Neither would, both are free agents. I prefer McCarthy, but I still hope we're able to snag a top of the rotation type.

Hmmm, can't think of ANYONE we could do without.

Oops. I didn't realize that McCarthy was a free agent.

I like Marcum quite a bit, and when healthy, he's a solid No. 2 starter.

Very, very smart and crafty pitcher. It wouldn't be an awful gamble, especially since the Royals' rotational depth is pretty solid (they have lots of 4/5/fringe guys that can fill in).

Marcum
Guthrie
Santana
Mendoza
Chen

with Odorizzi, Smith, Marks, Teaford, etc. waiting in the wings.

Best case scenario from above:

Marcum stays healthy and logs 180+ innings, pitching like a true No. 2 (3.50 ERA, 180 IP, 170 K)

Guthrie keeps up his 2012-KC form, pitching like a borderline No. 2 (3.50 ERA, 200 IP, low walks)

Santana follows his career trend and bounces back after a rough season, making heavy use of the improved slider he found late in 2012. Good Santana (3.75, 200 IP, 180 K) shows up.

Mendoza is what he was in 2012: An OK back-end starter.

Asked to pitch fewer innings and given a shorter leash (thanks to the innings-eaters in front of him), Chen bounces back a bit and settles back into a solid 3-4 level starter.

Of course, worst case is that:
Marcum gets hurt, Santana doesn't bounce back and is just as bad, Guthrie posts an ERA in the 4s, Mendoza regresses and Chen is just as bad.

Were this to happen, it would be the first time in over a decade we will be entering the season with a Major League quality starting rotation. I'm not sure whether to be excited or to cry.

Marcum
Guthrie
Santana
Mendoza
Chen

That is not a glorious rotation by any means, but it is not a complete shit rotation either. A lot can obviously go wrong, but there is track records of success.

Please let Marcum happen, for the sake of the fans. We need something to get behind.

Yeah, 2008 would be the only season that really came close.

Gil Meche
Zack Greinke
Brian Bannister (coming off a very strong rookie campaign)
Kyle Davies (though he was not very good late in 2007, he was actually pretty good in 2008)
Bret Tomko/Luke Hochevar (Hochevar waiting in the wings, still didn't know he actually was a great comparison to Tomko yet...)

McCarthy would be just about as good, I think. Though you wouldn't have the local-boy angle.

Where does Hochevar fit in that mix? Tendering him a contract was so dumb, consider that 4 million could have gone toward signing a guy like marcum or mccarthy, and he is taking a spot of the 25 man.

Summary: ****.

If Odorizzi comes on strong, who does he replace? Mendoza? That would be nasty if he pans out and puts up solid numbers.

Hopefully he'll wind up at emergency long relief. Someone has to do that, and he wouldn't do any damage in that role.

I imagine he goes into Spring Training as a starter and takes the spot of one of the afore mentioned 5 guys that ends up on the DL. It's inevitable to happen. This also buys Dayton\Ned more time with Hoch to see if he comes out and pitches well, which is what they ultimately want. If he does pitch well he takes the place of Mendoza who they don't view as any type of set piece for the future. Mendoza will eventually be surplanted later in the season by one of Duffy\Paulino, unless he's pitching lights out.

Poor poor Mendy, i really like him.

Only way I see Odorizzi coming up is if he blows up and forces it. If he pitches "solid" or even "good" in AAA we'll not see him until late in the year. Of course injuries always changes everyone's plans.

I still wouldn't be surprised if they move Hochevar for a bag of balls or something, IF they sign Marcum or McCarthy. A my crap for your crap deal that possibly lands Dayton's reserve IF or something.

If the Royals add a third guy, either Chen or Hochevar will be gone. I'd prefer it be Hochevar, but who knows what Dayton will do there (I'd expect him to stubbornly stick with Luke because "upside.")

I think they'll start Odorizzi at AAA and see if his second run-through there is as successful/dominant as his second run-through at A+ was or his second trip through AA was.

Things to watch for with Odo at AAA: Improved K rate, improved K:BB ratio. IP.

Those are the things he needs to work on.

Buster Olney ‏@Buster_ESPN
One of the teams involved in the four-team Ariz-Cle deal is the Kansas City Royals. Not sure about the form yet.