The Royals

[Dugout DickStone]

 

[Cartierfor3]

 

[Fake Sugar Dick (WARNING, NOT THE REAL SUGAR DICK!)]

In terms of offensive value, I like to look at three numbers. OPS, OBP and WAR. Let's take a quick look at the last three years of Infante and Phillips, as well as Bonifacio and Getz just for shits and gigs.

OPS (2011, 2012, 2013)
Infante    .696 .719 .795
Phillips     .810 .750 .706
Bonifacio  .753 .645 .625
Getz        .600 .672 .561

OBP
Infante    .315 .300 .345
Phillips     .353 .321 .310
Bonifacio .360 .330 .295
Getz       .313 .312 .288

WAR
Infante     2.4 2.9 3.1
Phillips      5.6 3.7 2.6
Bonifacio   2.8 0.4 0.6
Getz         0.6 0.3 -0.1

As stated before, Phillips is consistently down in each category. This, by no means, pegs him as a terrible player. But I would be seriously concerned about his production next year and any following years.

Infante has shown steady improvement capped off with what is his best year since being an all star in 2010. Will he have a career year next year? Probability says no but it looks a lot more promising than Phillips. I'd be very content with 3.0 WAR guy.

So, over the past 3 years Phillips has been better than Infante in 2011 and 2012, but not as good the year Infante had 2/3 the ABs. Oh yeah, Phillips won gold gloves in 2011 and 2013.  Coincidentally, those 3 years are the first 3 years of Phillips fat contract, whereas infante was playing for one in 2013.

And you and KKs conclusion is that Infante is a better player because he's "trending" better than Phillips? Okay, guys.

I mean, I realize its a false argument as Phillips wasn't coming our way anyways, but good grief. If you watched these two guys play and you'd never seen either of them before, you'd pick Phillips 10 out of 10.

[Kat Kid]

That was a reasonable post but, with all the obvious caveats, the entire discussion is about what they are going to do going forward.

In other news, the Yankees just signed Brian Roberts.  I'm guessing that utility man Eduardo Nunez is going to get a lot of run with Brian Roberts, Jeter and A-Rod making up the 3/5ths of the Yankees infield.

[EMAWmeister]

The quiet on the Ervin Santana front frustrates me.  Not that I think he'll be a Royal next year, but because I need to start the grieving process.

[Cire]

I'd LOVE Santana next year.  Probably not going to happen, hope the royals didn't burn any bridges with him though because I think most teams realize that Kauffman is a very good park for him to pitch in.

[WildcatNkilt]

I really wish we could just skip over basketball season and go straight to baseball.

[scottwildcat]

I really wish we could just skip over basketball season and go straight to baseball.

Will probably agree with you after Gonzaga stomps our balls and taints at IBA

[jtksu]

I really wish we could just skip over basketball season and go straight to baseball.

Will probably agree with you after Gonzaga stomps our balls and taints at IBA

Yes, our balls and taints are going to be very sore come Saturday night.

[sunny_cat]

Kansas City Royals ?@Royals 1m
#Royals acquire INF Danny Valencia from Baltimore in exchange for OF David Lough.

 

[mocat]

Kansas City Royals ?@Royals 1m
#Royals acquire INF Danny Valencia from Baltimore in exchange for OF David Lough.

 

wtf

[SabiNation]

It needed to happen

[sunny_cat]

It needed to happen

It still makes me sad tho.

[8manpick]

Had dreams of Lough being our 4th/5th outfielder with Dyson

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

[EMAWmeister]

Seems like Bonifacio is gone. 

[jtksu]

Seems like Bonifacio is gone.

Really?  I figured that dude would definitely be around next year.

[jtksu]

Kansas City Royals ?@Royals 1m
#Royals acquire INF Danny Valencia from Baltimore in exchange for OF David Lough.

 

wtf

Platoon with Moose?

[WildcatNkilt]

Does this mean Maxwell stays?  Why would we get rid of Bonifacio?  I figured Bonifacio would be great to keep for base running and as infield relief for Escobar and Infante.  Looks like they are trying to obtain/keep the power hitters now that speed and defense has been fulfilled.

[SabiNation]

Seems like Bonifacio is gone.

Really?  I figured that dude would definitely be around next year.

He's making almost $3 million next year to be a utility player.  I'd love it if he stays but wouldn't be surprised at all if they unload him.  It is the Royals after all.

[joda]

Seems like Bonifacio is gone.

Really?  I figured that dude would definitely be around next year.

He's making almost $3 million next year to be a utility player.  I'd love it if he stays but wouldn't be surprised at all if they unload him.  It is the Royals after all.

If Bonifacio isn't packaged for a starting pitcher I see him getting near starter AB totals. Backup at 2B/SS plus will probably get the majority of ABs when Cain goes down for a month+

[sys]

He's making almost $3 million next year to be a utility player.  I'd love it if he stays but wouldn't be surprised at all if they unload him.  It is the Royals after all.

yeah.  i thought since we'd made it this far, he was safe.

 

[jtksu]

Does this mean Maxwell stays?  Why would we get rid of Bonifacio?  I figured Bonifacio would be great to keep for base running and as infield relief for Escobar and Infante.  Looks like they are trying to obtain/keep the power hitters now that speed and defense has been fulfilled.

Definitely need Maxwell's power off the bench.   I say lose Dyson and keep Bonifacio.   

[EMAWmeister]

He's making almost $3 million next year to be a utility player.  I'd love it if he stays but wouldn't be surprised at all if they unload him.  It is the Royals after all.

yeah.  i thought since we'd made it this far, he was safe.

 

Valencia is ridiculous against lefties.  Ned has found a new guy it looks like.

[scottwildcat]

Does this mean Maxwell stays?  Why would we get rid of Bonifacio?  I figured Bonifacio would be great to keep for base running and as infield relief for Escobar and Infante.  Looks like they are trying to obtain/keep the power hitters now that speed and defense has been fulfilled.

Definitely need Maxwell's power off the bench.   I say lose Dyson and keep Bonifacio.

Not a chance we get rid of an automatic stolen base off the bench.

[8manpick]

So what we have today:

LF: Gordon
CF: Cain
RF: Aoki

3B: Moustakas
SS: Escobar
2B: Infante
1B: Hosmer
C: Perez

DH: Butler

All of that is pretty much set, barring injury or a big trade.

Reserves:
Dyson
Maxwell
Bonafacio
Valencia
(Whoever our Backup Catcher is)

That is 5 for what is likely going to be 4 spots. 1 of those is the catcher, and Valencia is out of options so he will be in the majors.

So down to Dyson, Maxwell and Bonafacio. I have to believe we value Bonafacio's versatility and speed over the other two given Cain's proclivity for injury and Moustakas' struggles.  Maxwell is probably the best remaining trade chip we have, so I would bet that he gets traded before Dyson and we end up with Dyson and Bonafacio on the opening day roster.