The looming free agency of Eric Hosmer and others of the current Royals Championship Core has been the subject of many articles and much conversation amongst the fan base for the last several years. The inevitability that many will be wearing a different uniform in 2018 is a realization many of us have attempted to mentally suppress. Simply trying to enjoy one last ride, we hoped that another successful season might help in staving off the feeling of loss when our beloved players head off on their separate paths.
The problem with that narrative is that the Royals find themselves 6 games below .500 and we are now approaching the middle of June. Though they remain in a weak division and are still within 5 games of first place, they have yet to gain traction and make a run back to respectability. What's more, the Royals have lost stalwart ace Danny Duffy for at least several more weeks due to injury. This isn't to say that they cant or wont go on a tear and real off 15 out of 20 as they have done in the past to climb back in to contention, but the magic 8 ball would say the outlook is cloudy and that might be being overly optimistic.
With a farm system currently ranked 26th in the Majors, the Royals are looking at something of a crisis. Should they decide not to trade off some of their pieces this season, and instead "go for it," they would face a number of uncertainties next year and for years to come due to the lack of organizational depth to replace exiting players.
With this in mind, it has been thought that the Glass family and Dayton Moore would at least make an attempt to sign a few of the pending free agents and keep them in Kansas City. Last season, Alex Gordon was given such a contract, and the Royals also made good on the first stage of Danny Duffy's quest to "bury me a Royal."
Next on the docket are several more central pieces to the Royals success in Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas and Lorenzo Cain. Speculation and rumors have already swirled about details of the negations that took place prior to this season between Hosmer's camp and the Royals front office. Talks ultimately ceased with the 2 sides were unable to reach an agreement before opening day, and it appears Hosmer is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of this season, as is customary for many of Scott Boras' clients.
So what is next for the Royals? Trade them all? Sign them all? Let them walk?
Mike Moustakas seems to move to second on the list for "most likely candidate to be retained by the Royals" in the minds of most Royals fans. So the question is this, if only given the option of keeping one and trading the other, which SHOULD the Royals make the greatest concerted effort to bring back next season and beyond? CAUTION: HOT TAKES BELOW
Luke Goosen:
I still maintain that Eric Hosmer will be in a Royals uniform next season. Yes, I realize the signs point to that not being the case, but it almost makes too much sense for it to NOT happen. That coupled with the fact I think that the market will go much the same way it did for Gordon. Big numbers will be thrown around early before actual demand sets a price.
It makes sense from an organizational standpoint, as Hosmer has been a leader and face of the team in the community. He has been vocal and visable and when folks outside of Kansas City think "Royals" they think of Eric Hosmer. He is'nt the best player by any stretch, but he has become a representative of sorts. It would be tough to lose him. Eric Hosmer on another team would almost feel like the soul of the team left. It would be a total rebuild without him.
Moose, on the other hand, would most likely yield as good or better production on the field as Hosmer over the course of the next 5 or 6 years. He plays a defensive position that has a much higher value than what Hosmer does and has a cool nickname. The downside to Moose is body type, and whether or not he could/would become a bit more of an injury risk as he crosses over into his thirties. Moose also has a couple of guys behind him that can play 3b and provide a cheaper, younger option. Cheslor Cuthbert already proved he was capable when he played third in 2016 while Moose was out with injury. Hunter Dozier is also looking to make a case and hit .294/.357/.506 in 103 games for AAA Omaha last season.
This is a bit of a toss-up. My heart says sign them both, give them whatever they want, but at the end of the day we all know that is not realistic. My hope is they can keep one of the two, my opinion on which teeters back and forth by the day. If Mike Moustakas crosses over 30 home runs for the season, it will be tough to watch that leave.
Conrad McGorkin
If I were in the position of Dayton Moore, I don't know that I would be weighing options of which of the two to attempt to retain. I'd be questioning whether either is worthy of paying to retain. I love both players, and I'm thankful for the excitement and success they brought to Kansas City.
That said, I started saying this a long time ago (see Sweeney/Beltran), I'd never center my team around a first baseman. Hosmer is more athletic than most first baseman, but, he isn't an offensive force. He is good, not near great. He may offer above average defense, but, is that really all that valuable at that position? Moustakas on the other hand is not the most athletic of builds. He is also a solid, not great offensive performer. He provides quality defense but how long will it last? I'd be looking to trade both players.
Some argue that draft compensation from letting them walk in free agency is more valuable than what can be acquire d in trade. I believe in the organizations ability to acquire talent in trades, and see no way that draft comp would leave the franchise in better shape than trade acquisitions. Players acquired via trade should be further along in development and trades can produce multiple players. Draft comp can't provide either. I'd have looked to trade Volquez and Morales last year as well. But, that's for another day.. — @ConradMcGorkin
Zachary Hodson
In a vacuum, Hosmer at his best vs Moose at his best would be a win for Hosmer. Hos is the overall more gifted baseball player. But what we have seen over the past few seasons is that Moose spends more time at-or-near his best. He plays like a player that has accepted and embraced what he is.
Hosmer still seems to be trying to figure that out. He spends stretches of time (these "slumps" we talk about) trying to be the type of force he isn't, trying to hit every ball 450 feet when the walls are 410 at most. He may connect here or there to a highlight reel bomb, but more often than not he spends these stretches grounding out repeatedly to second base. If he would embrace the 20ish HR/40+ doubles middle-opposite field approach that he is *so* damn good at, he would be an All Star year in and year out. However, he has not shown the desire or ability to do so at this point in his career.
Furthermore, you should consider organizational depth. Ryan O'Hearn and Frank Schwindel are sitting in AAA as potential options within the next year or two (with Samir Duenez succeeding at the AA level behind them). And hawt take alert: don't be surprised if Salvy ends up getting the Mauer switch sometime before the end of his current contract.
The future at 3B seems a bit less exciting. The organization seems to be pumping the brakes a bit on Cheslor Cuthbert. Hunter Dozier sits in AAA with some recent success, but also some red flags. Beyond that … well, not a whole lot anywhere near being major league ready.
Moose is admittedly one year older and does not have a … how to put this gingerly … chiseled physique. But this contract would be for his age 29 – low 30s years. Given his relatively clean track record in regards to injuries (the 2016 ACL injury being the only lengthy injury I can think of (which he is showing little ill effects of so far this season)), I don't think we need to be too concerned about injuries.
Finally, when you factor in the money and years that Hosmer is alluded to be commanding (which I personally think is unrealistic and mostly just agent created nonsense), the arrow moves more and more towards Moose as the more sensible option to invest in long term.
My vote: Moose. Pay him. Pay that Moose his money.
Chris Walker
I still think Hosmer, because I think his body stays stronger and healthier longer. He also is the leader of this team, his bi-lingual ability also endears him to everyone. And I think he is a smarter ball player. Hosmer has decent speed on the bases and he will rip a bag every now and again. So as a complete player, he is better than moose. Moose is a good player and in the right park could be a 30-40 homer guy, but he most likely only has a couple more years in the field left. And he has shown he can get hurt. So that could be limited as well. He may be cheaper, but if your thinking long term I think Hoz is the better deal.
And Finally…..YOU
