LF - Parra
CF - Cain
RF - Starling or FA + Dyson/Orlando

I'd really like for them to make Zobrist a priority. His versatility is a huge asset.

Omar gets paid either way. He's a sunk cost. Signing Zobrist to play RF makes no sense. You don't spend $15 million to upgrade RF when the same guy can plug a much bigger hole at 2B.

This. If you are going with the Omar/Colon platoon, you better go out and get a bat for RF instead of Zobrist.

The issue that's wearing me down about this discussion is that the people in favor of letting Gordo walk seem to be assuming that there is an easy and cost effective way to replace an .800 OPS bat in the lineup.

The reality is that we are either going to have to spend quite a bit to replace Gordo's production or accept a massive drop in quality in that spot of the lineup.

I had a meeting with his Aunt and Uncle about 3 weeks ago. They're pretty hopeful he'll make it next year.

You sign Zobrist, not just because he can play RF, but he can play multi positions.

I get sunk cost, I really do, but I gar. you that Omar will be playing 2B on opening day.

I don't think many people are in favor of letting him walk. I know I'm not. But the reality is the royals have a philosophy and they aren't going to change it at this point.

Zobrist would offer the opportunity to do the Hootie platoon (patent pending), though.

He could play RF vs. LHP, with Infante or Colon playing 2B, and play 2B vs. RHP, with Dyson playing CF and Cain getting a 1/2 day off in RF.

He makes a lot of sense. Which is why so many teams are going to chase him/he's going to be expensive.

I guess the ultimate thing to keep in mind is that the core of Hosmer/Moustakas/Perez/Morales/Cain/Escobar is strong enough to give KC a lot of options.

That was more of a jab at the Facebook Royals fan in my feed who's saying that we should let Gordo walk and find a cheap JD Martinez like player to replace him!!1!

Amen!

I don't find the Mellinger article convincing at all. There's nothing there that we don't know. We know there will be crazy money out there. We know the Royals are hoping for a hometown discount. We know Gordon has seemed willing to discuss it. It'll probably just come down to how wide the difference is.

I don't see why people post that link and then resign themselves. It's just fluff.

The truth is that both Zobrist and Gordon are guys that provide great leadership by example, and there are a lot of young teams that need that kind of leadership. It's valuable. We aren't a team that needs veteran leadership, because our entire team is made up of veteran leaders who know what it takes to win.

The more I think about it, the more I think Gordon walks. We may well sign Zobrist, though. If we lose Alex, Holland, Rios, and Vargas, we should have enough money ($25,000,000 or so) left to sign another solid starting pitcher and possibly a servicable RF.

Sal
Hoz
Infante/Zobrist
Esky
Moose
Orlando/Dyson
Cain
Zobrist/?

Volquez
Ventura
Duffy
Medlen
Young?
FA?
Zimmer?

I'm not sure that's a WS caliber team, though. Infante is an albatross.

I'm confident the payroll is going to get to $135-140 million (Moore may try to leave himself some wiggle room for a midseason acquisition). They're going to be around $97 million for 17 players if they get the payback from Vargas' insurance. That would give them around $30-40 million to work with to fill LF/RF/1 SP/1 extra player IF they go with minimum guys to fill a few bullpen spots (Michael Mariot, Brian Flynn), to fill UTIL IF (Colon) and 5th OF (Orlando).

I think that leaves enough cash to get a Gordon/Zobrist + a Mike Leake or Yovani Gallardo level SP and perhaps enough to bring back Chris Young as the swing guy, too.

If you go Zobrist, it may be enough to pick up a guy like Gerrardo Parra or Dexter Fowler to play LF, too (I know Fowler has been a slightly negative defender in CF, but his D would play up/play fine in LF).

Doubt Young comes back, but you never know...