Royals Sign 3

[Archie Bunker]

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/13423054.htm
Mientkiewicz, Grudzielanek, Elarton signing with Royals

By JEFF PASSANT
The Kansas City StarThe Royals needed a facelift after their 106-loss season, and they’re getting it. In one fell swoop.First baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, second baseman Mark Grudzielanek and starting pitcher Scott Elarton have all agreed to sign with Kansas City. The Royals are expected to hold an 11 a.m. news conference today announcing the moves, as well as the signing of backup catcher Paul Bako.

To make room for the four on the 40-man roster, the Royals will designate for assignment first baseman Ken Harvey _ their lone All-Star in 2004 _ outfielder Matt Diaz and relief pitchers Shawn Camp and Chris DeMaria.

Elarton’s contract is believed to be for two seasons, while Grudzielanek’s is for one with an option and Mientkiewicz and Bako’s straight one-year deals.

Together, the four bring 34 years of major-league experience, 66 games in the playoffs and a much-needed veteran presence to supplement Mike Sweeney and Matt Stairs while the Royals try to rebuild around their young core and ease the integration of top prospects Billy Butler and Alex Gordon.

Mientkiewicz, 31, spent the first 6½ seasons of his career with the Twins before being traded to Boston, where he caught the final out of the Red Sox’s first World Series victory in 86 years. He’s known for his defense, having won a Gold Glove in 2001, and is expected to play everyday at first base while the Royals shift Mike Sweeney to full-time designated hitter duty.

Grudzielanek, 35, is a line-drive hitter whose glove could help give the Royals among the best infield defenses in the American League. Though he’s a free swinger who rarely walks, Grudzielanek has hit over .300 three times and batted .294 with eight home runs and 59 RBIs in St. Louis last season. He’ll start at second base, making the just-acquired Esteban German the utility infielder.

Elarton, who turns 30 in February, will be in a rotation that includes Runelvys Hernandez, Zack Greinke and Mark Redman, obtained this offseason from Pittsburgh. A fly-ball pitcher, Elarton struggled for three years in Colorado _ where he played for Royals manager Buddy Bell _ after winning 17 games with Houston in 2000. The Rockies released him in May 2004, Cleveland scooped him up and he went 11-9 with a 4.61 ERA for the Indians last season.

Only a corner outfielder remains on the Royals’ checklist for offseason moves, and they’re thought to be the leaders for former Twins outfielder Jacque Jones.

[DaWolf]

Defense defense defense. After the disaster last year how could we not try to improve our D? At least now the right side of the infield looks solid. Hopefully Sweeny as a fulltime DH will allow him to finally stay healthy. He's our biggest bat so trading him now doesn't make sense unless we're getting a big bat in return. Earlton as a fly ball pitcher scares me, with our outfield defense so shaky and with all the homeruns our pitchers have been giving up the last few years. Grudz does not draw walks either, so our middle infield will be probably the most free swinging middle infield in the league. Overall though nice moves, mainly because it gives our guys more time to hone their skills in the minors. It's sort of like what Oakland has done in the past until their guys have been ready to come up. Except Beane has managed to incorporate it all together better...

[teedubya]

Mientkiewicz

[Thig Lyfe]

Wow! I've actually heard of two of those guys!!!


Start printing playoff tickets!!!!!!

[sedated]

Allard needs to pull his head out his arse and put Blanco in at SS.

Why waste a gold-glover just cause he can't hit?

Put angel somewhere else, OF maybe?

[VonneMarie]

We'll have a killer D now.

[tk13]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slu...v=ap&type=lgns

Mientkiewicz, a former Gold Glove first baseman best known for taking the ball from the final out of Boston's World Series win in 2004, gets a $1.85 million deal with $700,000 in performance bonuses based on games and plate appearances.

Grudzielanek's contract calls for a $4 million salary next season. If he has 500 plate appearances, he gets a $3 million player option for 2007.

The 35-year-old hit .294 with eight homers and 59 RBIs last season in helping St. Louis win the NL Central. He led NL second basemen in fielding percentage (.990) and double plays (108).

"Defensively, I can't say enough good things about Grudzielanek," general manager Allard Baird said. "Mientkiewicz, his defensive ability we feel very good about. We think he's a winner."

Earlier in a busy offseason, the Royals acquired starter Mark Redman from Pittsburgh and agreed to a contract with free-agent reliever Elmer Dessens.

"We've added two innings starters, we've added some team speed, we've improved our defense, we've increased our depth in the bullpen," Baird said. "So I feel good about that. But we still have some things left to do. We'll continue to be aggressive."

Mientkiewicz, who turns 31 in June, is a career .268 hitter with 55 homers and 305 RBIs. Bothered by a hamstring injury, he hit .240 with 11 homers and 29 RBIs in 275 at-bats for the Mets last season.

The 29-year-old Elarton gets $4 million annually. He was 11-9 with a 4.61 ERA last season with Cleveland, making a career-high 31 starts.

Bako, 33, played in 13 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers last year before a knee injury May 26 ended his season. He gets a $700,000, one-year contract.

Baird is looking for a corner outfielder but acknowledged that losing more than 99 games three of the last four years had not helped draw interest in the Royals.

"We've had to reach out," he said. "I've hopped on planes and visited a lot of players, and I think that's the key to this thing. Perception's reality until you know what reality is. The direction of the club -- once you sit down with them, they have a better feel for it. And I think that's put us in the door with a lot more players than if we'd just sat back and said, `We're offering you this much money to come to Kansas City."'

[Logical]

Originally Posted by ArrowheadWolf

Wow! I've actually heard of two of those guys!!!


Start printing playoff tickets!!!!!!

LOL, today on Sports 1090 I heard them talk about the Royals for the first time since the amazing losing streak. They were making fun of the Royal's front office because of these signings, basically saying the same thing with levels of sarcasm that were off the meter. Gave me a chuckle.

[siberian khatru]

A moment of silence, please, for the passing of Chris George ... from the Royals organization to the Marlins.

[sedated]

the royals will have to shell out a little more $$$ to put those names on their jerseys.

I think they're going for the most consonants in an infield

whose next...fuamatu ma'afalla at third?

(I know he's a futball player, but I love that name)

[VonneMarie]

Originally Posted by Vlad Logicslav

LOL, today on Sports 1090 I heard them talk about the Royals for the first time since the amazing losing streak. They were making fun of the Royal's front office because of these signings, basically saying the same thing with levels of sarcasm that were off the meter. Gave me a chuckle.

1090 can blow the Royals.