Kansas City Royals Organization Discussion

by John Sickels on Oct 17, 2025 9:00 PM EDT

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General Manager Dayton Moore of the Kansas City Royals points how short second base prospect Johnny Giavotella is. (Photo by G. Newman Lowrance/Getty Images)

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I am now working on the Top 20 list and book commentary for the Atlanta Braves. The next team in line is the Kansas City Royals, followed by the New York Mets.

Use this thread to discuss the very rich Kansas City Royals system. There is a lot to like here obviously, with Hosmer, Moustakas, Myers, and the big batch of young pitching.

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Doublestix and I both posted our top 20 in the fanposts

You should check those out.

LHPs are plentiful in Lamb, Dwyer, Duffy, Montgomery, Teaford, Simmons, Smith, Baumann.

RHPs are not as plentiful and rather weak. Crow, Melville, Yambati, Ventura, Avinazar, Paukovitis, Elisaul Pimentel, Santiago, Caldera, Sample. The first four are good. The others are not so good.

Cs seem okay with Salvardor Perez, Manny Pina, Theriot, Jones, Lucas May, and Wil Myers.

1B you’ve got Hosmer and Clint Robinson at the top. Murray Watts?

2B is Giavotella who I’m really high on. Yowell Espinal, Luis Piterson.

SS would consist mainly of Christian Colon and Jeff Bianchi and his Tommy John. Alex McClure? Orlando Caxito. Michael Antonio.

3B you have Moustakas. Cuthbert. Stovall.

OF you have Dyson, Derrick Robinson, David Lough, Jordan Parraz (if he stays in the org, probably not a prospect anymore), Brett Eibner, Adrian Ortiz, Paulo Orlando, Nick Van Stratten, Tim Smith, Nick Francis….

Relief pitchers you have Coleman, Tim Collins, Kevin Chapman, and Patrick Keating. Sisk is also there.

There are a few more here and there.

Scouting the Royals
Royals Prospects

by 306008 on Oct 17, 2025 9:37 PM EDT reply actions

I forgot Blake Johnson, Henry Barrera, and Ben Swaggerty.

Scouting the Royals
Royals Prospects

by 306008 on Oct 17, 2025 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions

OH....

and that kid named Jason Adam. How did I miss him? Oh well. :)

Scouting the Royals
Royals Prospects

by 306008 on Oct 17, 2025 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah that's a big miss

I like him a lot.

http://bullpenbanter.com/

by jar75 on Oct 17, 2025 10:02 PM EDT up reply actions

RHPs are not as plentiful and rather weak. Crow, Melville…

Still better crop than a decent amount of teams.

Bullpen Banter
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twitter: @alskor

by alskor on Oct 17, 2025 9:48 PM EDT up reply actions

crow is probably a better prospect than any non greinke right hander for the royals in what...10 years?

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by billybeingbilly on Oct 17, 2025 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions

He and Hochevar were pretty equivalent. This is right on the brink of the decade cutoff, but Jeff Austin was in that range as well, IIRC.

by goldenblack on Oct 17, 2025 10:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, the Hochevar and Crow similarities are pretty disturbing.

Bullpen Banter
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twitter: @alskor

by alskor on Oct 17, 2025 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions

You think so?

I really thought they were down a little. But maybe it’s because I compare them to the LHPs in the system who are pretty much all better….

Scouting the Royals
Royals Prospects

by 306008 on Oct 17, 2025 10:06 PM EDT up reply actions

They are down... but still not that bad. I was saying it speaks to the incredible strength of this system that its an obvious weakpoint.

Bullpen Banter
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twitter: @alskor

by alskor on Oct 17, 2025 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't know if I should mention it or not

But the thing that really scares me about these pitchers is that we have Fischer (no progressive thinking from what I can tell) in charge of all pitching and McClure in charge at the big league level. I really think we need to over haul our pitching program.

That might be kind of weird to hear considering we have all these studs in the system and it seems that we’ve developed them, but I really don’t think most are even near their potential or will stay near their potential for very long.

Scouting the Royals
Royals Prospects

by 306008 on Oct 17, 2025 10:08 PM EDT reply actions

you know infinitely more about pitching than i do....

but its hard to argue with the minor league results this year….everyone but crow has seen their stock rise

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by billybeingbilly on Oct 17, 2025 10:28 PM EDT up reply actions

And Melville. :)

Scouting the Royals
Royals Prospects

by 306008 on Oct 17, 2025 10:37 PM EDT up reply actions

true

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by billybeingbilly on Oct 17, 2025 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions

KC has the combo of elite talent in top 10 and depth, too

Their farm system has turned around over past few years. 5 year ago their 11-20 prospects this year would have been their top 10. When guys like Tim Collins, Melville, Coleman, Eibner, Giavotella, Lough, Perez are in that range, you have a strong system. Being a long time Royals fan, I only hope KC doesn’t screw them up when they get to the majors. Can’t remember a group of strong LH prospects like this.

by daveyork on Oct 17, 2025 10:25 PM EDT reply actions

They key for Royals fans is to enjoy these prospect lists as much as possible...

…before Dayton starts signing free agents

Bullpen Banter
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twitter: @alskor

by alskor on Oct 17, 2025 10:47 PM EDT reply actions

Hey now

It almost sounds like you’re implying Jeff Francouer won’t be worth a 3 year deal for his playoff savviness and outstanding clubhouse makeup

by goldenblack on Oct 17, 2025 10:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Question

Someone who follows the Royals, tell me this. Is thisupturn a byproduct of better drafting, more money spent, or dumb luck?

by ADLC on Oct 18, 2025 12:25 AM EDT reply actions

Yes on all counts...

Though I count better scouting as the key factor…

by dbreer23 on Oct 18, 2025 12:28 AM EDT up reply actions

hosmer, moustakas, myers are a product of spending more money

monty, lamb and many others are a product of better scouting/development.

im sure dumb luck plays a part as well

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by billybeingbilly on Oct 18, 2025 1:04 AM EDT up reply actions

LOL @ that picture's caption

and LOL at unintentional barb by commenter #1: “Giavotella who I’m really high on”

by BringBa on Oct 18, 2025 2:55 AM EDT reply actions

Lol

And Dayton is a short guy as well.

Scouting the Royals
Royals Prospects

by 306008 on Oct 18, 2025 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Too bad he didn't have to show how tall Collins is

- .-. ..- … – / – …. . / .—. .-. - .. . … …

by Jeff Zimmerman on Oct 18, 2025 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Re-emergence

Can Wilson Betemit go back on the prospect list?

by jedjethro on Oct 18, 2025 9:48 AM EDT reply actions

Not much to say that hasn't been said lately on here

Looking beyond the main guys, I’m looking forward to see how the next wave of players develops, particularly Brett Eibner’s transition to a full-time CF prospect and Jason Adam’s debut after some very nice reviews from BA and Law.

by deezle on Oct 18, 2025 10:53 AM EDT reply actions

Royals Organization

KC’s problem is that unlike most organizations where the prospects are looked on to provide support and help to the existing big league team, they are going to need to win with their prospects without a lot of support from the free agent front. Which in essence they are going to need to have 3-4 superstars and a lot of big league talent in their farm system. Which they may have but it is such a smale margin of success that they can’t afford to miss on too many of their elite prospects.

The big question from a organizational front is what do you do with Greinke? Again they can’t afford to lose him and get nothing. Yet it does not sound like he will stick around.

ogallalabob

by ogallalabob on Oct 18, 2025 11:55 AM EDT reply actions

they need to realistically put him out there this offseason....

and if they dont get any offers to their liking, start it again next june.

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by billybeingbilly on Oct 18, 2025 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Yup.

maybe late May. :)

Scouting the Royals
Royals Prospects

by 306008 on Oct 18, 2025 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Why is this not an option?

The big question from a organizational front is what do you do with Greinke? Again they can’t afford to lose him and get nothing. Yet it does not sound like he will stick around.

If they let him play out his deal through ‘12, it will allow them to slowly work in Montgomery, Lamb, Dwyer, Duffy, etc, towards the bottom of the rotation. KC would also get a 1st round pick and sandwich pick if he walks, which isn’t a shabby return if no one blows you away with an offer.

Of course, the ideal situation would be for Greinke to sign an extension or trade him for a couple premium prospects, but letting him play out his deal would not be the end of the world.

by deezle on Oct 18, 2025 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Good points

But for me, I’d rather save $27 million and develop 3 top of the line picks now than wait for 2 picks and spend… Those p’s will develop with CHENNNNN!

Scouting the Royals
Royals Prospects

by 306008 on Oct 18, 2025 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

and people tend to forget that the 1st round pick isnt guaranteed....

and if they do get it, its a late 1st round pick a good pick, but not guaranteed to be an elite talent.

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by billybeingbilly on Oct 18, 2025 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Agree

You can roll the savings into the draft and/or IFA market now, which can equate to the same impact as the comp picks except several years earlier, plus again whatever prospects you get back which you can immediately start factoring into your plans. Realistically, this crop will probably take a couple more years to really make its impact in the majors, right when Greinke leaves. Optimistically, you only have the 2012 year as a possible overlap for contention, and then you need several more years afterwards to cash in on the two comp picks, which is when the current crop will start hitting arbitration and budgetary concerns could start to come into play depending on circumstances.

Shouldn’t deal for the sake of dealing, but unless Greinke makes clear signs he’s willing to stay for a discount or otherwise reasonable rate (unlikely), better to start testing the market now rather than risk being Johaned.

by goldenblack on Oct 18, 2025 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions

He hasn't yet...

lol

Scouting the Royals
Royals Prospects

by 306008 on Oct 18, 2025 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions

johaned....

i love it

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by billybeingbilly on Oct 18, 2025 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Fanbase and money

Sometimes teams need to hold on to a player just to keep the fans coming. Greinke, as a pitcher, doesn’t have the same effect that an every day player has, but dealing your one “name” player can result in fans tuning out a young team. That $27 Million savings may shrink drastically if the team proceeds to lose 100 games as the young guys work their way into the lineup. A couple percentage points drop in attendance and TV ratings can mean millions to a team.

by ADLC on Oct 18, 2025 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions

A fair argument

I think that’s a defensible position, and the thought did cross my mind. That said, IMO, the bottom line to what drives (and can resurrect) a fanbase is winning. Unless their TV deal is due up for renegotiation immanently (no idea), Greinke’s effect there for the next two years shouldn’t matter; revenue is locked in. Whatever attendance, merchandising, etc. hit you’d take from dealing him would be more than counteracted by one, much less multiple, playoff runs. It’s at best a coinflip that everything coalesces in time for Greinke’s last year in KC in 2012; KC has to play the odds and build towards contention in the middle of the decade when all these prospects will be approaching their prime while still being reasonable priced.

by goldenblack on Oct 18, 2025 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions