Price jumped the Toronto ship to pitch for the Red Sox next year. $217 million for 7 years. If Cueto was looking to pitch for them next year as he had mentioned, don't look like he will now. Maybe he should've taken that big offer from Arizona.
Also am reading that the Mets biggest target this off season is Ben Zobrist on abt a 4-5 yr deal. He's abt 35 now so that's not very damn smart either IMO.
@globaljaybird I want to keep zobrist.
@Crimsonorblue22 I really want to keep Gordon also but at 32 on opening day, someone else will prob offer him an 11 figure deal that we just can't match. Some spec that it could even be a 12 fig deal. In comparison to the major tv markets. Royals deal with FSMW is only 20 mil per year so unless either one of them is willing to take a lesser salary for the chance at another REALLY GOOD shot at a WS Championship, it's unlikely.
@globaljaybird said:
Also am reading that the Mets biggest target this off season is Ben Zobrist on abt a 4-5 yr deal. He's abt 35 now so that's not very damn smart either IMO.
Uh you are talking about the Met's who historically have not made smart moves with money trying to match their cross town rivals.
Then again throwing money at players hasn't paid off lately for the Yankees either.
I think Gordo stays, he's somewhat local, growing up in Lincoln and playing college ball there too. Maybe he will be loyal to his roots and stick around, sign that contract that won't break the bank for others to resign in the coming years as well.
A lot of these guys came up together through Omaha and have a bond, I'd like to see them all stick around another three or 4 years if possible.
@globaljaybird how long is that contract w/fox sports?
@Crimsonorblue22 not sure when its up
@globaljaybird Lot of talk on team stream that to get Zo will take 4 yrs and $60 million plus. May be abidding war between Mets, Nats, Giants, Dodgers, Cards and Cubs. Hopefully he'll give the Royals a discount since he and his wife said they love KC.
And maybe there is some hope for NY fans. Some Toronto clown said the Royals were just plain lucky. Many Mets fans stood up for the Royals and their "never quit" style of play. Saying beyond a doubt the Royals were the best team.
Gordon, Cueto and Zobrist are in everybody's top 10-15 list of free agents.
Here is one link on Cueto and Zobrist... ↗
As much as the Royals and the players themselves, at least Gordon and Zobrist, would like to stay in KC, it is very likely that the current market will price them out of the range of what the Royals can realistically offer, I hope I am wrong.
Honestly, I can't be mad at a player for taking the highest offer. If I was in the same position, I would take a higher offer to change companies rather than stay where I am at. Of course, there are other factors, but if someone is offering you 20% more for the same work, it's hard to say no, especially since with baseball, you're on the road every other week anyway, and you can basically live wherever you want in the offseason. It's not like baseball requires you to move to the town you play in.
Greg Holland gone or will he sign for a smaller salary? ↗
@JayHawkFanToo good question
@JayHawkFanToo Right now would you pay millions for a closer with a wing in a sling that won't be able to help you if at all until 2017?
A question to any of you about ex-Royal Nori Aoki, who just signed a one-year deal (plus 2017 option) with the Seattle Mariners....
The new GM here isn't wasting any time rebuilding the outfield, which has been godawful both offensively and defensively in recent years. Aoki's stats (even the esoteric ones) look like a big improvement.
All I've really seen of him was during the 2014 playoffs, where he was okay if occasionally scary with the glove.
Any takes on this ?? Is $4 million worth it for a 34-year-old ?
I'd rather have Dyson.
Red Sox signed Young as well, two big signings this week. I agree with the comments here in that Cueto, Zo and Gordon are gone, Royals will not be able to match lucrative offers from other clubs. Good thing is that several key players will be around for sometime in Hoz, Moose, Escy, Cain, Salvy
@JayHawkFanToo me too
@Crimsonorblue22 Here are specifics on Royals contracts that I could find. 2017 will be critical for the club with 4-5 keys guys being eligible in 2018.
http://www.rotoworld.com/teams/contracts/mlb/kc/ ↗
@globaljaybird thx! I don't really understand all of that.
@Crimsonorblue22 Cain, Hos & Moose all free agents in 2018-also the Chris Young that signed with the Red Sox is an outfielder, not the Royals pitcher Chris Young.
@globaljaybird good, keep me posted! Thx!
@JayHawkFanToo I agree, he was great
And that's what FA has done to pro sports. Big markets pick and choose from the top of the pile while small markets get the leftovers and hope they have somebody in the minors that can help.
@nwhawkfan Better Seattle than KC. One thing for sure, he will keep you on the edge of your seat when fly balls are hit in his direction. Rios and Paulo were far better in rf for KC.
@brooksmd and @globaljaybird here's to u guys!
@Crimsonorblue22 I'll send you my address and you can send me a 6 pack for my b-day and for Christmas. :beers:
@Crimsonorblue22 Damn, the secrets out.
Here is an interesting link ↗with an index for the top free agents and signing predictions...
@JayHawkFanToo Murphy a post-season hero for the Mets? He did a pretty good job for the Royals they should give him a honorary WS ring.
@JayHawkFanToo Overall they haven't done too well with their predictions. They even have Gordo staying with the Royals and Zo going to the NYY's.
@brooksmd It may not be as much moneyball as it is leadership at the top.
Dayton Moore spoke in Lawrence at KU's Dole Institute on Thursday evening. Like @Crimsonorblue22 says, stats can't measure heart.
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2015/dec/03/royals-gm-dayton-moore-speaks-leadership-and-globa/ ↗
@brooksmd & @Crimsonorblue22 Will be absent from the game today-don't get off till 4 pm so hold down the fort & maybe I can catch ya on the rebound...
@globaljaybird surprised u remembered that! Probably why I'm sick of this board!
@globaljaybird you better catch us! Brooks has been pretty busy too. Behave and b safe!
@Crimsonorblue22 Cueto screwed himself again. D-Backs signed Greinke $200 million plus for 6 yrs. Doubt there's enough left in the well to get Cueto now.
@Crimsonorblue22 Often times I feel that way also...just sayin the lack of spontaneity & wit drags down the interest level sometimes. That's why I enjoy game chats with you &@brooksmd so much I guess. Plus you guys are both as knowledgeable & practical as anyone who posts here. WTH did you think I'd forget what you said ?! have you no faith woman ?!
@brooksmd Some probably aren't aware but Zack had a spell or two early in his career in KC when he just disappeared from the team for personal issues for periods of time & like when Moose had family issues this year, the team always kept silent about it. But after a couple of season where he was undependable, he became everything Moore had hoped & then some. Just think how great this team would be with him in the rotation? Wow that money Cueto turned down is just insane. Hope he can afford the prosthetics to replace the feet he just shot off, cause he's NOWHERE the pitcher Zack is. That kid was absolutely phenomenal in KC & LA.
@Crimsonorblue22 That's where my father-in-law lived.
@Crimsonorblue22 That Dyson was from there? No. And the street would be named "Dat What Speed Do", not "That".
OK guys. this is the latest I've seen.... Joakim Soria has signed a 3 yr contract to return to KC. Plus it is now being reported that KC has their sights set on Scott Kasmere of the Astros. The imminent Winter meetings will surely clear up much of the haze abounding. In addition, another piece of our bullpen is leaving to Oakland... Local news reported that a deal in principle has been reached between the Oakland A's & Ryan Madsen. http://www.kmbc.com/sports/report-ryan-madson-signs-with-oakland/36825064 ↗
And lastly they say that Chris Young will sign a 2 year contract to stay with the Royals...Yeah !! http://www.kctv5.com/story/30683035/royals-begin-to-build-2016-roster... ↗
@brooksmd These are the latest stories from the Winter meetings in Nashville, http://m.mlb.com/news/article/158916354/4-things-to-watch-for-at-winter-meetings ↗ but mine would be hangin out at the Legends Bar...
http://legendscorner.com/legends_corner/home.php ↗ This place is so damn cool it even makes old guys experience the fountain of youth-live & in person one way or another !!
@globaljaybird jguts retiring?
@Crimsonorblue22 I thought he shoulda gone after the Yanks nailed him for 3 HR's & 11 runs in the 1st inning last summer...
@globaljaybird he's a good guy and a great mentor. Just wondered what he was going to do.
Have not seen that on Royals website...he is a great guy. family man, missionary, etc., but that whoopin by the bombers was the wrong type of MLB record to have credited to
your name.
So if dancing is your thing in Nashville, the Wildhorse Saloon is just a short walk from Legends Corner. However I've always preferred to make Legends my last stop... even at 10 in the morning LOL http://wildhorsesaloon.com/ ↗
Plus if your style is a little different, BB Kings Blues Bar is just down the street . http://www.bbkings.com/nashville/ ↗
IMO Nashville is one of the most fun downtowns in all of the US, especially during CMA week which is the 1st week of November.
@globaljaybird Just as long as Cueto keeps burning his bridges. :smile:
@globaljaybird Legends Corner, YEEHAW!! :beers:
@CaseyStern: Ned Yost #Royals skipper just told me that Chris Young is "The best competitor he has ever known." Strong statement. #MLB @MLBNetworkRadio
@Crimsonorblue22
Yes, the Royals offense wasn't that good... until it mattered. Man, that was painful to read. Paraphrase: "Toyals found players who could smack line drives." Well, shouldn't other teams do this, too? If you can hit line drives, you can hit home runs, especially in the playoffs when the adrenaline is pumping. And that's what they did. They hit quite a few home runs in the playoffs. I feel like my IQ went down after reading this.
@Crimsonorblue22 I have a lone blue floodlight on my house...LOL
@globaljaybird We have 6 recessed lights along the front of the house that we put alternated red and green bulbs in.
Is that your home?
@JayHawkFanToo I wish!
I asked because it looks a lot like mine except my entry is the full height and I don't have all the Royals decorations...
@Crimsonorblue22 @globaljaybird Zo signed with Cubs, 4 yrs and $56 mil.
And Frisco hot for Gordo. Frickin' FA!!!
@brooksmd Time marches on....damnit !! http://www.kctv5.com/story/30689147/royals-on-verge-of-losing-the-face-of-their-franchise ↗
@globaljaybird Royals all the way. Even if, and it's looking like it'll be a huge, unlikely if, they played each other in the WS, I'd be royal blue true. But Dayton gonna have to pull some bunnies out of the hat for next year.
@globaljaybird Baseball contracts are all guaranteed. That's why the Yankees got in trouble during their fallout with A-Rod during his suspension because they were trying to not pay him.
@Crimsonorblue22 :( ZMAN is gone to the Cubs
@brooksmd & @JayHawkFanToo The window for these guys is still open but they are much more susceptible to key injury losses than last or previous years. Moore said yesterday that it's time for Dyson to play every day now, but unless Infante comes back with an extreme vengeance, it's gonna be tough as bridge spikes to repeat as AL Champs 3 years straight. If you look only at offensive production from Gordo, they can likely replace that aspect for a fairly reasonable sum, but his defense & clubhouse leadership are what enamored him from most all other left fielders in the entire game. Should they plug in both Dyson & Orlando AND Infante every day, they've virtually no pop in their line up from 3 spots instead of just the losing Gordo, Rios, & Zo. They do say the local kid from Gardner, Bubba Starling is a year or so away yet but I think that's way too optimistic .On top of that, even though he was not consistent in the least, , Cueto did exactly what he was brought in to accomplish & that's win when it counted in the post season & he is now a goner. So right now the starting staff appears like Volquez, Ventura, Young, & maybe Medlin, & that may not even win the Central without another solid 200 inning arm, or maybe even more than that. Young may only give you 120-150 innings & Medlin maybe not even that after 2 ulnar ligament surgeries (Tommy John). With the exception of ACE, all these guys are getting some grey in their beards, & don't forget our pen has now lost Holland & Madsen. Soria is a lefty & will likely replace F Morales if he doesn't resign.
Yeah the window is still very much open for now, but maybe for only 2016 & 2017 when Moose, Hosmer & Lo Cain head into their FA seaons in 2018.
My own opinion is that I'd rather see Moore get some extensions on at least 2 of those guys early & try to keep a good nucleus rather than throw outlandish money at one or 2 guys in the short term trying to sustain the momentum they now have. Other teams are improving & changing too, & watched KC continue to develop through the minors & their scouting systems very successfully. Ned & Moore have worked together in Atlanta & KC for around 15 years or so & it's been a journey that has totally validated its worth these past 2 seasons. I really don'tlook for any block buster deals for us in the winter meetings, but I'm willing to bet another decent starter & a right fielder with some pop will be high on Moore's Christmas shopping list
@HawkInMizery I'm sad!
Me too. as you know, I am not a big Baseball fan but this particular team made me watch a lot of games this past season. I really wanted Zobrist to stay, he was a key player for the team and super nice individual with a really nice family...the type of player you want to have. Oh well... :(
@JayHawkFanToo Like @globaljaybird said, you might be able to replace players, but would the replacements bring the leadership and the unique bond these guys developed to play ball the way they did? And that's what bugs me. For years that's what helped NE Pats win in the NFL. The players stayed to win. I would think winning a WS would be a big desire for these guys. I can understand salary is important, but geez, how many millions do you need to provide for you and your family? Oh well. BTW, have I mentioned I hate FA?
Free agent?
@Crimsonorblue22 :+1: Give the lady a cupie doll!
@Crimsonorblue22 How ya doin? All ready for Christmas? Shopping all done? Tree up?
Hey @wissoxfan83 - As if we needed more spice in a 16 game rivalry the Sox go bring in Bret Lawrie...that'll be a real attention getter for us next season ...
@globaljaybird I hope he can help, I'm not totally sold on him from just looking at his numbers.
@wissoxfan83 He'll probably raise the temperature in both cities a few degrees for those 16 games. At least that's my guess....
@Crimsonorblue22 Not my favorite time of the year. Trying to figure out gifts, putting up with rude people in stores. Blah. Would rather just jump from Thanksgiving to New Years Day.
@brooksmd 's official-Cueto is finally gone. Signed a 6 year deal with the Giants. Maybe we get em next year for the Crown again, only this time for the losing team... http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/report-johnny-cueto-agrees-to-6-year-deal-with-giants/ar-BBnygjg?li=BBnbfcL ↗