[duncan_idaho]

Meh.

The Royals spent $20 million on several random vets in an attempt to get some assets they could flip for prospects.

That worked out with Diekman. Not so much with Boxberger or Hamilton. Duda was an asinine addition, any way you slice it, but the money was inconsequential.

Brett Phillips isn’t playing much at the MLB level but the team also is recovering Service time (if he stays down another month, +1 year). I’m with tk, also, in that sometimes it’s better to take it slow with players, let them force their way to the majors, and experience success before the call-up.

He and Starling have other factors in slow-playing their promotions beyond merely players in their way.

I think the speculation that this money prevented them from doing something with Ian Kennedy is a real stretch. The salary for this year was approved; contracts are guaranteed. That money is spent already.