You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Royals offseason review chat
powered byJotCast
Mark P
5:00
Hey there everyone, thanks for chatting! We'll wait another minute to get things started, but there's already a good number of questions in the queue
addison
5:01
do you have the royals or tigers finishing in 4th this year?
Mark P
5:01
Who finishes with a better record in 2023?
Royals (79.6% | 78 votes)
 
Tigers (20.4% | 20 votes)
 
Total Votes: 98
MrDave
5:01
What is a realistic timeframe for the Royals to contend once more?
Mark P
5:03
2023 is a pivotal year in determining how much more work the Royals have to do in their rebuild.  If the changes in the front office and within the dugout result in some immediate development for the younger players, the Royals can start planning ahead to contending by perhaps 2025 at the latest
Altuve's Buzzer
5:03
Does Chapman get a legit shot to close here? Or is it Barlow? (Chapman-Altuve at-bat still haunts me btw...)
Harold
5:03
Why sign Aroldis Chapman?
Mark P
5:04
Barlow is still surely the first choice, but if Barlow struggles or gets traded, Chapman will get some save chances.

It's also worth noting that Chapman might get some extra ninth-inning work in the leadup to the trade deadline, so the Royals can audition him to interested clubs as a closer candidate.
5:06
In terms of why KC made the signing in the first place, they're counting on a change of scenery to help Chapman get back on track.  He has value as both a trade chip and as a reliever who can help the pen if he recaptures any of his old form.  At the cost of $3.75MM, it isn't a huge risk for the Royals to make
Erik
5:06
I don't know if you've been following the potential of Royals building a new stadium around Kansas City. What's your take on that?
Mark P
5:07
My take is that I'd better hurry if I ever want to see a game at Kauffman Stadium.  It's one of the ballparks still on my list!

All jokes aside, it seems like the new stadium explorations are still in an early phase
Freddie Patek
5:08
Should the Royals try n lock up Bobby Witt Jr long term?
Witt Jr.
5:08
What must I do to get a contract similar to that of Carroll? Am I better off waiting for Julio to sign an extension?
Mark P
5:10
If you mean Julio Rodriguez, he already signed an (enormous) extension last summer.  

Witt and his agents surely had keen interest in Carroll's deal, and one would imagine they'll consider that the floor for any Witt extension.  Obviously their camp will argue that Witt should earn more, as a higher-touted prospect and as a player who has more MLB experience than Carroll.
Not in KC
5:11
What’s your take on the OF starters this year? Does Waters factor in before the ASG break?
Mark P
5:13
Assuming he's healthy, Waters should be part of the regular mix much sooner than July.

This is perhaps something of a copout answer, but KC has enough young outfielders they want to look at that I can see them not having ANY true "starters."  They could conceivably mix and match between any of Isbel, Olivares, Eaton, Waters, and Melendez (with Dozier also getting some work on the grass) based on matchups and platoons.
David C
5:13
Does Pratto make the team and when?
Mark P
5:15
This is purely speculative on my part, but I wonder if Pratto could be a trade candidate.  Pasquantino seems to have emerged as the 1B/DH of the future, so the Royals might not want to also have Pratto along to lock down the other position.

Picollo being a longtime part of the Royals front office makes this scenario a little awkward, but there are plenty of past instances of a new GM parting ways with a younger player favored by the old regime.
Olivia A.
5:15
Is Greinke cemented as a Hall of Famer? If not, what must he do?
Mark P
5:17
I think he'll get in.  The changes in pitcher usage will make HOF voting for future pitchers very interesting, and I think Greinke's numbers (which are already excellent) will look even better in comparison.
Royals Optimist
5:18
What conclusions can realistically be drawn from the team's torrid start to Spring Training?
Mark P
5:18
Spring Training results mean nothing in the big picture, but hey, it's better than they're playing well than playing poorly.
Ang T
5:18
If Chapman pitches well, does KC try to extend him?
Mark P
5:19
Probably not.  That deal seems to have "short term acquisition" written all over it
Mike cutter
5:19
What would Nicky Lopez bring back in a trade
Mark P
5:22
Tough to tell, because his bat took such a tumble from 2021 to 2022.  A Nicky Lopez who can post league-average offense or better is an immensely valuable player --- he was something like 15th in all of baseball in fWAR in 2021.

But, a Lopez who looks as lost at the plate as he did in 2022 is a bench player at best, regardless of how good his glove might be.  The Royals don't want to undercut themselves by selling low on Lopez if he rebounds to his 2021 self, yet naturally teams aren't too excited about paying a premium for the 2022 version of Lopez.
5:23
Also, it may be a moot point since I doubt Lopez is being dealt.  It makes for KC to keep him around until they get a good look at Witt and Massey as the regular MI duo.  If both are playing well, or if the Royals trust Maikel Garcia as the backup infielder, a Lopez deal becomes more realistic
Guest
5:24
Will any of Lynch, Bubic or Kotar figure it out?
Clint
5:25
Can the new pitching coaches get more out of the young staff?
Mark P
5:26
This is probably the biggest question of the Royals' season, since if they can't get least one of those young arms rolling, that's a big setback.  Not that it's exactly "make or break" time for any of the trio since they're all still young, but getting even one more viable MLB starter out of the group would be a big win for Kansas City
Royals Fan
5:28
What percentage chance do you give Franmil Reyes of getting called up at some point this year?
Mark P
5:28
100 percent.  He might even be there on Opening Day, the way he's ripping up Spring Training pitching
Guest
5:28
What to make of Maikel Garcia? Royals have put him at 3rd and CF this spring. Seems like they want to find a spot for him. I’d personally rather him take short and move Witt permanently to 3rd.
Famous Amos
5:28
Do you agree on the Royals giving BWJ a long leash to determine if he is indeed the SS of the future?
Mark P
5:30
Having a premium shortstop is so important that the Royals will give Witt plenty of opportunity.  If the defense just isn't there by, say, the end of the 2024 season, I can see KC transitioning Witt to third base or even the keystone.  

Hitting is the other factor, since we've seen in the past how some players struggle at the plate since their defensive problems are a weight on their psyche.  If Witt isn't hitting as well as not fielding well at short, the Royals might make a position change earlier.
5:31
Having guys like Garcia or Lopez around to play shortstop gives the Royals flexibility in this regard
Parker
5:32
Was the return on Mondesi really the best the Royals could get?
Mark P
5:32
For a player who missed almost all of 2022, and has had constant problems in staying on the field?  Yes
Matheny
5:33
How long till I get another job in baseball? And was I right to feel blindsided by my firing?
Mark P
5:35
To a casual observer, it seemed like Matheny's job was in jeopardy for much of 2022.  But, if he'd been told by Dayton Moore that he was safe, I can see why Matheny would've been surprised by the firing.

That said, since Moore's firing was also a surprise, you'd think that would've immediately put Matheny on alert.
Load More Messages
Connecting…