Kansas City Royals 2011 Preview, Predictions & Odds

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A blockbuster trade sent Zack Greinke and Yuniesky Betancourt to Milwaukee for four prospects. Does the remaining roster have enough to compete this year?

Kansas City Royals 2010 MLB Record: 67-95
Kansas City Royals 2010 MLB Home Record: 38-43
Kansas City Royals 2010 MLB Away Record: 29-52

Kansas City Royals 2011 Betting

Kansas City Royals Odds to Win the American League: +5000
Kansas City Royals Odds to Win the World Series: +10000

Kansas City Royals 2011 Preview & Prediction

Just a little longer. That’s the mantra this season in Kansas City, where GM Dayton Moore and his staff have built what is viewed by many as the game’s best farm system. It’s easy to be skeptical. The plea for patience is the one constant, along with losing, over the last generation. But indications everywhere suggest this time might be different. Two examples: The Royals led all organizations last year in having its prospects selected as players or pitchers of the week throughout the minor leagues; and Class AA Northwest Arkansas sent nine players to the Texas League AllStar Game. Stuff like that. Hold onto that long-term optimism because the immediate future is far less encouraging. At least this year offers this: No longer are they running out a bunch of aging, dead-end veterans. Virtually everyone on this year’s roster has a chance to be part of the future.

Kansas City Royals Manager: Ned Yost – Second year (eighth overall) Record: 512-574

Yost has learned from his mistakes in Milwaukee. More relaxed, he got the permanent job in Kansas City after finishing last season as interim manager.

Kansas City Royals 2011 Projected Batting Order: 2B Chris Getz (L), 3B Mike Aviles (R), 1B Billy Butler (R), DH Klla Ka’aihue (L), RF Jeff Francoeur (R), LF Alex Gordon (L), CF Melky Cabrera (S), C Brayan Pena (S), SS Alcides Escobar (R)

Kansas City Royals 2011 Projected Rotation: RH Luke Hochevar, RH Yin Mazzaro, RH Kyle Davies, RH Sean O’Sullivan, LH Danny Duffy.

Kansas City Royals 2011 Projected Closer: RH Joakim Soria

2011 Kansas City Royals Offense:

Acquired in the Greinke trade, OF Lorenzo Cain has the inside track to start in centerfield and may even leadoff. It looks like Alex Gordon will get a next, last chance as the team’s leftfielder. Despite an inability to hit RHP, Jeff Francoeur is penciled in as their everyday rightfielder. That leaves the uninspiring trifecta of Gregor Blanco, Melky Cabrera and Mitch Naier to wait in the wings for any of the shaky starting outfielders to falter. Blanco can steal bases, but the other two look like zero-category duds. 2B Chris Getz’s glove is good, but 2B Mike Aviles’s bat should win this battle. 1B Billy Butler is the best bat left in this lineup. HR power will come. Coming off a disappointing rookie season, the Royals can afford to be patient with SS Alcides Escobar. He’ll run when he gets on base. 1B Kila Ka’aihue might be their second-best hitter, but he needs astrong spring to get guaranteed ABs. Because of his strong performance in limited time last year, 3B Wilson Betemit will get alot of playing time. K.C. will wait until June to give that spot to top prospect Mike Moustakas to delay his arbitration clock. With C Jason Kendall coming off major shoulder surgery, Brayan Pena and Luca May will split the workload.

2011 Kansas City Royals Rotation:

He’s steadily improved over the past two years, and Luke Hochevar should top out as a middle of the rotation arm. However, the 27-year old will continue to suffer from a lack of run support. Kyle Davies continues to ineffectively eat innings. There’s little upside for the 27-year-old, who can once again be ignored by fantasy leaguers. After finishing 2010 with three quality starts, Sean O’Sullivan is likely to enter 2011 with a rotation spot. The 23-year-old throws strikes, but he’s very hittable. He’d struggle to earn the NO.5 spot on any other team. Acquired in the David Dejesus deal, Vin Mazzaro is the front runner for the NO.4 spot. He throws strikes and showed the ability to miss some bats in the minors. There’s no telling when or even if Gil Meche will move back from the bullpen because of shoulder problems.

2011 Kansas City Royals Bullpen:

Joakim Soria is as good as any closer in baseball. The Royals might not win a lot of games, but with their feeble offense they’re not going to get those wins by a large margin. Soria has to be one of the first, if not the first, reliever off the board in fantasy drafts. He’s going to be on the trading block, but Robinson Tejeda has settled in as aquality reliever. He showed improved command last year and has good enough stuff to close in a pinch. Prospect Jeremy Jeffress has 100-mph heat and might take over as the closer if and when Soria moves on. Yost really gained trust in Philip Humber late last year. He’s not particularly impressive, but he has a good enough arm to be a reliable reliever in the seventh or eighth inning.

2011 Kansas City Royals Middle Infield:

Fleet Alcides Escobar arrives from Milwaukee as the slick-fielding shortstop previously absent in an otherwise remarkably balanced collection of prospects. He didn’t hit last season as a rookie, but his minor league numbers suggest the tools are there. Lefty-swinging Chris Getz should, barring a dreadful spring (or a return of post-concussion problems), open the season as the starting second baseman — at least against righthanders. He has the desired speed and defensive skills but is unlikely to hold the job without boosting his .315 career on-base percentage. Mike Aviles is a ready alternative, although the Royals prefer him at third base until Mike Moustakas arrives.

2011 Kansas City Royals Corners:

First base belongs to Eric Hosmer whenever he proves ready, although that isn’t expected until midseason at the earliest — and possibly not until next year. Hosmer draws raves as a potential Gold Glove candidate in addition to projecting as an impact run-production bat. That, effectively, puts Billy Butler and Kila Ka’aihue in competition to become the long-term designated hitter. For now, the two will split time at first base and DH. That Butler, at 24, is one of the game’s best young hitters is underscored by setting career highs last season in batting, on-base percentage and OPS and still drawing knocks for a disappointing season. Ka’aihue is viewed as a Jack Cust-like walk machine with power. It seems one, eventually, will be traded to clear space for Hosmer. The Royals are in a similar holding pattern at third, where Moustakas should make his debut this season. Until then, it’s probably Aviles, although he could shift to second to create a spot for switch-hitter Wilson Betemit, who batted .297 with 13 homers and 43 RBIs in 84 games, or veteran free agent Pedro Feliz.

2011 Kansas City Royals Outfield:

This is a revamped (and seemingly overstocked) unit. DeJesus, a starter since mid-2004, departed early in the offseason in the deal for Mazzaro and minor league lefty Justin Marks. Then came modest one-year investments in two still-young free agents looking to rebuild once-promising careers: Jeff Francoeur and Melky Cabrera. Both signed on when promised regular duty. Finally, the Royals got Lorenzo Cain, a potential long-term fit in center field, in the Greinke deal. So where does that leave Alex Gordon? He adapted quickly last season in making the switch from third base to left field but has yet to show the punch that made him the consensus college Player of the Year in 2005 and the consensus Minor League Player of the Year in 2006. The shakeup also seems to force Mitch Maier and Gregor Blanco into a battle for reserve roles and likely means speedy Jarrod Dyson heads back to Triple-A Omaha. Something to remember: Gordon and Cain each have options remaining.

2011 Kansas City Royals Catching:

There is a wealth of catching prospects percolating through the system even if Myers shifts to the outfield. Manny Piña should get a look this spring, but Salvador Perez is the guy to keep an eye on. For now, Brayan Peña and Lucas May are in line to split duty until veteran Jason Kendall’s anticipated return from shoulder surgery in late May or June. At that point, the Royals face a decision, as Peña and May are both out of options.

2011 Kansas City Royals Bench:

Betemit heads a projected four-man bench. He saw regular duty last season at third base but wore down in the closing weeks. The goal is to play him three or four times per week in a variety of roles. Aviles should start at third but appears cast as the primary utility infielder since he can also play second and short. Maier lost a chance for regular outfield duty when the Royals signed Francoeur and Cabrera but remains a solid fourth guy capable of manning all three spots. Feliz, if he makes the team, will provide defense at first and third with some occasional power.

Kansas City Royals 2011 Season Predictions

Make no mistake about it: The Royals are bUilding something legitimate right now. Their,farm system is perhaps the best in baseball. But they’re still a year or two away from seeing tangible results at the big-league level. This will be another difficult season in Kansas City, but longsuffering fans should finally feel good about the relatively near future. – We predict that the Kansas City Royals will finish 69-93 & 4th in the AL Central Division.

Kansas City Royals 5-Year Win Trend

2006: 5th AL Central 62
2007: 5th AL Central 69
2008: 4th AL Central 75
2009: T-4th AL Central 65
2010: 5th AL Central 67

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