huskerdooz
03-20-2007, 03:25 AM
Big contracts won’t sway Royals GM
Dayton Moore says he considers talent, not money, when he assembles roster.
By BOB DUTTON
The Kansas City Star
SURPRISE, Ariz. | Royals general manager Dayton Moore contends money won’t do any talking when he gathers his on-field and front-office staffs for discussions on putting together the major-league roster.
“I really don’t care about (money),” he said. “I don’t concern myself with it. It’s about competition. If we have a better alternative that makes our team better for the short term and long term, we’ll do that.”
That suggests shortstop Angel Berroa gets no additional consideration because he is guaranteed $8.5 million over the next two years. Or that outfielders Reggie Sanders ($5 million) and/or Emil Brown ($3.45 million) won’t be kept around, if better options are available, simply because of their contracts.
“If we think a player is just going through a down period in their career,” Moore said, “you stay with him if you feel that he’s going to be fine over the course of 162 games — and if he has a role on the club.
“But if you think a guy is done, he’s done.”
Moore makes it clear — even as the Royals escalate their search for alternatives — that he’s not ready to give up on Berroa, whose spring struggles mirror his trend of declining production.
Nor is Moore ready to throw up his hands at the logjam in left field, where Sanders, Brown and possibly Ross Gload could find themselves battling for time and denying a roster spot to Joey Gathright, Shane Costa or even Billy Butler.
“Is Angel playing great right now?” Moore asked. “No, he’s not playing great. Do we think he’s going to play better? Are there things that we’re seeing that should prompt him to play better? We’ve got to make that determination.
“Obviously, the responsibility lies with each individual player to be accountable for being successful.”
Moore is even more emphatic in support of Sanders, who seems ticketed for reserve duty, barring an injury, unless the club swings a deal to unload Brown.
“I personally think we’re a much better team with Reggie Sanders on the club,” Moore said. “I think we’re a better baseball team for 2007 with Reggie Sanders on our baseball team. I believe that in terms of the dynamics of everything.”
All clubs face similar questions, of course, but the Royals have nearly half of their projected $60 million payroll tied up in question marks if right-hander Scott Elarton and veteran DH Mike Sweeney are included with Berroa, Brown and Sanders.
Elarton is making $4 million but is recovering from shoulder surgery and not expected back before mid-May; Sweeney is again tying up $11 million while hoping to avoid an extended stay on the disabled list for the first time in five years.
The Royals might need to decide, at some point, whether to eat some or all of those contracts. The financial bite could be considerable.
“I try not to concern myself with that,” Moore said. “That’s why Dean (Taylor) and Jin (Wong) and Dan Glass do the money stuff. I’ve got to focus on the other stuff.”
No major financial decisions appear imminent, though club officials are likely to meet this week to discuss the next round of roster cuts. They currently have 44 players in camp and must get down to 25 by 3 p.m. on April 1.
“You can’t make decisions until decisions need to be made,” Moore said. “You can’t look too far into the future and say, ‘If this continues to happen …’ Because you know what? You get ahead of yourself, and that clouds your thought process as well.
“You’ve also got to look at it in terms of what’s best for (the short term) and what’s best for over 162 games. What’s best for (the short term) might not be what’s best for over 162.”
Moore acknowledges it’s wrong to imply money plays no factor in personnel decisions. Financial limitations are, in fact, the overriding factor when he and his lieutenants seek outside alternatives to plug roster holes.
“Our payroll is what it is,” he said. “I’m not going to ask our owner to lose money. I’m not. What that does is prevent us from making a trade that might bring back an impact guy who’s making 7-8 million dollars. That’s what limits us.”
Keeping an unproductive player simply because of a bad contract? Not the same thing.
“If we have alternatives within our organization,” Moore said, “and we’re convinced it’s time to part ways with a player that we’ve given every opportunity (to perform), then absolutely we’ll do that.
“I’ve been a firm believer in this: I’m going to make a lot of mistakes. The difference is you can’t continue to make the same mistakes. You’ve got to recognize your mistakes and fix them.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To reach Bob Dutton, Royals reporter for The Star, call (816) 234-4352 or send e-mail to bdutton@kcstar.com
Dayton Moore says he considers talent, not money, when he assembles roster.
By BOB DUTTON
The Kansas City Star
SURPRISE, Ariz. | Royals general manager Dayton Moore contends money won’t do any talking when he gathers his on-field and front-office staffs for discussions on putting together the major-league roster.
“I really don’t care about (money),” he said. “I don’t concern myself with it. It’s about competition. If we have a better alternative that makes our team better for the short term and long term, we’ll do that.”
That suggests shortstop Angel Berroa gets no additional consideration because he is guaranteed $8.5 million over the next two years. Or that outfielders Reggie Sanders ($5 million) and/or Emil Brown ($3.45 million) won’t be kept around, if better options are available, simply because of their contracts.
“If we think a player is just going through a down period in their career,” Moore said, “you stay with him if you feel that he’s going to be fine over the course of 162 games — and if he has a role on the club.
“But if you think a guy is done, he’s done.”
Moore makes it clear — even as the Royals escalate their search for alternatives — that he’s not ready to give up on Berroa, whose spring struggles mirror his trend of declining production.
Nor is Moore ready to throw up his hands at the logjam in left field, where Sanders, Brown and possibly Ross Gload could find themselves battling for time and denying a roster spot to Joey Gathright, Shane Costa or even Billy Butler.
“Is Angel playing great right now?” Moore asked. “No, he’s not playing great. Do we think he’s going to play better? Are there things that we’re seeing that should prompt him to play better? We’ve got to make that determination.
“Obviously, the responsibility lies with each individual player to be accountable for being successful.”
Moore is even more emphatic in support of Sanders, who seems ticketed for reserve duty, barring an injury, unless the club swings a deal to unload Brown.
“I personally think we’re a much better team with Reggie Sanders on the club,” Moore said. “I think we’re a better baseball team for 2007 with Reggie Sanders on our baseball team. I believe that in terms of the dynamics of everything.”
All clubs face similar questions, of course, but the Royals have nearly half of their projected $60 million payroll tied up in question marks if right-hander Scott Elarton and veteran DH Mike Sweeney are included with Berroa, Brown and Sanders.
Elarton is making $4 million but is recovering from shoulder surgery and not expected back before mid-May; Sweeney is again tying up $11 million while hoping to avoid an extended stay on the disabled list for the first time in five years.
The Royals might need to decide, at some point, whether to eat some or all of those contracts. The financial bite could be considerable.
“I try not to concern myself with that,” Moore said. “That’s why Dean (Taylor) and Jin (Wong) and Dan Glass do the money stuff. I’ve got to focus on the other stuff.”
No major financial decisions appear imminent, though club officials are likely to meet this week to discuss the next round of roster cuts. They currently have 44 players in camp and must get down to 25 by 3 p.m. on April 1.
“You can’t make decisions until decisions need to be made,” Moore said. “You can’t look too far into the future and say, ‘If this continues to happen …’ Because you know what? You get ahead of yourself, and that clouds your thought process as well.
“You’ve also got to look at it in terms of what’s best for (the short term) and what’s best for over 162 games. What’s best for (the short term) might not be what’s best for over 162.”
Moore acknowledges it’s wrong to imply money plays no factor in personnel decisions. Financial limitations are, in fact, the overriding factor when he and his lieutenants seek outside alternatives to plug roster holes.
“Our payroll is what it is,” he said. “I’m not going to ask our owner to lose money. I’m not. What that does is prevent us from making a trade that might bring back an impact guy who’s making 7-8 million dollars. That’s what limits us.”
Keeping an unproductive player simply because of a bad contract? Not the same thing.
“If we have alternatives within our organization,” Moore said, “and we’re convinced it’s time to part ways with a player that we’ve given every opportunity (to perform), then absolutely we’ll do that.
“I’ve been a firm believer in this: I’m going to make a lot of mistakes. The difference is you can’t continue to make the same mistakes. You’ve got to recognize your mistakes and fix them.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To reach Bob Dutton, Royals reporter for The Star, call (816) 234-4352 or send e-mail to bdutton@kcstar.com