2012 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread

[alnorth]

2012 Slogan: Our Time

A better, more accurate 2012 Slogan: It is Finally Next Year
(from Great Expectations)

An alternative slogan if you don't like that one: Someone has to win this crappy division
(from alnorth)

With the beginning of a new year, it is time for the 2012 version of the Royals Repository Thread. We've got Hosmer, we've got a 2011-dominating Gordon, we've got Moose, we've got hopefully a killer bullpen, we've got a stereotypical slow slugging DH, we've got easily one of the best defensive shortstops in the AL, we've got a promising catcher in Salvador Perez. Hell, we've got offense and promising prospects galore.

We do not have starting pitching.

Oh yeah, we've also got this:



Get ready for, (as of January 2012 anyway), one of the most confusing puzzles of a baseball season in recent Royals history. Will they suck? Maybe, I don't know. Will we be given a year of 0.500 baseball? Possibly, I don't know. Will they win the division and go to the playoffs for the first time in 27 years? For the first time in a long time, it could happen, I don't know. 92 losses, 92 wins, or anything in between would not surprise a lot of us.

Everything goes here except Gameday threads and really big news. If a giant story breaks, the Royals achieve some awesome milestone, or we sign/lose a highly significant player/coach/mascot/whatever, then it might also deserve its own thread. This being Chiefs Planet, please do not clutter the board with new threads about trivial Royals news or you will only annoy those who come here for just Chiefs football. If you aren't sure and its not a Gameday thread, it goes here.

What sort of stuff often goes here? SPchief explained it well, so I'll just copy that:

If you locate something of interest.. ANYTHING.. deals on apparel, best ways in/out of the stadium, giveaways, great stories from this season or from seasons gone by, rumors, trades, anything.... feel free to post it here.

[duncan_idaho]

I think it's much more likely we see Danny Duffy in the rotation than Aaron Crow, at least to start the year.

I could see Crow spending some time in Omaha to keep him stretched out and work on his curve/change and being the first call if/when a starter is hurt.

They REALLY need Odorizzi to step forward like they think he can, Lamb to come back strong from Tommy John, and Montgomery to find the strike zone. Two of those three things happening are probably more critical than any other developmental thing happening this year...

[Bambi]

I'm sorry but I looked further into it. That Perez contract is a joke. Thinking the Royals took advantage of the guy and his situation.

[kc rush]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

I could see Crow spending some time in Omaha to keep him stretched out and work on his curve/change and being the first call if/when a starter is hurt.

Is Crow out of options? For some reason I thought he was.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Wickedson

I'm sorry but I looked further into it. That Perez contract is a joke. Thinking the Royals took advantage of the guy and his situation.

It's not close to a joke. He is being paid more up front that he would in his non-arb years and has some very rich options at the end.

That's how baseball works. Controlled players don't get market value deals.

[Saul Good]

Also, Perez is actually 37 years old.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by kc rush

Is Crow out of options? For some reason I thought he was.

Nah, he's got at least two left if I remember correctly.

He has to be carried on the MLB roster, though.

[Rosie O'Donnell]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

It's not close to a joke. He is being paid more up front that he would in his non-arb years and has some very rich options at the end.

That's how baseball works. Controlled players don't get market value deals.

Unless you're creative like the Rays and you give Matt Moore (a pitcher with 9 career innings pitched!) a five-year, $14 million contract because 1. you know he's going to freaking good and 2. you want his agent to catch you a break when he reaches free agent status.

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Also, Perez is actually 37 years old.

And his real name is Humberto Ortega.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by DaKCManAP eat pepe

Unless you're creative like the Rays and you give Matt Moore (a pitcher with 9 career innings pitched!) a five-year, $14 million contract because 1. you know he's going to freaking good and 2. you want his agent to catch you a break when he reaches free agent status.

The value difference between Matt Moore - THE pitching prospect in baseball - and Salvador Perez is pretty great.

Ace starters - which Moore is going to be - are much more valuable. And even at $14 million, that's just a sniff of what Moore would get were he a free agent. He would be able to get a 5-year contract that triples that, easily.

Catcher is a less well-paid position than pitcher.

The way Perez's deal breaks down, he makes about 50 percent more than what he otherwise would have in his non-arb years, and then what looks like fair arb value for a guy with 150 at-bats. He gets a lot more up front and makes a similar amount at the back end. It's a win-win (and similar to what Joakim Soria signed).

Side note: If Mike Montgomery bursts onto the scene in the second half like many in the Royals org expect, I wouldn't be surprised to see a deal very similar to Matt Moore's tossed Monty's way.

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by Dr. noonanbeermefever

I'm certain all MU fans would.

How did you get a picture of Radio in your avatar with that trophy?

[Bambi]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

It's not close to a joke. He is being paid more up front that he would in his non-arb years and has some very rich options at the end.

That's how baseball works. Controlled players don't get market value deals.

Yea but isn't he arbitration eligible in 2 years? So then if he goes to arbitration he's going to get some shit deal based off this contract. Don't get me wrong, this is a steal for the Royals...I think Perez is that good.

He should get a new agent asap.

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by Wickedson

Yea but isn't he arbitration eligible in 2 years? So then if he goes to arbitration he's going to get some shit deal based off this contract. Don't get me wrong, this is a steal for the Royals...I think Perez is that good.

He should get a new agent asap.

So you think he won't ask for a new contract if he wildly outperforms expectations on his new cheaper contract?

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Wickedson

Yea but isn't he arbitration eligible in 2 years? So then if he goes to arbitration he's going to get some shit deal based off this contract. Don't get me wrong, this is a steal for the Royals...I think Perez is that good.

He should get a new agent asap.

This contract buys out his arbitration years. He will never go to arbitration now.

This is a fair contract, compared to what Matt Moore received from the Rays (the current pace-setter for these types of deals). A guy with legitimate ace starter potential - and the No. 1 overall prospect in baseball - only got twice what Perez got.

Think about that. Perez is a top 100 prospect type who plays great defense at a premium position but still has big questions about his bat at the big league level. I love the guy, but this deal is not a screw job. It's fair, based on the current market and his status within it.

[duncan_idaho]

And just to put it in context:

Perez will make about twice this year what he otherwise would have ($750k vs. league min).

He will make $1 million next year (again, about twice).

He will make $1.5 million in 2014 (about twice if he didn't qualify for arb)

He will make $1.75 million in 2015 (which is a pretty decent projection for his arb value at this point). Same with the $2 million in 2016. And the option years are very generous.

[Bambi]

Originally Posted by Bowser

So you think he won't ask for a new contract if he wildly outperforms expectations on his new cheaper contract?

I think he would. But doesn't this force him to play for just over a million for five years?

Five years can be a long time

I just think he's going to be worth alot more than this contract in just 2 years. It's a steal for the Royals. At least I hope he turns out that good.