Royals grab Mike Arbuckle

[Sure-Oz]

http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/new...t=.jsp&c_id=kc

Royals name Mike Arbuckle senior advisor to the general manager/scouting and player development
11/14/2008 11:53 AM ET
MLB.com

KANSAS CITY -- The Kansas City Royals today named Mike Arbuckle the Senior Advisor to the General Manager/Scouting and Player Development. Arbuckle joins the Royals after spending 16 successful seasons in the Philadelphia Phillies organization, culminating with a World Series Championship last month.

"We are extremely delighted that Mike has decided to join our organization," said Dayton Moore, Royals' Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager. "He has a great eye for talent and a proven track record in building a championship-caliber club. His experience in the game will be a tremendous asset to all aspects of Baseball Operations as we continue to work toward building a championship club."

"I'm really looking forward to working with everyone in the Kansas City organization," said Arbuckle, who makes his home in nearby Liberty, Mo. "I have a tremendous amount of respect for Dayton Moore, Trey Hillman, Dean Taylor and numerous other people in the organization I know things are moving forward here with the Royals and I'm anxious to lend what I can to the process."

Arbuckle wrapped up his 30th season in professional baseball in 2008. He joined the Phillies following the 1992 season as Director of Scouting before adding responsibilities of player development in 2000. He was named the Phillies Assistant GM/Scouting and Player Development after the 2001 season, helping build the franchise to its first World Series title since 1980. Under Arbuckle, the Phillies drafted several key components of the 2008 champs, including outfielder Pat Burrell, Ryan Howard, Ryan Madson, Brett Myers, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and World Series MVP Cole Hamels.

Prior to joining the Phillies in 1992, Arbuckle served as a scout and cross-checker with the Atlanta Braves from late 1980 through the 1992 season, where he took part in building the winning foundation with Atlanta. His professional baseball career began in 1979 as an associate scout with Philadelphia.

Born in Trenton, Mo., Arbuckle was originally drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals as a left-handed pitcher in 1969, but did not sign before tearing his rotator cuff the following year. He coached at the high school, junior college and college levels before becoming a scout. Arbuckle, a graduate of Northwest Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in education, also has a Master's from the University of South Alabama. He and his wife, Martha, live in Liberty and have two daughters, Shelly and Kellie, and four grandchildren, Bethni, Austin, Katey and Emma.

This is huge news for the Royals future, and probably a GM candidate if Moore were to ever get fired. Great news and good job Moore for getting him!

[Sure-Oz]

An article from a Philadelphia newspaper regarding Arbuckle...
http://www.examiner.com/x-1164-Phila...offseason-flub

The loss of Mike Arbuckle is Phillies biggest offseason flub
Nov 3rd 2008
by Patrick Gallen, Philadelphia Phillies Examiner

Mike Arbuckle is leaving the Phils.
On Monday, the Philadelphia Phillies announced their new General Manager, the man who would take over for the legendary Pat Gillick. Ruben Amaro Jr., just 43, is the new GM for the World Champion Phillies, filling in for Gillick who has won three titles in that position.

It’s a feel good story for Amaro, who in 1980 was a batboy, winning a championship with the team in quite a different capacity. He now gets to take over for the top franchise in baseball and will have a busy first off-season ahead of him as players like Ryan Howard and Cole Hamels look for big-time raises and Pat Burrell becomes a free agent.

With the promotion of Amaro, an assistant GM for 10 seasons with the Phils, Mike Arbuckle will be leaving the team. Arbuckle, an assistant General Manager himself, was also considered for the position before the Phillies’ decision to go with Amaro.

Arbuckle has been in baseball since 1979, when he entered the game as a scout. In 1992 he took over as the Phillies Director of Scouting and just two years later was promoted to assistant GM. One of the main cogs behind this championship season, Arbuckle is responsible for drafting Howard, Hamels and Burrell along with Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Madson, and Brett Myers.

He is from the Kansas City area, and there are rumors around the league that he may join the Royals in some capacity. His departure would be huge, and may even be the biggest loss of the season. This guy has been with the Phillies for nearly two decades and knows the Phillies system inside and out. Amaro himself has been with the franchise for a while too, but he is not as seasoned as Arbuckle.

Baseball America had Arbuckle ranked as the third best GM prospect in 2003. Five years have passed since then and Arbuckle is still an assistant, so its understandable that he wants his shot at losing the assistant moniker.

While it was great to see Amaro’s promotion, it is just as alarming to see Arbuckle leave like this. He perhaps should have been the leading candidate, but the Phils brass chose to move along with younger blood. Keep an eye on Arbuckle’s whereabouts during the off-season. Just a week removed from a title, the Phillies are undergoing their first bout with in-house turmoil.

[eazyb81]

Great news, and what a lucky break for the Royals that he's from Liberty.

This is another reason I would prefer that we don't sign a Type A free agent, as I'd like to keep as many of our draft picks as possible. Building through the draft instead of free agency is how we will turn this ship around.

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by eazyb81

Great news, and what a lucky break for the Royals that he's from Liberty.

Agreed...

I just hope he sticks around, this guy is a hot GM candidate, in 2003 DM was #1 and he Mike was #3....this guy has to stay here, esp with his drafting history. Stupid move by the Phillies is our gain.

[BigChiefFan]

Good news. I didn't know he was a resident of Liberty.

[DeezNutz]

Terrible move.

There's no way this organization needs even more talented folks in the front office. We risk becoming competitive more quickly.

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by eazyb81

Great news, and what a lucky break for the Royals that he's from Liberty.

This is another reason I would prefer that we don't sign a Type A free agent, as I'd like to keep as many of our draft picks as possible. Building through the draft instead of free agency is how we will turn this ship around.

I know the Royals are interested in Furcal since he isn't a type A free agent. Also they are interested in Ibanez but probably won't sign him cause they don't want to give him a big deal and give up a type B free agent prospect...

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Terrible move.

There's no way this organization needs even more talented folks in the front office. We risk becoming competitive more quickly.

We are real lucky he is from here for sure

[sedated]

Originally Posted by Go-Oz

I know the Royals are interested in Furcal since he isn't a type A free agent.

your definition of type A must be different than everyone else's. He's easily in the top 10 free agents.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by Go-Oz

We are real lucky he is from here for sure

The biggest question for me is whether or not he'll push for Gload to play every day.

If he does this, I'm on board.

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

The biggest question for me is whether or not he'll push for Gload to play every day.

If he does this, I'm on board.

Our drafts should be much better with this guy around, we essentially have 2 gms now and im suprised the phillies didn't name him GM

[FringeNC]

Well, Philly does have a Moneyball offense. Hopefully, he is proponent of OBP and can educate Moore as to the importance of it.

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by sedated

your definition of type A must be different than everyone else's. He's easily in the top 10 free agents.

I agree on that but this is what i read...i assume it's correct, not sure why that's the case though

mlbtraderumors.com
Ibanez May Be Too Pricey For Royals
By Tim Dierkes [November 14 at 11:03am CST]

According to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star, Royals officials view Raul Ibanez as the best free agent fit for them. However, they're not likely to give him a three-year deal in the $10-12MM range. They're also reluctant to surrender their second-round pick to the Mariners.

Dutton says the Royals are "taking a hard look" at Rafael Furcal, who is the best available shortstop and doesn't cost a draft pick. However, Dutton doesn't see the Royals as the high bidder for Furcal either. The Giants, A's, and Braves are eyeing Furcal, among others. Dutton sees the Royals adding a cheaper free agent, someone of the Nick Punto/David Eckstein variety.

Also on the Royals front, Jesse Spector talks to GM Dayton Moore. Moore denied reports that he's down on Billy Butler.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by Go-Oz

Our drafts should be much better with this guy around, we essentially have 2 gms now and im suprised the phillies didn't name him GM

If this team keeps pumping a ton of money into the draft and then re-signing its players, we could have something really special for a long time.

We need to see the organization make a commitment to the latter, however. Hope this starts with a big, fat check to Greinke.

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

If this team keeps pumping a ton of money into the draft and then re-signing its players, we could have something really special for a long time.

We need to see the organization make a commitment to the latter, however. Hope this starts with a big, fat check to Greinke.

I really think we'll make a huge offer to him, but i could see his loopy ass rejecting it. In that case they better trade him for a huge haul or get the draft picks. I hope he stays personally.