Catcher
Nelson Saiz had a strong sophomore year, not quite reaching the heights of his rookie of the year season having missed time with injury, but still recording a 154 wRC+ and hitting 28 HRs. While his FRM rate is once again poor, -8.9, his CERA was a miserly 2.91 and his EFF improved to .984 from below .860 last year. In short, a stellar year and he will start 2050 as a Royals cornerstone.
Dave Forester struggled in a back up role and, while his defense was strong with a 3.6 FRM, he only managed a 3.42 CERA and his bat was well below average, an 88 wRC+.
Chris Early was promoted during Saiz’s injury and did enough to encourage the Royals to move on from Forester. Arturo Ruano is overdue a chance in the big leagues but a serious injury cost him the second half of the season.
Infield
The Royals are going to have some serious decisions to make with the infield which may see the biggest overhaul in years.
1B Luis Aceves struggled with injuries, not reaching 400 PAs, but when he was healthy put up a 131 wRC+. He is one of the true power bats on the Royals roster, sitting 6th All-time with over 200 HRs. However, he is QO eligible and, at 30, is looking for 5yrs at $23.5m to come back. A QO is more likely than a long term contract at this point.
2B Arturo Oramas was another Royal to suffer with injuries, only starting 84 G and putting up a 93 wRC+. His injuries have seen his long term rating drop to fragile. He remains an elite glove but his contact has dipped according to the Royals last scouting report. He still has two years at over $20m before another 2 at decreasing values and, with the prospects behind him, is a definite trade candidate for the offseason.
3B Jadon Tezeno had his best season by WAR since 2046 and his best ever by wRC+. His glove is not elite at 3B but a 133 wRC+ with 2.26 WPA at $14m is good business. Tezeno will be back in 2050 unless something extraordinary happens.
SS Juan Montelongo repaid Stewart’s faith in him with a stellar 5.2 WAR season. His 132 wRC+ included 20 HRs while his glove was 4% better than league average with a 7.4 ZR. A 10yr, $18m AAV extension isn’t outrageous and will be something for Stewart to consider when the dust settles on roster decisions.
Jonathan Lish (2044 1st Round (S)) made his ML debut and ended up featuring in over 100 G, predominantly at SS (allowing Montelongo to move to 2B), but also with time at 2B and 3B. A 10 ZR with 8.9% above league average efficiency reflects his elite glove. Lish also had a 114 wRC+ over the season, adding up to a 3.2 WAR that will earn him a 28-man slot in 2050.
Steve Katzin (2044 3rd Round) had a lot more playing time in his second year in the majors, finishing one PA short of 200, mostly from the DH position. A 192 wRC+ with 15 HRs suggests greater playing time for Katzin in 2050, either at DH or potentially replacing Aceves at 1B.
Bernalldino Igrejas came up during the season and learned 1B on the fly, and is now an elite glove across the whole infield. He also managed a 179wRC+ and the Royals will have to find a place on the 26-man roster for the #15 prospect in baseball to start 2050.
Tonguar Zimmerman suffered from the infusion of youth over the course of the season, limited to 27 GS and 107 PA. His glove remains high quality but he only managed a 77 wRC+ and entering the first year of arbitration is another the Royals likely move on from in the offseason.
Luis Flores earned a September call up but a 77 wRC+ in 87 ABs wasn’t impressive and, with his defensive limitations, it is hard to see Flores earning a spot in 2050 and may be a victim of the 42-man squeeze in December.
Branson Huot, Chad Hart, and David de Anda are all looking for their chance to make a mark, Hart’s season was another disrupted by injury and 2050 will be a make-or-break year for him.
Outfield
RF Bobby Nickelberry had another career year as he posted a 142 wRC+ while smashing the Royals single season RBI record, his 156 being top 30 in baseball history, and the 3rd highest this century after Coby Mayo (161, 2031) and Sammy Sosa (160, 2001). He also posted top ten Royals seasons in SLG, TB, and HR while he is now 2nd on the Royals All-time list for HRs, only 26 behind George Brett.
LF Mike Gronkiewicz had his first full season in the big leagues and led the American League in Runs, with 126, good for 4th on the Royals single season lists. A 134 wRC+, with 31 HRs and 63 SBs, to go with 94 RBIs contributed to his 6.2 WAR. Predominantly playing LF, he also covered Jorge Corujo in CF, a key role in allowing Corujo to avoid injury.
CF Corujo set a Royals single-season SB record with 90, and best in the AL. That helped him to 123 R, 5th on the Royals list, just behind teammate Gronkiewicz. He was rested every 5th game which helped him stay fit and play in a career-high 145 G.
A.J. Terry managed over 500 ABs during the season although a disappointing 93 wRC+ was the worst of his Royals career. He did manager a 20/20 season but, heading into his first year of arbitration, may be someone the Royals look at as surplus to requirements.
Domingo Carrillo had a big decrease in playing time (455 vs 261 PAs) and his 82 wRC+ justifies that move. The switch hitter has seen his defensive capability reduced to that of a corner OF. He has option years left but the Royals will certainly listen to offers.
Ken Crome was the odd man out at the start of the season and remained that way until September call ups. A strong showing in that time means that he will be both a trip to the development lab to improve his defense and earn a shot at the 5th OF role in 2050.
Jorge Morales put up 4.2 WAR at the AAA level and deserves a chance in the Majors next year, although his glove will be a limiting factor for the Royals.
Offseason / Early 2050 Overview
C Nelson Saiz
1B Luis Aceves
2B Juan Montelongo
3B Jadon Tezeno
SS Jonathan Lish
LF Mike Gronkiewicz
CF Jorge Corujo
RF Bobby Nickelberry
DH Steve Katzin
C Chris Early / Arturo Ruano
IF Bernalldino Igrejas
IF TBC
OF Ken Crome
OF A.J Terry
Starters
The six man rotation was very successful for the Royals up until September when injuries hit hard, both Dusty Glick and Ben Lane suffering serious injuries to miss the end of the season.
The season opening rotation all posted FIP- before 100, with Ben Lane’s 90 the worst of the set. T.J. Nooks put up 5.5 WAR despite only starting 28 games, with Cason Willard 4.8 from his 27. Willard’s season ERA (2.29) was the 4th best in Royals history as was his 8.2 rWAR. Nooks will be back but Willard is QO eligible and, looking for 7yrs / $27.2 AAV, the 31-year old is likely to move on.
Benton Geldart and Dusty Glick are both arbitration eligible and it is likely the Royals pick up those contracts. Glick is the only question mark as he will miss the whole of next season so the Royals benefit is first chance at an extension depending on his post-injury ratings. The Royals may investigate the trade market for Glick despite owner Sherman hoping for a contract extension. Geldart, meanwhile, continues to impress with his 10.4 K/9 good for 8th all time on the Royals single season list.
Rob Cope is due $18.8m next year which is beginning to get expensive although the loss of Glick for the season and likely loss of Willard to Free Agency increases his chance of returning.
Jeff Mole and Jorge Zagal filled in with 12 starts between them, Zagal outperforming Mole although the ceiling for both is likely that of 5th starter and they will be competing for a maximum of one spot in the Spring.
Bullpen
The Royals bullpen could see some changes although it is as likely that the best bullpen in the American League returns largely unchanged.
The only long term contracted player is Juan Anaya, a $10m contract for 2050 a good deal for a pitcher who had 77.2 IP with a 74 FIP- and a 21:12 SD:MD ration.
Pete Acors (35.0 IP, 33 FIP-) and Chris Morrow (45.0 IP, 64 FIP-) will both be back on league minimum salaries in 2050, the only question being whether they can improve their 6:4, 5:3 ratios to earn more prominent roles.
Mike Krebs (16.1 IP, 89 FIP-) and Chris Curry (34.1 IP, 21 FIP-) both enter their first year of arbitration and are likely to be back although Krebs is a player the Royals would listen to offers for.
C.J. Binkle is in his second year of arbitration and serves up consistent Middle Relief, with 27.1 IP for a 72 FIP-. He also has one option year left making his return an easy decision.
Joe Mays and Bob Capozziello are harder decisions. Mays (74.0 IP, 83 FIP-) because his arbitration number ($7.8m) is that of a starter while Capozziello (45.1 IP, 116 FIP-) on performance. It is unlikely both return and there is a good chance neither return.
Luis Danys Rhodes is QO eligible but is only looking for a reasonable $8m in an extension. The challenge is that he is looking for 4 years and, at 36, that might be too much for the Royals. 89.2 IP with a 65 FIP- show he still has the ability, though and the Royals will enter into good faith discussions to try to get a deal done – Rhodes did overtake Joe Manley for 5th place on the Royals save list this season, while he tops the WHIP list, his 0.98 WHIP from 598.2 IP the only one below 1.00.
Zaire McKines (2044 9th Round) earned a September call up and only gave up 5 H in 9.1 IP for a 44 FIP-. McKines will be looking to cement a place in the bullpen for 2050.
Neither Zion Merkerson (2045 6th Round) nor Steve Campista (2043 9th Round) pitched for the Royals in 2050 with Campista limited by injury. Both will be back in 2050 and hoping to earn playing time.
Offseason / Early 2050 Overview
SP RHP T.J. Nooks
SP RHP Ben Lane
SP RHP Rob Cope
SP LHP Benton Geldart
SP RHP Jeff Mole / RHP Jorge Zagal
IL LHP Dusty Glick
RP RHP Juan Anaya
RP LHP Pete Acors
RP RHP Chris Morrow
RP LHP Chris Curry
RP LHP Mike Krebs
RP RHP Joe Mays
RP RHP C.J. Binkle
RP RHP Zaire McKines
RP RHP Luis Danys Rhodes