Personnel
The Royals filled their personnel gaps with a mix of expertise and former players:
• MLB Bench Coach - Paul Hoenecke
• AAA Pitching Coach – Mike Wallace
• A+ Pitching Coach – Reggie Meyer
• R (ACL) Hitting Coach – Enny Mijhail Van Dyke (KC 2028 3rd Round; 2033-2039)
• R (DSL) Hitting Coach – KC Huth
Awards
Bobby Nickelberry and Colin Stewart were the only Royals honoured in the annual Awards, with Nickelberry picking up his 3rd Platinum Stick and 2nd MVP for his phenomenal season while Stewart picked up his 7th Manager of the Year Award, all the sweeter as it sits alongside the World Series Trophy.
Elsewhere, there were awards for former Royals Alan Klingsberg (Great Glove), Mike Campney, Mike Thomas, and Gilberto Matos (Platinum Stick) while Pat Black won his 6th Reliever of the Year Award, edging out Luis Danys Rhodes and Dan Nichols, who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively.
It was also six time lucky for J.J. Tjepkema, who took home the AL Cy Young Award and burnished his already surefire first ballot career.
AL Great Glove
NL Great Glove Alan Klingsberg ARI
AL Platinum Stick 3B Mike Campney HOU | LF Mike Thomas HOU | RF
Bobby Nickelberry (3) KC | DH Gilberto Matos BOS
NL Platinum Stick 1B Juan Moreno MIL
AL Manager of the Year Colin Stewart (7) KC
NL Manager of the Year Johnny Holtman SD
AL Reliever of the Year Pat Black (6) NYY
NL Reliever of the Year Josh Saas COL
AL Rookie of the Year C Jim Clark MIN
NL Rookie of the Year SP Vann Okere STL
AL Cy Young J.J. Tjepkema (6) HOU
NL Cy Young Gil Messiha COL
AL MVP RF
Bobby Nickelberry (2) KC
NL MVP CF Ernesto Buenrostro SD
Pre-Arbitration Extensions & Trades
There were few shocks for the Royals ahead of arbitration and free agency as expected from the end of season review. All three Team Options were executed for three club legends Edgar Mir, Ethan Chafin, and Curt Bogans, while the only multi-year extension went to Estanislau Covete who took a 4-year $50m contract that only has the first two years guaranteed, limiting the Royals risk for the 28-year old.
One trade ahead of free agency was moving on from LHP Jeremy Ogans. Ogans was the odd man out amongst a strong starting pitching corps, with his $11m arbitration number a chance for the Royals to make some saving going into the off season. Soriano is a potentially plus contact, plus power 1B prospect with a great personality.
Friday, November 2nd , 2046
Executed the contract year option of 2B Edgar Mir.
Executed the contract year option of SP Ethan Chafin.
Executed the contract year option of SP Curt Bogans.
Traded 27-year old LHP Jeremy Ogans to the Colorado Rockies, getting 20-year old minor league 1B Juan Soriano in return.
Tuesday, November 6th , 2046
Signed RP Bob Capozziello to a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $1,650,000.
Signed 1B Luis Aceves to a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $7,400,000.
Signed RP Juan Anaya to a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $5,700,000.
Signed CF Chris Kern to a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $4,500,000.
Signed 2B Arturo Oramas to a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $4,550,000.
Friday, November 9th , 2046
Signed LF Chris Albright to a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $4,700,000.
Wednesday, November 14th , 2046
Signed 3B Estanislau Covete to a 4-year contract extension worth a total of $50,000,000.
Arbitration & Qualifying Offers
As expected, neither Juan Minnelli nor Chris Kuehn accepted the QO, and will test free market, giving the Royals two supplementary first round picks when they eventually sign.
The Royals were also not willing to give Dan Nichols a two-year contract so he will go to free agency, with the Royals keen to bring him back for one year if the opportunity arises.
Friday, November 23rd , 2046
LF Juan Minnelli rejected the qualifying offer
SP Chris Kuehn rejected the qualifying offer
Sunday, November 25th , 2046
LF Juan Minnelli becomes a free-agent.
SP Chris Kuehn becomes a free-agent.
RP Dan Nichols becomes a free-agent.
Trades
The arrival of Free Agency saw the Royals make two largish trades, moving on from two World Series contributors.
Luis Aguilar was the weak link of the infield and, with 2042 3rd round pick Tonguar Zimmerman having a strong season in AAA (3.2 WAR), and Covete returning on a multi-year contract, there was no role left for the 25-year old. Adding in former trade acquisition LF organisational piece Alejandro Quintanilla gave the Royals two interesting pieces in return; plus plus power potential, elite defensive infielder Jorge Flores, along with a potential plus stuff SP Danny Mueller.
Replacing Juan Minnelli for the upcoming season was a priority for the Royals with an absence of an immediate in-house option. Chris Albright was a solid contributor for the Royals but as he and Chris Kern entered their latter arbitration years, Stewart decided to cash in while he still had value. Packaging trade acquisition Juan Oviedo, a plus control, plus HRA pitcher with four mediocre pitchers with Albright allowed the Royals to acquire Josh Mangan from the Red Sox. Mangan gives the Royals another left-handed-bat in the lineup, is still arbitration eligible, won the Rookie of the Year Award in 2043 behind a profile showing plus defense, speed, and contact with a plus plus eye and above average power. Mangan led the league in walks in 2046 and the Royals see a spot for him at the top of the line up to go with Jorge Corujo.
Sunday, November 25th , 2046
Traded 25-year old 3B Luis Aguilar, 22-year old minor league LF Alejandro Quintanilla, and $6,000,000 in cash to the San Antonio Avalanche, getting 20-year old minor league 2B Jorge Flores and 20-year old minor league RHP Danny Mueller in return.
Traded 29-year old LF Chris Albright and 20-year old minor league RHP Juan Oviedo to the Boston Red Sox, getting 27-year old LF Josh Mangan in return.
International Amateurs
We just completed our monthly private practice with many young international amateur free agents who we hope can aid our club in the coming years. It was great to meet the players in-person and get to know them better, and I was able to improve my scouting assessment on all invitees.
In fact some of the players impressed me, since they showcased a higher potential than I had previously expected from them:
Jesus Ayala, 16 year-old 3B out of Dominican Republic
Lean and athletic, Jesus Ayala hails from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He has the potential to be a .270 hitter. His outstanding speed makes him one of the fastest in the league. He has an advanced feel for the strike zone. Ayala projects to be an above average big league third baseman.
Esteban Della Vedova, 17 year-old RF out of Venezuela
Lean and athletic, Esteban Della Vedova hails from San Fernando, Venezuela. He has a lot of talent, and grades out as a plus contact hitter. He has shown raw power that should generate more home runs as his body matures. He's considered an average right fielder. Della Vedova has potential to unleash his obvious talent both on the field and at the plate.
It was a great practice and none of the invitees disappointed in showcasing their talent.
And other players that I was able to further assess were:
Esteban Aguirre, 16 year-old LF out of Venezuela
Jesus Barreiro, 16 year-old 3B out of Cuba
Alexis Guadalupe, 16 year-old SS out of Dominican Republic
Nelson Arellano, 16 year-old SS out of Dominican Republic
Luis Godoy, 16 year-old 2B out of Venezuela
Juan Hueramo, 16 year-old CF out of Venezuela
Alejandro Medina, 17 year-old 3B out of Venezuela
Jesus Palma, 16 year-old LHP out of Panama
Around the League
Retirements
Friday, November 2nd , 2046
New York Yankees: LF Enny Mijhail Van Dyke retired from professional baseball.
Milwaukee Brewers: RF Josh Hays retired from professional baseball.
Los Angeles Dodgers: SP Stephon Mickell retired from professional baseball.
Los Angeles Dodgers: 2B Quency Danner retired from professional baseball.
Chicago White Sox: LF Steve Metzger retired from professional baseball.
Washington Nationals: SP Nate Hall retired from professional baseball.
Chicago Cubs: 1B Yang-joo Kwon retired from professional baseball.
New York Mets: SS Josh O'Neill retired from professional baseball.
San Francisco Giants: RP Chris Reed retired from professional baseball.
Tampa Bay Rays: LF Jonathan Chaloux retired from professional baseball.
Minnesota Twins: CF Dylan Dietz retired from professional baseball.
Atlanta Braves: SP Jim Manrique (AA Mississippi) retired from professional baseball.
RP Sergio Leyva retired from professional baseball.
Boston Red Sox: SP Tyree Sanon (AA Portland) retired from professional baseball.
Boston Red Sox: 2B Luis Barroso (AA Portland) retired from professional baseball.
LF Phil McAuley retired from professional baseball.
Los Angeles Dodgers: CL Randy Navarro retired from professional baseball.
Houston Astros: SP Gwang-woo Kim retired from professional baseball.
RF Juan Pimienta retired from professional baseball.
Boston Red Sox: RP Ed Vanderhart (AA Portland) retired from professional baseball.
2B Zach Masteller retired from professional baseball.
SP Jaime Rhodes retired from professional baseball.
RP Kevin Gibson retired from professional baseball.
2B Alfredo Carbajal retired from professional baseball.
SS Chad DiSandro retired from professional baseball.
LF Jeff Livingston retired from professional baseball.
2B Bobby Swartz retired from professional baseball.
SP Nelson Mora retired from professional baseball.
RP Humberto Cuevas retired from professional baseball.
SP Efren Basa retired from professional baseball.
1B Edgar Flores retired from professional baseball.
RP Chris Anderson retired from professional baseball.
1B Josh Pohea retired from professional baseball.
San Francisco Giants: RP Juan Delgado (AA Richmond) retired from professional baseball.
Colorado Rockies: RP Luis Amaya (AA Hartford) retired from professional baseball.
RP Pete Funny retired from professional baseball.
RP Ken Rodgers retired from professional baseball.
RP Mike DiMaggio retired from professional baseball.
Arizona Diamondbacks: RP Chris Castillo retired from professional baseball.
1B Steve Hocker retired from professional baseball.
1B Alfredo Borjas retired from professional baseball.
RP Ramiro Fuertes retired from professional baseball.
RP Julio Serrano retired from professional baseball.
RP Akira Tanaka retired from professional baseball.
RP Jorge Longoria retired from professional baseball.
RP Tetsuhiko Yukimura retired from professional baseball.
RP Liang-hsi Xue retired from professional baseball.
RP Juan Villarreal retired from professional baseball.
New York Mets: Retired #33 in honor of Josh O'Neill.