Royals eye Mench yet again
Wed, Nov. 09, 2005
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — It’s closing in on 18 months since the Royals traded away Carlos Beltran, which signaled an acceleration in their current youth movement. The trade also prioritized the need to acquire a power-hitting corner outfielder to anchor the middle of their lineup.
The name atop their wish list, in all that time, has never changed.
Only now, it appears, the Texas Rangers are finally willing to consider offers for Kevin Mench.
“We’re not shopping him,” Rangers general manager Jon Daniels cautioned, “but we’re not going to turn a deaf ear to listening to ways to make our club better.”
In fact, Texas views Mench, 27, as its best bargaining chip to bolster an already struggling rotation that now must replace free agent Kenny Rogers, who is departing.
The Royals, as they have in the past, are offering left-hander Jeremy Affeldt as the basis for a deal that could include other players.
Affeldt, 26, spent much of his big-league career as a reliever but served as a starter throughout his five minor-league seasons. He is also a candidate to shift next season to the Royals’ rotation if the club fails in efforts to sign a free-agent starter or two.
“He could start,” general manager Allard Baird agreed. “He could be starting for us.”
Affeldt is also a ground-ball pitcher, which is a priority for the Rangers because of the hitter-friendly nature of their home ballpark, Ameriquest Field.
The Cubs, Pirates and Blue Jays are also known to be interested in Mench, who batted .264 last season with 25 homers and 73 RBIs in 150 games.
The Rangers’ new willingness to consider a trade stems from the departure of general manager John Hart, whose high opinion of Mench mirrored that of the Royals.
“Our willingness to talk hasn’t changed,” Baird said. “I’m willing to make a deal.”
The Royals are willing to trade Affeldt because they view their bullpen as an area of strength after the emergence last season of rookies Ambiorix Burgos and Andrew Sisco.
Affeldt missed more than two months last season because of an injured groin, which caused him to lose his job as the club’s closer. He still appeared in a career-high 49 games while going 0-2 with a career-worst 5.26 ERA.
The Royals, who have $22 million available for roster improvements, have also contacted several free-agent outfielders, with Brian Giles atop a list that includes Jacque Jones, Juan Encarnacion, Preston Wilson, Jeromy Burnitz and Reggie Sanders.
Giles, 34, recently rejected a three-year offer of more than $21 million to remain with the Padres after batting .301 with 15 homers and 83 RBIs in 158 games. His value is likely to soar to $30 million or more over three years because interested teams include the Cardinals, Mariners, Red Sox and Yankees.
Such a deal would also spike the market for other free-agent outfielders, which is why the Royals would prefer to fill that need through a trade and use their cash to address holes in their rotation.
“We’re not going to be able to trade for starting pitching,” Baird said. “That’s just not going to happen.”
Cincinnati and Tampa Bay are also potential trade partners, although the Reds, for now, still show no inclination to break up their four-outfielder collection of Ken Griffey Jr., Adam Dunn, Austin Kearns and Wily Mo Peña.
The Devil Rays have five outfielders but are unlikely to do anything before hiring a manager. They are using the GM meetings this week to interview candidates.
In contrast, the Rangers are ready to listen. Now.
“I do think,” Daniels said, “we’ll be able to fill one or more of our needs before we get to free-agency (acquisitions).”
Insurance at third
The Royals appear close to reaching a minor-league contract with third baseman Mike Coolbaugh, a 15-year professional whose major-league experience is limited to small portions of 2001 and 2002 with the Brewers and Cardinals.
Coolbaugh, 33, spent last season at Class AAA Round Rock in the Houston organization. He batted .281 with 27 homers and 101 RBIs in 123 games.
Olympic team
Right-hander Brian Bass will join the U.S. Olympic qualifying team as a replacement for Seattle’s Clint Nageotte. The qualifying team plays in a tournament later this month in the Phoenix area against teams from Canada, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama.
Bass, 24, is currently pitching in the Arizona Fall League, where he is 1-1 with a 3.33 ERA in six starts for the Surprise Scorpions. He was 12-8 with a 5.24 ERA last season in 27 starts for Class AA Wichita.
The top four teams advance to the Americas Olympic Qualifier next August in Havana, Cuba, where two teams from an eight-team field advance to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.
Left fielder Billy Butler and reliever Jonah Bayliss were picked previously to the 24-player squad, which consists of pro players who do not currently appear on a major-league club’s 25-man roster.
Source: http://www.kansas.com/
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — It’s closing in on 18 months since the Royals traded away Carlos Beltran, which signaled an acceleration in their current youth movement. The trade also prioritized the need to acquire a power-hitting corner outfielder to anchor the middle of their lineup.
The name atop their wish list, in all that time, has never changed.
Only now, it appears, the Texas Rangers are finally willing to consider offers for Kevin Mench.
“We’re not shopping him,” Rangers general manager Jon Daniels cautioned, “but we’re not going to turn a deaf ear to listening to ways to make our club better.”
In fact, Texas views Mench, 27, as its best bargaining chip to bolster an already struggling rotation that now must replace free agent Kenny Rogers, who is departing.
The Royals, as they have in the past, are offering left-hander Jeremy Affeldt as the basis for a deal that could include other players.
Affeldt, 26, spent much of his big-league career as a reliever but served as a starter throughout his five minor-league seasons. He is also a candidate to shift next season to the Royals’ rotation if the club fails in efforts to sign a free-agent starter or two.
“He could start,” general manager Allard Baird agreed. “He could be starting for us.”
Affeldt is also a ground-ball pitcher, which is a priority for the Rangers because of the hitter-friendly nature of their home ballpark, Ameriquest Field.
The Cubs, Pirates and Blue Jays are also known to be interested in Mench, who batted .264 last season with 25 homers and 73 RBIs in 150 games.
The Rangers’ new willingness to consider a trade stems from the departure of general manager John Hart, whose high opinion of Mench mirrored that of the Royals.
“Our willingness to talk hasn’t changed,” Baird said. “I’m willing to make a deal.”
The Royals are willing to trade Affeldt because they view their bullpen as an area of strength after the emergence last season of rookies Ambiorix Burgos and Andrew Sisco.
Affeldt missed more than two months last season because of an injured groin, which caused him to lose his job as the club’s closer. He still appeared in a career-high 49 games while going 0-2 with a career-worst 5.26 ERA.
The Royals, who have $22 million available for roster improvements, have also contacted several free-agent outfielders, with Brian Giles atop a list that includes Jacque Jones, Juan Encarnacion, Preston Wilson, Jeromy Burnitz and Reggie Sanders.
Giles, 34, recently rejected a three-year offer of more than $21 million to remain with the Padres after batting .301 with 15 homers and 83 RBIs in 158 games. His value is likely to soar to $30 million or more over three years because interested teams include the Cardinals, Mariners, Red Sox and Yankees.
Such a deal would also spike the market for other free-agent outfielders, which is why the Royals would prefer to fill that need through a trade and use their cash to address holes in their rotation.
“We’re not going to be able to trade for starting pitching,” Baird said. “That’s just not going to happen.”
Cincinnati and Tampa Bay are also potential trade partners, although the Reds, for now, still show no inclination to break up their four-outfielder collection of Ken Griffey Jr., Adam Dunn, Austin Kearns and Wily Mo Peña.
The Devil Rays have five outfielders but are unlikely to do anything before hiring a manager. They are using the GM meetings this week to interview candidates.
In contrast, the Rangers are ready to listen. Now.
“I do think,” Daniels said, “we’ll be able to fill one or more of our needs before we get to free-agency (acquisitions).”
Insurance at third
The Royals appear close to reaching a minor-league contract with third baseman Mike Coolbaugh, a 15-year professional whose major-league experience is limited to small portions of 2001 and 2002 with the Brewers and Cardinals.
Coolbaugh, 33, spent last season at Class AAA Round Rock in the Houston organization. He batted .281 with 27 homers and 101 RBIs in 123 games.
Olympic team
Right-hander Brian Bass will join the U.S. Olympic qualifying team as a replacement for Seattle’s Clint Nageotte. The qualifying team plays in a tournament later this month in the Phoenix area against teams from Canada, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama.
Bass, 24, is currently pitching in the Arizona Fall League, where he is 1-1 with a 3.33 ERA in six starts for the Surprise Scorpions. He was 12-8 with a 5.24 ERA last season in 27 starts for Class AA Wichita.
The top four teams advance to the Americas Olympic Qualifier next August in Havana, Cuba, where two teams from an eight-team field advance to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.
Left fielder Billy Butler and reliever Jonah Bayliss were picked previously to the 24-player squad, which consists of pro players who do not currently appear on a major-league club’s 25-man roster.
Source: http://www.kansas.com/
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