J.J. Picollo feedback on the Royals’ acquisition of Nelson Velázquez

The Royals view Velázquez as a nook outfielder. He’s anticipated to offer depth and will get a glance with the major-league roster this season.

“We expect he’s gonna profile higher in both nook,” Picollo stated. “He’s obtained an above-average arm. So naturally you wish to say proper discipline, however we’ll be taught extra about that as we get to know him higher and see him play.”

Craig Brown at Into the Fountains likes the deal.

The factor I took away from studying varied experiences on Velázquez is that he put within the work to enhance his recreation. In his first couple years in skilled ball, he was a heavy pull hitter who put the ball on the bottom greater than within the air. He’s since developed extra of an all-around method that generates extra loft. FanGraphs famous the alterations to his swing: He changed a leg kick with a extra conservative toe faucet whereas bringing his fingers ahead, together with a shorter stride. Given the adjustments the Royals themselves have undergone within the hitting division, you prefer to see a child who’s keen to take heed to teaching and make changes.

He’ll nonetheless pull the ball a terrific deal—that’s the place the facility is, in any case—but it surely appears like he’s extra keen to roll with a pitch and take it to the other discipline than he as soon as was. He’s additionally improved his health to faucet into that energy potential.

David Lesky at Contained in the Crown reacts to the Nicky Lopez commerce.

Finally, this commerce primarily has zero significance in itself. And if it stays that manner, no matter, I suppose. But when it is a signal of what’s to return this deadline, simply don’t commerce anybody. Limp to the tip of the season with Barlow and Hernandez behind the bullpen, then substitute the entire entrance workplace and begin over. That’s tremendous at this level. As a result of if this is a sign of what this deadline goes to seem like, these guys simply aren’t it. I’ve very strongly believed that Picollo is totally different than Dayton Moore for a lot of causes. I nonetheless do. However to suppose this was a commerce that wanted to be made makes me surprise if totally different may even be worse.

Patrick Dubuque at Baseball Prospectus is befuddled by the deal.

In different phrases, he’s a superbly serviceable utility infielder for a first-division membership, and Atlanta obtained him for nothing. In reality, lower than nothing; it’s like Alex Anthopoulos gave J.J. Picollo three nickels for 2 dimes, and likewise the nickels had been wood and sticky and someway radioactive.

Additionally at Baseball Prospectus, Marc Normandin parses John Sherman’s letter.

So, we’re taking a look at two issues right here. Sherman is both truly suggesting that this might be near a 50/50 break up for the stadium, however went with the corporate-speak model of flowery language in his letter in a manner that made it appear much less of an open-and-shut case like that. Or, he’s truly planning on contributing lower than $1 billion in personal funding for the ballpark itself, and that “extra” of $1 billion is definitely going to be for all the space, the place Sherman and other people paid to give you “proof” that can make J.C. Bradbury’s head explode will hold churning out figures to “show” that ballparks are funding for cities, truly—which is why sports activities crew homeowners are so graciously permitting them to take part in these partnerships as a substitute of simply taking all of that cash for themselves. Neither is nice, actually, since both manner, we’re speaking round $1 billion in public funds, which once more: that’d be a document, and by a substantial quantity.

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