Miguel Olivo Joins Royals

by royalstern05 on Dec 27, 2007 11:40 AM EST Comment 6 comments

MLB.com is reporting as a headline that Miguel Olivo has signed a one-year deal with the Kansas City Royals. The deal apparently contains an option for the 2009 season. There do not appear to be any further details on this alleged-signing.

If it is accurate, we have signed a relatively young and defensive-strong backstop. Nobody has ever accused Olivo of being an offensive force by any stretch. However, if he manages to break the Mendoza-line in back-up duty, it would represent an increase in production from the Jason LaPoo experiment.

Overall, count this Royals nut as pleased with the acquisition. Olivo has a good glove and better arm. His bat will be adequate for what he is being asked to do. Buddy Bell would have found a way to get Olivo 550 AB's - hopefully Hillman will limit him to 250-300 AB's. The limited duty could actually help increase Olivo's batting impact (less wear-and-tear).

What does everyone else think?

Poll

Are you happy with the acquisition of Miguel Olivo?

Yes

119 votes

No

23 votes

Thank God he's not Jason LaRue, Benito Santiago, Alberto Castillo, Paul Bako . . .

99 votes

241 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 6 comments

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Comments

Hey Royalstern

Looks like we were both spreading the news at the same time. Shame we can't combine the diaries into one.

I am sure this signing will help the Royals. Olivo certainly seems better than any other backup catcher the Royals had in the system. I don't see how it can do anything but make the club a bit more competitive. Olivo won't represent a huge improvement, but a nudge in the right direction. Back up catchers get at least 150 at-bats and 35 starts a year.

Rock Chalk Talk for pretty good KU College Baseball Coverage

by James Quinn on Dec 27, 2007 11:49 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

It sounds

like he is an improvement over Tupman. Perhaps more importantly, he is someone who could be flipped for a prospect at the trade deadline if some teams is desperate for a catcher. Anytime we upgrade the roster consider me happy!

by djk royal on Dec 27, 2007 12:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Buck

I like the signing for the fact that we now have the best backup we've had probably since Macfarlane was backing up Mayne. But it also means we aren't going to get a full season of at bats for Buck. I was really ok with Tubman because it meant Buck was playing 6 days a week. Now, it's going to be 4 days for Buck, 2 or 3 for Olivo. It's still probably ok since they have basically the same numbers.

We'll see.

In the Royals game of life, Neifi Perez is the rake.

by Matty486 on Dec 27, 2007 12:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Buck is cleary the better player,

but I suppose Olivo is a more predictable backup than the unknown Tupman.

That OBP is pretty damn awful, and Olivo is RH vs Tupman being LH...

Olivo will start the year with a 5 game suspension left over from a season ending brawl with the Mets. Combine that with Guillen, and we will lead the league in SOMETHING from the get go : )

Anybody here who was dropped from the 40 man to make room?

by loyal2s dad on Dec 27, 2007 1:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Praying we DFA Jason Smith

DFA him and then trade him for a piece of low-minors organizational filler. We can even throw in a couple hundred thousand dollars.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Dec 27, 2007 1:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Olivo was a guy I was hoping that KC would

look into signing. He will be better than Tupman who has no track record at all. Sounds like a good defender and is "aggressive" i.e. doesn't walk much and strikes out alot so Buddy would have liked him. Has some power - always nice in a catching situation.

Overall, Olivo makes the Royals better if not by much. Each player contributes. I would be much more confident in Olivo catching everyday if Buck got hurt than Matt Tupman.

by daveyork on Jan 1, 2008 8:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs