Quote:
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut
Roster crunch might.
They're going to want to leave at least 1 spot in the rotation 'flexible' for Duffy and/or Paulino to come back to.
And accept it - Hochevar is back in the rotation next season. This is just reality.
So you have Santana, Hochevar, Chen, and the 'kid' spot taking up 4 slots. Additionally, the Royals claimed Volstead, who is Arb eligible on a $2.65 million deal in 2012. Guys just do not take pay cuts in arbitration and I doubt the Royals are going to pay $2.5+ for a swing man. They're going to want to have him in the rotation as well, or at least give him a shot at it.
And that's not even getting into Guthrie, who I really do think the Royals should bring back (3/$24 mil should do it; he's a nice pitcher).
They are going to claim that they don't have the rotation spots, IMO.
And I disagree with the folks that say Sanchez wouldn't have come here. He would have. Money talks and Sanchez is entering FA for the first time in his career. Give him a couple mil more and he'd have been a Royal. That would've been an overpay worth making.
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You're right in expecting idiocy from DM. First, there is no way that any spot should be flexed for any pitcher coming off of a serious injury. Both Duffy and Paulino figure into '14, not '13.
Bringing back Hoch is stupidity at its finest, so realize that this is a lock.
In short, the Santana move should be absolutely fine in terms of dollars and options, but it likely won't be because DM is dumb as ****. Dude is obviously kin of Pioli.