merrifield this offseason, there’s theoretically no rush to deal Danny Duffy and Salvador Perez.

Scott Boras talks up Eric Hosmer’s intangibles.

In fact, Boras believes we should be measuring this, too.

So “Prestige Value” it is, a metric that can be coupled with WAR, or wins above replacement, and offer the true value of the player. This, at least, is the strategy.

“They know of the skill level of the player, but when the player has ‘prestige value’, it brings tremendous value to his WAR,” Boras said. “So when we talk about WAR, we put the ‘PV’ to it. There are minus players that have minus PV, and there are players that have major-league standard Prestige Value, and players that have a well-above average or elite Prestige Value.”

A look at how a new park may affect Hosmer’s power, according to Statcast.

Orioles beat writer Roch Kubatko doesn’t think there is much to the rumors that Baltimore is pursuing Danny Duffy.

It’s a nice thought considering that the club needs a southpaw in the rotation and Duffy owns a 3.73 ERA in seven seasons. But the Orioles again would have to move outside their comfort zone - in terms of players surrendered, not finances - and I’ve been told that the Royals weren’t aggressively shopping him.

Chris Mitchell at Fangraphs projects the Rule 5 picks, including the two pitchers the Royals picked up.

Brad Keller, RHP, 3.5 WAR (from Arizona, traded to Kansas City)

Keller struck out a respectable 19% of batters faced as a 21-year-old starter in Double-A. His ERA was hurt by an inflated BABIP, but the 6-foot-5 righty pitched well otherwise. Pitchers who can hold their own in a Double-A rotation at 21 are hard to come by and often turn into successful big leaguers. Keller was KATOH’s best available right-handed pitcher in the draft.

The Padres designate Travis Wood for assignment.

Tim Collins signs with the Nationals.

Lee Judge says farewell and looks back at his time at the Kansas City Star.

The Matt Kemp/Adrian Gonzalez deal enables the Dodgers to pursue Bryce Harper next year.

The Red Sox want J.D. Martinez to be a designated hitter.

The Rangers acquire Matt Moore from the Giants.

Tampa Bay may be ready to make some trades.

The Angels may have won the off-season.

Yankees outfielder Dustin Fowler sues the White Sox over his injury at Guaranteed Rate Field.

A profile of A’s scouting coordinator Haley Alvarez, the first female talent evaluator in club history.

Vince McMahon’s XFL may make a comeback.

Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson will sell the team after allegation of workplace misconduct.

Japanese monkey may be trying to have sex with deer (h/t buddyball).

The Pentagon doesn’t want you to know about the $22 million it spends to investigate UFOs.

The 24 best television episodes of 2017.

Your song of the day is Max Frost with $Dreams.