6 Comments

Zack as the opener - I wish I could be there. Beyond a bounce back by Hunter we need to see the same bounce from Mondesi - I see this as make or break yr for them both if they are going to be wearing Blue in 23.

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This team is going to be truly fascinating with all the storylines. The youngsters are coming and the vets should most definitely feel the pressure. It's possible Mondesi could be gone by next year. But Dozier's contract (which I decided not to mention in the story) means he's going to be here for a bit.

2022: $4.5 million

2023: $7.25 million

2024: $9 million

2025: $10 million club option with $1 million buyout

tl:dr: He's owed $21.75 million over the next three-plus years. (Assuming option is bought out.) If Dozier struggles again and the Royals decide they need to move on, the only way a team will take a contract like that would be if the Royals attached a prospect or two. Another reason they desperately need him to produce at at least league average for the next couple of years.

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In the end it is a $$ game.

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It’s always about the money.

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It looks to me that in the 2021 swing Dozier's hips don't get fully rotated. In the 2019 swing, his belly button is looking at the pitcher, which means his hips generated power and he could square up the pitch. In 2021, he doesn't seem to get his hips fully rotated until after the pitch is to the plate, resulting in the foul ball to the right side.

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There’s definitely a difference in the hips. I would need to do a deeper dive to see if that was a consistent issue or if it was that he was fooled on that particular pitch. I looked at a few swings of 2021 and 2019 and didn’t see much difference. But again…not enough to draw any concrete conclusions.

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