Royals enter new phase in 2006
01/01/2006
KANSAS CITY -- The Royals are entering the second phase of what general manager Allard Baird sees as a three-part scenario to success.
This is the phase where the youth movement goes forward, forming a cohesive group that starts winning and heading toward contention in the American League Central.
The core of the kids centers on shortstop Angel Berroa, center fielder David DeJesus, catcher John Buck, third baseman Mark Teahen and several pitchers.
Veterans, notably designated hitter/first baseman Mike Sweeney, will provide the mortar while other bricks are filled with right fielder Reggie Sanders, second baseman Mark Grudzielanek and first basemen Matt Stairs and Doug Mientkiewicz.
The addition of Sanders will enable Emil Brown, the hitting surprise of 2005, to move from right field to left where his defense might be more adept.
Ideally, former catcher Justin Huber will progress enough defensively at first base to add his bat to the effort. Hopefully, an everyday second baseman will emerge from prospects Andres Blanco, Donnie Murphy and Ruben Gotay.
However, those youngsters are ticketed to continue their progress in the Minors.
Baird's effort to find a young corner outfielder or two didn't materialize during the Winter Meetings. There's a chance that either Alex Gordon or Billy Butler, who signed as hard-hitting third basemen, could wind up in the outfield, although probably not during the 2006 season.
Berroa, the 2003 AL Rookie of the Year, and DeJesus, the Royals' Player of the Year in 2004, have fulfilled expectations. Teahen and Buck, solid defensively, need to upgrade their hitting in 2006.
A young triumvirate of relief pitchers, closer Mike MacDougal and setup men Andrew Sisco and Ambiorix Burgos, came together last season to head the bullpen.
There also is an impressive array of emerging starters, including Runelvys Hernandez, Zack Greinke, J.P. Howell, Denny Bautista and perhaps Jeremy Affeldt and Kyle Snyder, for the rotation.
Recognizing the need for a veteran presence, Baird traded for left-hander Mark Redman from the Pittsburgh Pirates and signed two right-handers, Scott Elarton, a free agent from the Cleveland Indians, and Joe Mays, from the Minnesota Twins.
He also signed free agent right-hander Elmer Dessens to anchor the middle of the bullpen and, if necessary, to be a spot starter. Mike Wood also could fit those roles.
Left-hander Bobby Madritsch, a starter claimed on waivers from the Seattle Mariners, underwent arm surgery and won't be available until midseason.
Manager Buddy Bell, in his first full season as manager, is expected to run a demanding camp in an effort to eliminate the fundamental mistakes that plagued the Royals last summer.
His challenges will be to boost scoring without base-burning speed or overwhelming power and to build an innings-eating rotation so the bullpen doesn't get burned out.
Offseason report card: It was slow going, but the Royals finally signed Elarton, Grudzielanek, Mientkiewicz and backup catcher Paul Bako in one very busy day. Owner David Glass increased the payroll budget from last spring's $37 million to about $50 million, boosting Baird's spending clout. However, big bucks doled out by other teams hampered his efforts. Grade: five out of 10.
Arrivals:LHP Mark Redman and INF Esteban German (trades); RHP Scott Elarton and Joe Mays, RF Reggie Sanders, 2B Mark Grudzielanek, 1B Doug Mientkiewicz, C Paul Bako and RHP Elmer Dessens (free agents); LHP Bobby Madritsch (waivers).
Departures: RHPs D.J. Carrasco (signed in Japan), Shawn Camp and Chris Demaria (designated for assignment) and Jonah Bayliss (trade); 1B Ken Harvey and OF Matt Diaz (designated for assignment).
The road ahead: Baird's search for a young slugging outfielder -- Sanders is 38 -- will continue. Meantime, the sorting out of the top prospects will continue in the Minor Leagues.
Source: http://royals.mlb.com/
KANSAS CITY -- The Royals are entering the second phase of what general manager Allard Baird sees as a three-part scenario to success.
This is the phase where the youth movement goes forward, forming a cohesive group that starts winning and heading toward contention in the American League Central.
The core of the kids centers on shortstop Angel Berroa, center fielder David DeJesus, catcher John Buck, third baseman Mark Teahen and several pitchers.
Veterans, notably designated hitter/first baseman Mike Sweeney, will provide the mortar while other bricks are filled with right fielder Reggie Sanders, second baseman Mark Grudzielanek and first basemen Matt Stairs and Doug Mientkiewicz.
The addition of Sanders will enable Emil Brown, the hitting surprise of 2005, to move from right field to left where his defense might be more adept.
Ideally, former catcher Justin Huber will progress enough defensively at first base to add his bat to the effort. Hopefully, an everyday second baseman will emerge from prospects Andres Blanco, Donnie Murphy and Ruben Gotay.
However, those youngsters are ticketed to continue their progress in the Minors.
Baird's effort to find a young corner outfielder or two didn't materialize during the Winter Meetings. There's a chance that either Alex Gordon or Billy Butler, who signed as hard-hitting third basemen, could wind up in the outfield, although probably not during the 2006 season.
Berroa, the 2003 AL Rookie of the Year, and DeJesus, the Royals' Player of the Year in 2004, have fulfilled expectations. Teahen and Buck, solid defensively, need to upgrade their hitting in 2006.
A young triumvirate of relief pitchers, closer Mike MacDougal and setup men Andrew Sisco and Ambiorix Burgos, came together last season to head the bullpen.
There also is an impressive array of emerging starters, including Runelvys Hernandez, Zack Greinke, J.P. Howell, Denny Bautista and perhaps Jeremy Affeldt and Kyle Snyder, for the rotation.
Recognizing the need for a veteran presence, Baird traded for left-hander Mark Redman from the Pittsburgh Pirates and signed two right-handers, Scott Elarton, a free agent from the Cleveland Indians, and Joe Mays, from the Minnesota Twins.
He also signed free agent right-hander Elmer Dessens to anchor the middle of the bullpen and, if necessary, to be a spot starter. Mike Wood also could fit those roles.
Left-hander Bobby Madritsch, a starter claimed on waivers from the Seattle Mariners, underwent arm surgery and won't be available until midseason.
Manager Buddy Bell, in his first full season as manager, is expected to run a demanding camp in an effort to eliminate the fundamental mistakes that plagued the Royals last summer.
His challenges will be to boost scoring without base-burning speed or overwhelming power and to build an innings-eating rotation so the bullpen doesn't get burned out.
Offseason report card: It was slow going, but the Royals finally signed Elarton, Grudzielanek, Mientkiewicz and backup catcher Paul Bako in one very busy day. Owner David Glass increased the payroll budget from last spring's $37 million to about $50 million, boosting Baird's spending clout. However, big bucks doled out by other teams hampered his efforts. Grade: five out of 10.
Arrivals:LHP Mark Redman and INF Esteban German (trades); RHP Scott Elarton and Joe Mays, RF Reggie Sanders, 2B Mark Grudzielanek, 1B Doug Mientkiewicz, C Paul Bako and RHP Elmer Dessens (free agents); LHP Bobby Madritsch (waivers).
Departures: RHPs D.J. Carrasco (signed in Japan), Shawn Camp and Chris Demaria (designated for assignment) and Jonah Bayliss (trade); 1B Ken Harvey and OF Matt Diaz (designated for assignment).
The road ahead: Baird's search for a young slugging outfielder -- Sanders is 38 -- will continue. Meantime, the sorting out of the top prospects will continue in the Minor Leagues.
Source: http://royals.mlb.com/
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