Results tagged ‘ Houston Astros ’
Royals Going the Way of a Potential Blockbuster?
First off, don’t buy into this at all.
Not right now, at least.
This is what happens when the first blockbuster deal of the offseason takes place. The trade happens, and then boom – every team looking for roster help/salary relief is looking to spin a major multi-player deal.
Billy Butler
But this idea may actually have some merit.
In an article by Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, Ken states that rival execuitves believe the Royals have a line of suitors if and when they’re ready to pull the trigger on a potential trade.
Dayton Moore’s contract expires after the 2014 season. Now although he likely is far, far away from being on the dreaded hot seat, we’re entering year seven of “The Process”. There is no doubt that this organization is in tremendously better shape than when he took over in 2006. The farm system has bascially completed a worst-to-first turn around and his aggressive draft approach is beginning to bear fruit at the big league level. But his trade history has been disastrous and his prized free-agent acquisitions (Gil Meche, Jose Guillen) haven’t panned out like the team has wished. On the other hand, he has shown a legitimate knack for signing low-cost, high-reward free agents (Rick Ankiel, Kyle Farnsworth, Scott Podsednik, Jonathan Broxton) who he has been able to flip for multiple parts (Melky Cabrera and Jeff Francoeur being the most notable exceptions).
The time for Dayton’s work in the office to translate into wins on the field is here, and his window could be closing – albeit it slowly.
Rosenthal notes that the Seattle Mariners “covet” DH/1B Billy Butler. The Mariners possess one of baseball’s top collections of minor league starting pitchers: RHPs Taijuan Walker (age 20, AA) and LHPs Danny Hultzen (age 22, AAA) and James Paxton (age 24, AA) - the latter of whom the Royals have been reportedly scouting in the Arizona Fall League. Prior to the 2012 season, Baseball America cited all three of them within the Mariners top 10 organizational prospects (1. Walker; 3. Hultzen; 4. Paxton).
Billy is coming off a season where he had a career high in homeruns and RBI and has been the Royals’ most consistent offensive performer since his arrival back in 2007. If the Royals were to surrender Butler in a deal, it has to work out. Eric Hosmer suffered through a miserable sophomore slump. Alex Gordon got off to a terrible start before finishing strong. Mike Moustakas had streaks of greatness to go along with numerous cold streaks. Salvador Perez, though impressive, has yet to show he can hit at a high level for an entire season. Lorenzo Cain showed flashes of pull-power but couldn’t manage to stay healthy. Alcides Escobar could be a reliable no.2 hitter. Jeff Francoeur is inept and may be out of a job. Will Myers is unproven. And whoever takes the second base job will likely hit in the bottom-third of the order. All in all, giving up Butler creates some real instability in a lineup that, for the most part, has a lot to prove in 2013. But the DH position can be filled with low-cost platoon options like the A’s (platoon of Johnny Gomes and Seth Smith) and Yankees did (Raul Ibanez, Alex Rodriguez, Eric Chavez, Andruw Jones).
But is acquiring unproven starting pitching really in the best interest of the Royals? Afterall, the organization is full of young pitching talent that has yet to see anything above Triple-A level talent. If the Royals were going to deal Big Bill to the M’s, they would have to acquire someone along the lines of Jason Vargas in the deal – clearly not a centerpiece player to any deal involving Billy Butler, but would definitely help the team for 2013 and beyond – along with at least one of their top, big league ready pitching prospects.
Wil Myers
In other rumors, the Tampa Bay Rays really like OF Wil Myers.
Shocked?
Although I am no proponent for it, trading Wil Myers+other prospects would definitely land the top-of-the-rotation guy the Royals are looking for. And the Rays definitely have a number of arms the could be open to dealing. Names like James Shields, Jeremy Hellickson, Matt Moore, and even 2012 Cy Young award winner David Price have been mentioned before when it comes to potential trades with the Royals.
In my mind, if the Rays offer you any one of these names in a potential deal, no matter who you have to give up outside of Sal Perez, you make the deal.
Absolutely. 100%.
Corner outfielders can be replaced, but finding a dependable top of the line starting pitcher is like winning the lottery. On your birthday.
Don’t get me wrong. Wil Myers may be the best hitter to come out of the Hosmer/Moustakas/Myers trio. But if you have the chance to land any one of these guys, Dayton Moore is obligated to pull the trigger. Ask anyone around baseball and they’ll tell you that all the Royals need to compete in the AL Central is competent starting pitching.
Ken also notes that the Astros could be a potential trade partner for the Royals when it comes to starting pitching, noting that they could possibly be willing to part with either Bud Norris or Lucas Harrell. On their end, the Royals would likely have to give up a few prospects, but nothing of great significance.
Out of these three scenarios, I would personally like to see a deal with the Rays happen. The Royals would have to give up their uber-prospect in Myers, but you can’t put a price on quality starting pitching. The small market Rays are in a very unique situation: they have four potential no. 1 starters in their rotation whose salaries will increase as they years go by, top prospects in Chris Archer and Alex Cobb waiting in the wings should a spot open up, and a sever lack of impact hitters outside of Evan Longoria and Ben Zobrist.
Say the Royals part with Myers + Giavotella/Colon + pitching prospect for any one of Price, Hellickson, Moore, or Shields (preferably in that order), do you think that would be enough to get a deal done?
KC Acquires Humberto Quintero and Jason Bourgeois
Dayton Moore’s search for a catcher to tandem with Brayan Pena to start the season has ended today. The Royals acquired veterans Humberto Quintero (catcher) and Jason Bourgeois (OF) from the Houston Astros in exchange for left-handed relief prospect Kevin Chapman and a PTBNL.
In order to make roster space for both players, the Royals moved Perez and Pina to the 60-day DL.
The Royals have been on the prowl lately, looking for someone to help the team out while both Salvador Perez and Manny Pina recover from their respective injuries. Dayton was seeking a veteran catcher with a good glove and a quick catch-release. It was said that he was considering the likes of Ivan Rodriguez, Corky Miller, and Wil Nieves. But all along, Humberto Quintero apparently was his #1 target. The addition of Quintero fills the team’s most glaring and obvious hole. Jason Bourgeois is an interesting piece in this trade, as the Royals already have a guy with a similar skill set in Jarrod Dyson. But the one advantage that Bourgeois has over Dyson is his versatility. He is capable of playing all 3 OF positions, as well as 2B and possibly 3B.
Here’s a quick look at both Quintero and Bourgeois:
Humberto Quintero – Catcher (age 32)
Photo Credit: Bob Levey / Getty Images
9 seasons
Career (offense): 379 games, .234/.268/.321, 15 HR, 44 2B, 94 RBI, 6.35:1 K:BB rate, -2.1 oWAR
Career (defense): 2732 innings, 139 SB against, 66 CS (32% CS), .992 Fld%, 17 passed balls, 20 errors, 8.01 Range Factor, 2.2 dWAR
Just as his numbers show you, Quintero is clearly a defense-first catcher, which is exactly what Dayton Moore was wanting to team up with offense-first catcher Brayan Pena. At 32, he’s got 9 big league seasons under his belt, so he’ll bring along with him a veteran presence that I’m sure the pitching staff will greatly appreciate.
He’s never been a full-time catcher (career high 88 games played in 2010), so he’s already very familiar with the role he’ll be filling in KC. Dayton went as far to say that Quintero may stay on board even after Sal Perez returns from his injury, possibly hinting at the fate of Brayan Pena.
Jason Bourgeois – OF/U (age 30)
Photo Source: mysanantonio.com
4 seasons
Career (offense): 192 games, .262/.307/.324, 52 R, 2 HR, 13 2B, 3 3B, 22 RBI, 46 SB, 1.8:1 K:BB rate, 0.7 oWAR
Career (defense): 753 innings, .995 Fld%, 1 error, 5 assists, 3.86 Range Factor, 1.4 dWAR
Jason Bourgeois has spent the past 2 seasons as a part-time/fill-in player for Houston, but managed to play in 93 games in 2011 due to the Michael Bourn trade. He made the most of his opportunity, hitting .294/.323/.357 and had 31 SB (6 CS), while making appearances at all 3 OF positions and 2B.
While he’s not as fast as Dyson (and who is…), Bourgeois offers up the defensive versatility that could ultimately be the deciding factor this Spring when it comes down to the two for one roster spot.
Kevin Chapman is a 24-year old LHP reliever who was the Royals’ 4th round pick out of the U of Florida in 2010. He has a career ERA over 5 in 2 minor league seasons.
The PTNBL is unknown at this time, although it won’t be much more than a mid-to-lower level prospect.
According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, Royals will continue to seek catching help – most likely for depth at the Triple A level.
