A good signing for the Royals, as now K.C. has at least one good pitcher to support a not-that-bad lineup. The real losers here are the Blue Jays, who struck out on their free agent pitching wish list and will now have to look for a trade.
"I don't know what is more disquieting -- the fact that the rest of the statue is missing, or that it has four toes."
A good signing for the Royals, as now K.C. has at least one good pitcher to support a not-that-bad lineup. The real losers here are the Blue Jays, who struck out on their free agent pitching wish list and will now have to look for a trade.
They didn't sign someone good. They signed Gil Meche.
This would be the MLB equivalent of giving Erick Dampier a $73 million contract, based on the "if he ever puts it together..."-feelings you get from seeing the guy's athletic ability. There's probably a 15-20% chance he'll actually proved to be an $11 million pitcher, but he's most likely a third starter at best.
As a Mariners' fan, the fact that I live in a world where Gil Meche just got a $55 million contract boggles my mind.
Holy fuck shit motherfucker shit. Read comics. Fuck shit shit fuck shit I sold out when I did my job. Fuck fuck fuck shit fuck. Sorry had to do it....
*snip*
Revenge of the Sith = one thumb up from me. Fuck shit. I want to tittie fuck your ass. -- The Guinness. to Cerebus
I don't understand this move at all. You have a lot of young pitchers in your system, limited financial resources, and you decide to drop $55 million on a .500 pitcher? I have to think there were much better ways to spend this money.
It seems like a desperate attempt to make a move, just to have said they've done something, and it seems like a ready made excuse not to do any more in the future, because you can just point to how bad the Meche deal is going and swear off spending again.
It'll be better than what the Royals would've started in his place, but surely not enough to justify Meche taking up 10-15% of their payroll.
Originally posted by thecubsfanIt'll be better than what the Royals would've started in his place, but surely not enough to justify Meche taking up 10-15% of their payroll.
That's the thing, though. For Gil Meche's $11 million to take up "10-15%" of the payroll the team's payroll would have to be $73 - 110 million. He's going to be in the $25-35% range by himself.
Holy fuck shit motherfucker shit. Read comics. Fuck shit shit fuck shit I sold out when I did my job. Fuck fuck fuck shit fuck. Sorry had to do it....
*snip*
Revenge of the Sith = one thumb up from me. Fuck shit. I want to tittie fuck your ass. -- The Guinness. to Cerebus
Originally posted by thecubsfanit seems like a ready made excuse not to do any more in the future, because you can just point to how bad the Meche deal is going and swear off spending again.
You're clearly unfamiliar with Dayton Moore, the brilliant new GM and holy savior of Kansas City baseball. IN DAYTON WE TRUST.
Originally posted by spfI don't understand this move at all. You have a lot of young pitchers in your system, limited financial resources, and you decide to drop $55 million on a .500 pitcher? I have to think there were much better ways to spend this money.
At least it makes the Royals appear to be a big league team. Worst case scenario for the Royals is that the way salaries are going this off-season, the Royals might have signed Meche as a method to obtain better players at the trade deadline. Remember the rules changed in the latest CBA so that players traded in the middle of a long-term contract no longer can demand a trade. If the Dodgers or Blue Jays etc. need a pitcher on July 25th and Meche is 7-8 with a 3.87 ERA, the Royals might be able to flip him for some real quality prospects, as the team that gets him has him long term as well.
Originally posted by thecubsfanIt seems like a desperate attempt to make a move, just to have said they've done something, and it seems like a ready made excuse not to do any more in the future, because you can just point to how bad the Meche deal is going and swear off spending again.
It'll be better than what the Royals would've started in his place, but surely not enough to justify Meche taking up 10-15% of their payroll.
I'm just glad he didn't sign with the Cubs. Lilly at 10 mil per is bad enough.
Gil Meche is 55-44 for his career. So he's getting a million dollars per win. I'd say that Scott Boras must be giggling over this, because you know he's going to demand so much more for Daisuke Matzusaka. And what about Barry Zito? I heard Peter Gammons today, he seems to think that Zito could get between 16-18 million. It's absolutely amazing.
Rusty Shackleford is just the name he uses to order Pizza with.
This signing makes much more sense to me. There are 3 outcomes possible here:
1. Royals become very good quickly, Dotel is a good closer, they contend this year.
2. Royals continue to struggle, Dotel is a good closer, they trade him in July for solid prospects.
3. Dotel sucks, they are out $5 million.
Worst case scenario he sucks for a year and they spent $5 million poorly. Other 2 cases they benefit. And either way they are not on the hook beyond this year.
This signing makes much more sense to me. There are 3 outcomes possible here:
1. Royals become very good quickly, Dotel is a good closer, they contend this year.
2. Royals continue to struggle, Dotel is a good closer, they trade him in July for solid prospects.
3. Dotel sucks, they are out $5 million.
Worst case scenario he sucks for a year and they spent $5 million poorly. Other 2 cases they benefit. And either way they are not on the hook beyond this year.
If this was the A.L. Central of 3-4 years ago, I'd think Kansas City was on the right track and a break here, a break there, and they might hover around .500 and contend. However, they play 19 games in the division against 4 teams that are capable of winning over 90 games. That is a difficult jump to make. The cellar dwellers that should have made the type of moves the Royals made are the Devil Rays due to their relatively new ownership/solid everyday line-up/they already have an ace and need to build pitching around him, and the Pirates, as that division showed last year that being better than mediocre gives you a shot. The Royals are a wrong place/wrong time team. And, they need to go back to some form of artificial turf. They had a nice run of success prior to going to grass.
He's not good, maybe a 4th or 5th starter. I'd rather have Lilly. Lilly has had some big games in the tougher AL East. Meche is coming off a career year, granted not a great year, but he hasn't had much of a career either. Last year he finally got some Ks. I wouldn't want him for 5 years, or even for one year at $12 mil. I'd rather risk $5 mil on Dotel or $30 mil on some random Japanese guy.
This market seems to take value of any starting pitcher and double it.
Originally posted by CBSSportsline articleHe had elbow ligament replacement surgery in June 2005 and returned in mid-August but was largely ineffective, going 0-0 with a 10.80 ERA for the Yankees. In 14 appearances, he allowed 13 runs, 18 hits and 11 walks in 10 innings."..."I feel very happy because of the confidence the Royals have shown in me," said Dotel, who picked the Royals over the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Devil Rays because it gave him the best opportunity to be a closer.
Oy. Every week after the All-Star break last season, Dotel was coming back, and every day after the confidence grew, there was a setback. When he finally came up....well, look at the stats listed above. He flat-out ate ass. $5+ mil for this guy as your closer...Well, if he's better than what they had, then I guess a team does what a team has to do. I hope he sent George a card, thanking him for paying him $2 mil for last year and rehabbing him for nothing in return.
I have been a Royals fan since their inception in 1969. This doesn't bode well. Gil Meche is not a #1 starter. He's a #4 starter, though he probably will be the ace of the Royals staff. The Dotel signing makes a little more sense as the deal is shorter. I think Moore had to spend the money on something, so here's Gil.
Now if they turn Sanders and Grudzielanek and the rest of the older players into something shiny, then we might all be happy in 2009. The Royals do have the makings of a decent offense in the next couple years with Alex Gordon, Mark Teahen, David DeJesus, Justin Huber, Billy Butler, etc. Maybe their talents won't go to waste and they could build this back up.
But, it really has been 20 years since the title. I know flags fly forever, but this franchise has turned into a laughing stock. They're trying to get up off the canvas, but Gil Meche seems like an odd place to start.
The Royals have little money. So, they spend $11 million a year on a 28-year old with shoulder problems. And even in his career year last year, was still worse than the league average ERA.
I guess KC must really like his upside, for whatever reason.
They could set it up like the NBA sets up their cap. They have a minimum amount that teams must have their payroll at when they start the season. I believe the minimum payroll amount for an NBA team is 75% of the cap.