Kansas City Royals’ next step: addition, GM deciding which players to pick up
By BOB DUTTON
It’s officially time for Phase II of rebuilding the Royals. Signing veteran Matt Stairs to a new contract last weekend signaled the onset of the second part of general manager Allard Baird’s three-part plan for rebuilding the Royals into a vibrant franchise. The decision to retain Stairs was, in effect, the first of many projected supplements to the club’s roster before next season. “We are now at the point where we need to add pieces to our young core group,” Baird said. “We spent this whole year evaluating our young players and learning their strengths and weaknesses. That phase is over.
“It’s been painful in terms of wins and losses. I know that. But it was necessary for us to determine the proper pieces we needed to add. We’re ready to do that.” Or just about. The Royals will spend this week immersed in organizational meetings to solidify an offseason plan geared toward addressing their many flaws. Current players will be slotted in terms of their ability to contribute to a playoff-level club. Simultaneously, club officials will review reports and evaluations on potential acquisitions through trades and free-agent signings. “We’ll talk about everyone on the 40-man roster,” Baird said, “but really go into depth on the makeup of our 25-man roster. We took a year to get these evaluations — and in terms of doing that at least, it’s been a successful year.”
The Royals currently have just three players under contract for next season — first baseman Mike Sweeney, shortstop Angel Berroa and Stairs — for a combined $14.65 million in salary obligations. That includes a $300,000 buyout to void a $2.75 million option to retain reliever Scott Sullivan, who hasn’t pitched in a major-league game for nearly 13 months. Here’s how the rest of the roster shakes out: Four players are in line to become free agents: infielders Denny Hocking and Joe McEwing and pitchers Brian Anderson and Jose Lima.
The Royals appear to have some interest in retaining McEwing. Anderson and Lima could return if willing to accept vastly reduced contracts — or incentive-laden deals with low guarantees. Anderson is currently making $3.25 million, while Lima will trigger performance bonuses boosting his salary to $3.75 million. Four players will be eligible for arbitration: reliever Jeremy Affeldt, starting pitcher Runelvys Hernandez and outfielders Terrence Long and Emil Brown. Reliever Mike MacDougal and first baseman Ken Harvey could also become eligible under the super-two guideline, which covers the top one-sixth of players with two-plus years of major-league service.
Long won’t be offered arbitration because that would put him in line for a raise from his current salary of $4.875 million, but the Royals have interest in retaining him at a lower price. Brown’s salary figures to climb to $1 million or more from his current $355,000 after a breakout year that includes a club-leading 73 RBIs. Club officials want to avoid an arbitration hearing, but that could depend on what happens in Baird’s ongoing pursuit of a power-hitting corner outfielder. The Royals will offer arbitration to Affeldt, Hernandez and MacDougal, if he’s eligible. Harvey could get a take-it-or-leave-it offer or be non-tendered.
The rest of the 40-man roster falls into two groups: Those who comprise the youthful core and everyone else. The latter group is likely to generate the most debate when Baird meets with his senior staff. Chip Ambres, Matt Diaz, Aaron Guiel and even Brown project long-term as backup outfielders. All have enough professional service to become minor-league free agents if not retained. Paul Phillips is currently auditioning as a backup catcher. The Royals could still option him to the minors but must keep him on the 40-man roster to prevent him from becoming a free agent.
Club officials must decide whether relievers Shawn Camp, Jaime Cerda, Nate Field and Steve Stemle merit retention on the 40-man roster and another shot next spring at making the big-league club. Similar questions exist regarding pitchers Kyle Snyder and D.J. Carrasco and minor-league pitchers Brian Bass and Devon Lowery. Second basemen Ruben Gotay and Donnie Murphy, who each struggled this season in big-league trials, could also be booted off the 40-man roster and exposed to waivers. “We’ve got roster issues,” Baird admitted. “We need space because we plan to be active this winter. We’ve also got some minor-league players we’ve got to think about protecting (to avoid exposing them to the Rule 5 draft).”
Even so, the Royals are well-positioned financially as they enter the acquisition phase of Baird’s plan. More than $17 million in salaries come off the books this winter as contracts conclude for Long, Lima, Anderson, Sullivan, Eli Marrero and Benito Santiago. That heightens the stakes when club officials seek to identify those acquisition targets capable of filling the club’s three biggest needs — veteran arms for the rotation, a power-hitting corner outfielder and a reliable second baseman.
Several club officials privately cite the desire to sign two proven starters, but that shapes up as a tall order — especially because the Royals will probably need to overpay the market to generate interest after what projects as a third 100-loss season in four years. Further, the class of pending free-agent starters is neither deep nor particularly striking. Those conditions existed last year and enabled second-tier starters to command first-tier salaries. The Royals are still certain to pursue several available veterans.
Possibilities include Paul Byrd, Kevin Millwood, Steve Trachsel and perhaps even ex-Royal Jeff Suppan and Kenny Rogers, if they become available. Byrd nearly returned last winter before the Angels made a late offer at virtually twice the price. Manager Buddy Bell is familiar with Millwood from his time with the Indians.
Baird’s quest to obtain a corner outfielder with pop began well over a year ago and isn’t helped by a thin class of pending free agents either long in the tooth or short on proven production. The Royals continue to explore trade possibilities for prospects with projectable power and, in a sign of increased philosophical flexibility, are beginning to look seriously at speedy, defensive types who could allow David DeJesus to shift from center field to left and vacate his leadoff role.
“I’d rather have the punch,” Baird said, “but if I can’t get that, we need to remain flexible and creative. Whatever we do, we need to add dependable production.” The situation at second base could take care of itself — if the Royals succeed in bolstering their lineup elsewhere. Andres Blanco has already displayed Gold Glove potential in just six games since returning from the minors.
If Baird goes shopping for a more-reliable bat, the candidates include reacquiring Tony Graffanino or pursuing Todd Walker and/or Mark Grudzielanek. Either way, all signs point to a shakeup as the Royals enter Phase II of Baird’s plan.
“We talked about sticking with the plan this year,” he said, “and that meant sticking with our young players for evaluation and developmental purposes even if it caused us to lose games. “Now, we’re ready to add pieces to our young core. That’s part of the plan, too. If we don’t add pieces, that’s getting away from the plan. Next year is more about results. “Then comes the final phase: Contending in our division.”
KC’s own Big Three. The Royals have just three players under contract for next season — Mike Sweeney, Angel Berroa and Matt Stairs. A look at their production:
Avg. RBI On-base %
Berroa .263 46 .300
Stairs .274 56 .374
Sweeney .294 71 .342