Zobrist was huge last year and I would overpay to keep him. Gordo as much as I love him you have to let him walk unless he's giving you a huge hometown discount. If we keep Zobrist and fill the other holes with value signings, call ups or platoons we'll contend again.

Let me check my crystal ball.....nope, still too cloudy to make a call.

Detroit has signed Jordan Zimmerman.

5 years, $110 million is the early report.

Interesting player - backslid in some key areas last year (FB velo, K rate, ERA, WHIP all went backwards, IIRC).

Could be another big contract they regret a few years down the road. Could be great.

They've got an expensive rotation.

Where the f*** are they getting all this $ for big names? Their team revenues weren't all that much higher than ours were. I guess they have a bunch of min-wage guys in their pen + bench, but still they have some serious money committed to few guys

Still throwing out big bucks damn.

Mike Illitch is incredibly rich and doesn't care about breaking even.

What surprises me most is that I really thought the Tigers were going away from the stars and scrubs approach and were going to try to balance things out a little bit more. Apparently not.

They WILL have Daniel Norris in their rotation next year, who will be a league minimum guy. But Verlander, Sanchez, and now Zimmermann will be paid somewhere around $70 million combined. Throw in the bad contract of Victor Martinez and the big (deserved) contract of Miguel Cabrera, and they've got 5 guys making about $115 million.

They'll be league min at 3B and SS, where Castellanos and Iglesias hold things down. Maybin and Gose aren't THAT expensive, and JD Martinez hits arbitration for the first time. Ian Kinsler is set to make $14 million.

This means they'll go cheap at C, I guess, and probably not do much in the pen other than pay K-Rod.

Looks to me like a team that is very similar to the ones the Tigers have fielded for several years... lot of star/elite talent, but a weak pen and not much depth. If one of those studs gets hurt (Miggy) or just isn't very good anymore (Verlander, Victor Martinez), it falls apart.

How's their system look Duncan? I'd guess it's either shitty or that Illitch knows he's nearing death. Just doesn't make sense to operate a 3rd World payroll of extreme rich and several cheap. (Or Maybe they think KC will be so weakened by FA that 85 wins gets it done??)

I assume this comes from Zobrist's agent..

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sources: Zobrist market likely to become more defined in next few days. Willingness to guarantee fourth year likely will be deciding factor.</p>&mdash; Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/671016748506742784">November 29, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Zobrist <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mets?src=hash">#Mets</a>’ No. 1 target, sources say. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Nationals?src=hash">#Nationals</a> also in, along with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Braves?src=hash">#Braves</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SFGiants?src=hash">#SFGiants</a>, others. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Royals?src=hash">#Royals</a> not expected to offer same $$$.</p>&mdash; Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/671016755502845952">November 29, 2015</a></blockquote>
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I believe in DM but still losing Gordon and Zobrist would suck.

Amazing what a 3.7 ERA in the national league is worth.

It's pretty awful. Only the Angels are more barren. If you don't consider Norris a prospect, the best guy in their system that's close is Matt Boyd.

That's what happens to your farm system when Dave Dombrowski is your GM for 5+ years.

If Zimmerman gets $22M a year, I can't wait to see what Greinke and Price are going to get.

We'll see about Zobrist. He's so versatile, I have a bad feeling his contract may be closer to Gordon's than we expect... even if Zobrist is 35 next year. So many teams could fit him into their plans.

I think most of us had already resigned ourselves to the fact that Gordon is probably gone, but we hoped Zobrist would stay. And our reason for that is that at 35 years old, Zobrist just doesn't (or shouldn't) have anywhere close to the market value that Gordon has.

If Zobrist is indeed drawing that much interest, I'm fine with the Royals going in a different direction. The absolute worst thing this team could do is overspend on older players.

Like everyone else, I'd love to see the Royals play in 3 straight World Series, and there is that big fear that when the window closes after 2017, times will be bad. But let's face it: teams very rarely make it to 3 straight World Series. The Royals are probably not going to win the American League again this year. Let's not overspend on older players and GUARANTEE massive suckage in the future.

Yeah but he loves the present and that is why Boston is going to greatly improve this year. I bet he signs Cueto too

I wanted to take a run at Puig. Uhhhhhh:

https://mobile.twitter.com/DodgersNa...16554383306752

Days ago

In a year or two, do you see us keeping Hosmer, Moose, Cain, Esky, Wade, etc.? Of course not. Do we have all of those guys back next season? Yes. We have a great shot to win the division again if we can keep one of Gordon/Zobrist and fill in the rotation. Need to take advantage of this window as much as we can.

Not me. Great talent, but a 10 cent brain.

In for Ibanez if Yost hangs em up.

So looking forward to Yost's Royals HoF induction.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sources confirm: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DBacks?src=hash">#DBacks</a> indeed offered Cueto six years, $120M, as reported by <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveGilbertMLB">@SteveGilbertMLB</a>. Cueto wants to explore free-agent options.</p>&mdash; Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/671196001840033792">November 30, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Zimmerman just got 5-110. Id turn down that down to if I were Cueto.

What do you like about Ibanez ?

He is a leader of men.

I like Raul Ibanez, but I'm not a big fan of managers learning on the job in the major leagues. If he wants to be a manager, let him manage a team for a couple of years in the minor leagues first.

Royal's players voted for 58 full shares in splitting playoff revenue. Rumblings that they voted a full share to Dusty Coleman, but reversed course and gave a partial share as he was on way to pick up check.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A full <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Royals?src=hash">#Royals</a>&#39; postseason share was worth $370,069.03. Royals issued 58 full shares, a total of 8.37 partial shares and 50 cash awards.</p>&mdash; Jeffrey Flanagan (@FlannyMLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/FlannyMLB/status/671369444866850816">November 30, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Contrast: Mets issued 44 full shares, 11.05 partial shares &amp; 25 cash rewards. <a href="https://t.co/X3pv3ijC44">https://t.co/X3pv3ijC44</a></p>&mdash; Craig Brown (@royalsauthority) <a href="https://twitter.com/royalsauthority/status/671372189774438401">November 30, 2015</a></blockquote>
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I assume this is supposed to have a humorous meaning? If so, I don't get it? Can you elaborate please ?

Makes perfect sense. thanks,

Seems pretty light. Team payroll was 115m which is 28,000/game/player. They played 16 games which implies they should make 448K at their regular rate.

Taking it another step, it's great for a Colon (1 at bat) or Guthrie or Gomes, but for Gordon he makes 1.3M for 16 regular games. So high priced guys take a severe cut for postseason

They aren't paid by the game. They're paid by the season. This money is a bonus, not an extension of their salary.

It's also a huge amount of money for the guys who are not players (coaches, support staff, etc).

I'm a huge believer in this.
Strike while the iron is red hot!

Sign Gordon, Zobrist & Heyward.
Sign Leake, Kazmir & Chen.

Brayan Pena(Cueto's friend) signed with the Cards...Cueto to the Cards?

I just find it to be a nice gesture by the plow horses who did all the heavy lifting to actually get them there. But it's probably a good thing in that it helps valuable contributors who are underpaid during the season.

****in' PRINT 'EM


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Royals have agreed to terms with Tim Collins for 2016. Collins was eligible for arbitration. Maintains org depth.</p>&mdash; Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) <a href="https://twitter.com/McCulloughStar/status/671510066638495744">December 1, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Will be glad to see Tiny Tim back out there. When his arm wasn't getting ready to fall off, he's a decent weapon contrast to the power arms.

Looks like things are going to heat up on the big names soon. If Happ and Zimmermann's contracts are a preview, cash is going to FLY around baseball. Yikes.

He's not a contrast to power arms. He throws 95.

Tops out at it. With his small frame compared to the others that throw 98-100 yeah it is.

Article on what the Royals and Mets get paid for the World Series.

Royals players get $370,000 bonus for World Series win

The World Series champion Kansas City Royals generously split up their Fall Classic players' pool haul of more than $25 million into 55 full shares worth $370,069 apiece, Major League baseball said on Monday.

The Royals, who won their first World Series crown in 30 years, also awarded 8.37 partial shares and 50 cash awards in spreading the bounty to coaches, players who spent part of the season with them and club employees.

The runner-up New York Mets issued 44 full shares at just over $300,000 each, a record bonus for the losing team in MLB's championship.

The players’ pool is formed from 50 percent of gate receipts from the Wild Card games; 60 percent of the gate from the first three games of the Division Series; 60 percent from the first four games of the League Championship Series; and 60 percent of gate receipts from the first four games of the World Series.

A record total of over $69 million was divided among the 10 postseason clubs, more than $4.5 million beyond the previous high total in 2012.


http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/...0TJ2A220151130

I wonder what the kid who about got rolled up under the tarp pulled down?

It is interesting to note that the players get the take of the sales off on just the amount of games required to win a series. I'm guessing so as the players wouldn't drag the series on for their own financial gain.

Video about Zobrist, worth watching

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/158443...nt-ben-zobrist

Mets setting sights on Zobrist
Second baseman Ben Zobrist is reportedly the Mets' "No. 1 target," according to a tweet from FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal. Zobrist is believed to be seeking a four-year deal after helping guide the Royals to a World Series title this past season.
Zobrist, 34, spent his first nine seasons with the Rays before splitting time last year between the A's and Royals. He hit a combined .276/.359/.450 with 13 homers and 36 doubles during the 2015 regular season, before hitting .303/.365/.515 with two homers in 16 postseason games. Though the Mets are believed to be highly interested in adding Zobrist to replace free agent Daniel Murphy, they are far from the only team in pursuit. The Nationals, Braves and Giants are all among the teams that have already expressed interest in Zobrist this offseason.

Why would SF want him? Their IF is set. Zobrist doesn't create nearly as much value as an OF so why pay him the same $ others offer at 2B?


Off topic: why don't all signings wait until the Winter Meetings? Would be a great media event to have ESPN, BBTN, et al down there when the flag drops Dec 6 or whatever and they start bidding on these mercenaries at once. Maybe invite these divas down there to parade around in fur coats and bling, like the nba draft?

Andy McCullough leaving KC Star in January to be Dodgers beat writer for LA Times.

Andy McCullough is leaving Kansas City. He has been hired by the LA Times (starting January) to be their beat writer for the Dodgers.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Some personal news: I am joining The Los Angeles Times to cover the Dodgers. The new job starts in January.</p>&mdash; Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) <a href="https://twitter.com/McCulloughStar/status/671763785426726912">December 1, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

KC Star is dying

Thanks Andy.

It was a fun ride on Twitter.

Andy McCullough is a phenomenal beat writer, and even better on Twitter. I'm bummed.

Wow. For the short time I knew about Andy, this is actually quite sad.

They said that when Posnanski and Whitlock left.

Spring Training schedule released.

http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/spr...ve.jsp?c_id=kc

Andy was too good for the Star. Knew it was only a matter of time.

To be fair, people said the same thing before McCullough was hired. He breathed some life into it. Question is, can they find the next Andy?

But on a related note, I'd just like to make this observation about The Star print edition: It SUCKS.

I read it online every day, but I ordered copies of the Nov. 2 and Nov. 8 print editions for all the Royals stuff in them for my collection. When they arrived, I couldn't believe they looked so bad -- layout, typography, etc. That red banner atop the Sports section looks like something from the Kirksville Daily Express circa 1983. I mean, everything was just atrocious.

I haven't seen a paper like it, at least not in 30 years (and I'm in the newspaper industry). Is faux-retro the new cutting edge? Is that some kind of hipster thing? That used to be a fairly well-designed paper, at least sports was. I was appalled.

/end rant

I might be as sad about Andy going as I am Gordo.

New print layout they have sucks. Looks really cheap.

Morales named Outstanding DH Award winner

http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article...outstanding-dh

Royals, Young working toward reunion

http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article...ris-young-back

Holland among arb-eligible decisions for Royals

http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article...r-greg-holland

Red Sox ink David Price to 7-year, $217-million deal

Just saw that. Holy Smokes.

Lol, one more million/year than Scherzer

That is a lot of money.

Like I was saying...

I can see why Cueto turned down the D-backs offer of 6 for $120M

Yep. He's going to sign for somewhere between $150-175MM

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Greinke and Cueto right now. <a href="https://t.co/lJKVj7HaPe">pic.twitter.com/lJKVj7HaPe</a></p>&mdash; Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/671817376736919552">December 1, 2015</a></blockquote>
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LMAO

Grienke could very well get close to 250 mil

Almost a million a game. WOW

Obviously contracts will continue to go up as the money does, but I wonder if there will come a point where more teams determine some of these huge contracts aren't efficient. Especially the way teams use analytics. Probably not, but it's hard to imagine the Red Sox will get full value out of that contract.

I think that point is basically here, sans the extremely wealthy teams. The new market inefficiency is young, talented, cost-controlled players.

This is why I've been particularly disappointed in the last two competitive balance drafts.

I went to Kirksville in 1987. Do you remember the little social register blurbs in the back that went something like "Fred and Edith Morford visited Ida and Abner Johnson after church on Sunday"? I was telling my gf about them and she barely believes me. I need confirmation it wasn't just a dream or something.

I figured they'd land a whale in FA and get bounce backs from guys to make the playoffs. They're the fave in the AL for sure now.

Andy firing shots on his way out...says hes not big on BBQ and voted for David Ortiz for best dh. Lol

@JeffPassan: Sources: Price on Ben Zobrist keeps going up. Sense among interested teams is that it stands at four years, $60 million and may go higher.

I live in a town that has a newspaper that STILL says things like that.

Even says what they ate while visiting...